Ocean's 8 stars call for female critics

Sandra Bullock plays title character Debbie Ocean.

Films with female leads are badly reviewed because Hollywood's critics are mostly male, the stars of Ocean's 8 have suggested.

Sandra Bullock, who stars in the spin-off of the Ocean's 11 trilogy, in which all eight leads are played by women, says male opinions could be "skewed" and called for more reviewers to match the demographics of the target audience.

Cate Blanchett, also among the cast, said male reviewers might see it through a "prism of misunderstanding".

The film has gathered mixed reviews so far, with some noting its "lifeless direction" and others saying the series "doesn't summon the rush of delighted surprise it once did".

A recent study suggested nearly 80 per cent of film critics were male.

Bullock, who plays title character Debbie Ocean, told reporters she would prefer to have people of similar demographics to the target audience review a film.

"It would be nice if reviewers reflected who the film is for, like children should review children's films, not a 60-year-old man."

Cate Blanchett.

She said she would like there to be "balancing out the pool of critics so that it reflects the world we are in, like we are trying to reflect the world that I live in and my friends live in".

Blanchett, discussing whether Hollywood is getting better at telling stories about women, said: "It's Hollywood but it's also the media, because a studio can support a film and it's the invisible faces on the internet, and often male reviewers, who can view it through a prism of misunderstanding."

The other six key roles are played by Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Rihanna, the Barbadian singer, and Awkwafina, the US rapper.

The movie is directed by Gary Ross, responsible for Seabiscuit and two of the Hunger Games films.