Honestly, it is easy to forget that before the pink explosion of Barbie or the chaotic pigtails of Harley Quinn, Margot Robbie was a young actress in denim shorts trying to out-hustle the biggest movie star in the world. That happened in 2015. The Margot Robbie Focus movie—simply titled Focus—is often tucked away in the "mid-range thriller" drawer of Hollywood history. But if you look closer, it was actually the moment her trajectory changed forever.
She wasn’t even supposed to be there. The movie was originally a vehicle for Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. When they bailed, Ben Affleck and Kristen Stewart were the next names on the call sheet. They left too. Eventually, the production landed on Will Smith and a 24-year-old Australian who had just finished screaming at Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street.
The Audition That Almost Didn’t Happen
The story of how Margot Robbie got the role of Jess Barrett is basically a movie in itself. She was vacationing on a remote island in Croatia with her brother. No cell service. No Wi-Fi. Suddenly, a call comes through: "You need to be in New York for an audition with Will Smith tomorrow morning."
She didn't hesitate. She packed a bag in 20 minutes, hopped on a catamaran, then a bus, then a flight to France, and finally a long-haul to New York. Her luggage? Gone. Lost in transit. She showed up at the audition wearing damp denim shorts, a t-shirt, and zero makeup.
Will Smith was late. When he walked in, she didn't play the "grateful newcomer" card. She called him out for his tardiness. That spark—that refusal to be intimidated—is exactly what the directors, Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, were looking for. They needed someone who could believably pick a pocket while breaking a heart.
Why the Margot Robbie Focus Movie Still Works
Focus is a "slick" movie. It’s glossy. It’s expensive-looking. But the engine of the film isn't the heist—it's the friction between Nicky (Smith) and Jess (Robbie). Nicky is a seasoned "master of misdirection." He sees the world as a series of focus points. If you control where a person looks, you control what they own.
Jess is the student. She starts as a "funky" novice in New Orleans, wearing heavy boots and chunky accessories. Costume designer Dayna Pink intentionally kept her look unrefined in the first half. You see her learning the "grift sense."
Then, the movie jumps three years.
When she reappears in Buenos Aires, she’s a femme fatale. The boots are gone, replaced by stiletto heels and a silhouette that screams "accomplished." This transition is where Robbie really shines. She isn't just a love interest; she’s the one throwing the professional con man off his game.
The Science of the Steal
A lot of movies fake the "magic" of pickpocketing. Focus didn't. The production hired Apollo Robbins, known as "The Gentleman Thief," to train the actors.
Robbie was a natural.
While Will Smith focused on the psychology of the con—the "cognitive empathy" required to manipulate someone—Robbie got her hands dirty. She learned the physical mechanics of the "lift." Robbins credited her background as a dancer for her speed. She actually performed a sequence involving nine consecutive lifts on a busy street during filming.
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There's a specific scene at the Super Bowl (well, a "Super Bowl-like" game) involving a high-stakes bet with a businessman played by B.D. Wong. It’s the "55" scene. Most people remember it for the tension, but for the actors, it was exhausting. They had to play two scenes at once: the one the audience saw, and the one the characters were actually executing.
Box Office Reality vs. Cultural Memory
The movie did okay. It wasn't a world-beater, but it wasn't a flop either.
- Budget: Roughly $50.1 million.
- Worldwide Gross: Over $159 million.
- Rotten Tomatoes: A "mew" 56%.
Critics were split. Some felt the twists were too convoluted. Others, like the writers at Time Magazine, compared Robbie to a modern-day Grace Kelly. They weren't wrong. She had this "golden age" charisma that felt slightly out of place in 2015, which is exactly why she became a superstar.
The film's reception was overshadowed by rumors of a real-life romance between the leads, which both denied. Honestly, that just speaks to how good their chemistry was on screen. They worked so well together that they were immediately cast as Deadshot and Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad shortly after.
What You Might Have Missed
The racing scenes in the second half are supposed to be in Buenos Aires. They weren't. Most of that was shot at NOLA Motorsports Park just outside New Orleans. If you’re a gearhead, you’ll notice the cars aren't Formula 1—they’re IndyCars provided by teams like Andretti Autosport.
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There is also a subtle "Aussie" joke hidden in the film. Nicky makes a comment about Australians being "imports." It was a nod to Margot Robbie's actual nationality, and she apparently loves sneaking those types of "easter eggs" into her work for her friends back home.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Film Buffs
If you're revisiting the Margot Robbie Focus movie today, look past the "con artist" tropes.
- Watch the Wardrobe: Notice the shift from "novice Jess" to "pro Jess." It’s a masterclass in how costume design tells a story of character growth.
- The Hands: Pay attention to the background of the New Orleans scenes. You can actually spot the consultant, Apollo Robbins, hanging out in the frame while he watches his students work.
- The "Belly": Listen for the term "having the belly." It’s real grifter slang for having the guts to go through with a steal without flinching.
The film stands as a pivotal bridge in Robbie's career. It proved she could carry a major studio film alongside a legend without being eclipsed. She didn't just play the role; she stole the movie. Literally.
To fully appreciate her evolution, pair a rewatch of Focus with The Wolf of Wall Street. You’ll see the exact moment a talented actress turned into a calculated movie star. From there, the jump to producing her own films like I, Tonya and Barbie starts to make a lot more sense.