㽶ƵֱBarbie㽶Ƶֱ didn㽶Ƶֱt just for 2023; It also shattered the first weekend record for a film directed by a woman.
With $162 million in ticket sales from North American theaters, according to studio totals Monday, 㽶ƵֱBarbie㽶Ƶֱ catapulted past both 㽶ƵֱCaptain Marvel,㽶Ƶֱ which was co-directed by Anna Boden and opened to $153.4 million in 2019, and 㽶ƵֱWonder Woman,㽶Ƶֱ 㽶Ƶֱ 2017 film that debuted to $103.3 million. Boasting a reported price tag of $145 million, 㽶ƵֱBarbie㽶Ƶֱ also cost less to produce than 㽶ƵֱCaptain Marvel㽶Ƶֱ ($152 million) and 㽶ƵֱWonder Woman㽶Ƶֱ ($200 million).
Globally, it far surpassed 㽶ƵֱWonder Woman㽶Ƶֱs㽶Ƶֱ debut with over $337 million versus $228.3 million, though 㽶ƵֱCaptain Marvel㽶Ƶֱs㽶Ƶֱ global launch was higher at $455 million.
㽶ƵֱBarbie㽶Ƶֱs㽶Ƶֱ debut, $7 million higher than estimated on Sunday, is also significant because its audience was 65% women 㽶Ƶֱ not a surprise in and of itself, but as far as box office history is concerned, movies that open over $100 million often have a majority male audience (including both 㽶ƵֱCaptain Marvel㽶Ƶֱ and 㽶ƵֱWonder Woman㽶Ƶֱ). This, many have noted, is perhaps less a rule and more of a lack of big films that have been made and promoted with a blockbuster female audience in minds.
A close, but imperfect comparison is 㽶ƵֱFifty Shades of Grey,㽶Ƶֱ which was directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, and made $85 million in its first three days. The R-rated adaptation opened on Presidents Day weekend in 2017 for a five-day haul of $93 million.
㽶ƵֱBarbie㽶Ƶֱ also earned the title of the third biggest July debut ever, surpassing Christopher Nolan㽶Ƶֱs 㽶ƵֱThe Dark Knight㽶Ƶֱ and 㽶ƵֱThe Dark Knight Rises㽶Ƶֱ 㽶Ƶֱ not adjusted for inflation 㽶Ƶֱ and trailing only the live-action 㽶ƵֱThe Lion King㽶Ƶֱ and 㽶ƵֱHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.㽶Ƶֱ
㽶ƵֱBarbie㽶Ƶֱ which is intended to be the first of many Mattel-inspired spinoffs. And in just one weekend it㽶Ƶֱs already surpassed the domestic grosses her last two films, which earned $108.1 million and 㽶ƵֱLady Bird,㽶Ƶֱ with $49 million. In 2018, Gerwig also made history by becoming the fifth woman to be nominated for the best director Oscar (for 㽶ƵֱLady Bird㽶Ƶֱ ). As of 2023, there have now been seven women nominated for best director, and some are already predicting that Gerwig will notch another nod for next year㽶Ƶֱs ceremony.
㽶ƵֱBarbie㽶Ƶֱ and Gerwig㽶Ƶֱs success was celebrated widely online with many in Hollywood pausing to reflect on the moment. Reese Witherspoon posted 㽶Ƶֱway to go, GG!㽶Ƶֱ on Instagram, while director Ry Russo-Young wrote that 㽶Ƶֱ㽶ƵֱBarbie㽶Ƶֱ and its success looms as a beacon of hope㽶Ƶֱ amid the strikes and widely shut-down productions.
㽶ƵֱIt㽶Ƶֱs wildly original, feminist, giant in scope and swing, and feels singular to a perspective,㽶Ƶֱ Russo-Young wrote. 㽶ƵֱThese are rare qualities for big movies these days. I hope to see more made like this in the coming years.㽶Ƶֱ
Filmmaker Nancy Meyers also celebrated the 㽶Ƶֱtriumph㽶Ƶֱ on Instagram, but bristled at the focus on the glass ceiling aspect asking if 㽶ƵֱChristopher Nolan has ever once in his life been referred to as a male director.㽶Ƶֱ Meyers and Nolan are among only a handful of writer-directors who have had two or more of their original films gross over $100 million domestically.
㽶ƵֱGreta Gerwig㽶Ƶֱs 㽶ƵֱBarbie㽶Ƶֱ accomplished something so profound,㽶Ƶֱ Melissa Silverstein, the founder of the blog Women and Hollywood and the artistic director of the Athena Film Festival, wrote in an email Monday. 㽶ƵֱThe fact that she made a funny, entertaining feminist critique and broke so many box office records with a movie about a doll that has been such a lightning rod in our culture is a monumental feat that should not be underestimated.㽶Ƶֱ
Now it㽶Ƶֱs a question of how high 㽶ƵֱBarbie㽶Ƶֱ can go and if it can outgross other top films directed by women. In North America, to get the No. 1 spot, 㽶ƵֱBarbie㽶Ƶֱ will have to earn more than 㽶ƵֱFrozen II,㽶Ƶֱ co-directed by Jennifer Lee, which tallied out with $477.4 million. 㽶ƵֱCaptain Marvel㽶Ƶֱ is in second place with $426.8 million.
With and audience scores in its arsenal, word-of-mouth enthusiasm and watercooler buzz, as well as no direct new competition on the calendar, it㽶Ƶֱs likely that 㽶ƵֱBarbie㽶Ƶֱ will have 㽶Ƶֱlong legs,㽶Ƶֱ a common phrase in the exhibition business that means a movie will continue selling significant numbers of tickets far past its opening weekend.
㽶ƵֱThis film is working everywhere,㽶Ƶֱ said Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros.㽶Ƶֱ head of domestic distribution. 㽶ƵֱThis historic result reflects the intense heat, interest and enthusiasm for 㽶ƵֱBarbie.㽶Ƶֱ㽶Ƶֱ
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