The “Barbie” movie surpasses $1 billion in worldwide box office earnings.
The “Barbie” movie achieved a billion-dollar milestone within 17 days of release, as confirmed by distributor Warner Bros. In an announcement on Sunday, the film was projected to end the weekend with $1.03 billion in global box office sales. Notably, Greta Gerwig becomes the first solo female director to achieve this feat, a landmark moment hailed by Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. described this accomplishment as a significant turning point, with Jeff Goldstein, President of Domestic Distribution in the US, praising Greta Gerwig’s ability to bring the iconic cross-generational character to life. The film’s success, marked by long cinema queues and repeat viewings, signifies a resurgence for the movie industry post-pandemic lockdowns and streaming competition.
While other female directors have contributed to films surpassing the $1 billion mark, Greta Gerwig’s achievement stands out as a solo director. Movies like Frozen and its sequel achieved over $1.4 billion with co-direction by Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck, while Captain Marvel generated more than $1.1 billion with co-direction by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck.
The pink-themed Barbie film received critical acclaim and led to an abundance of selfies taken with doll displays installed in UK cinemas. Starring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, the movie has earned $459 million in the US and $572 million internationally.
Reaching the “Barbillion,” as dubbed by Warner Bros., is a noteworthy accomplishment, with only a few films achieving this milestone since the pandemic, including The Super Mario Brothers Movie, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Top Gun: Maverick, Jurassic World Dominion, and the Avatar sequel.
The success of both Barbie and the Christopher Nolan-directed Oppenheimer has reinvigorated cinema attendance, leading to Vue, a UK-based cinema chain, experiencing its busiest weekend in four years.
Toymaker Mattel, inspired by the Barbie film’s triumph, aims to replicate this success with other brand-focused movies. Upcoming Hollywood releases will feature Mattel brands like Barney, Hot Wheels, and Polly Pocket.
While the Barbie film achieved remarkable commercial success, Mattel recently reported a 12% decline in sales for the quarter ending in June. Despite this, the film’s impact and the broader potential for brand-focused movies remain significant.