‘Barbie’ Makes History as the First Woman-Directed Film to Surpass $1 Billion in Global Box Office Sales
Barbie, the fantasy-comedy movie directed by Greta Gerwig, has achieved a remarkable milestone by crossing $1 billion in global box office ticket sales. This makes it the highest-grossing film ever directed solely by a woman. The film’s success has been noteworthy, with $459 million generated from domestic theaters (United States and Canada) and an impressive $572.1 million from overseas, totaling $1.0315 billion, according to Warner Bros. Pictures.
Notably, Greta Gerwig has also become the first female filmmaker to surpass the billion-dollar mark as a solo director, adding to the significance of Barbie’s success. The movie’s recent weekend box office performance was exceptional, drawing in $127 million worldwide, with $53 million from domestic receipts and $74 million from overseas.
Jeff Goldstein, President of Domestic Distribution, and Andrew Cripps, President of International Distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures, voiced their amazement at Barbie’s astounding performance, recognizing that it surpassed even their highest expectation.
Though Barbie’s ticket sales rank second for the year, trailing behind The Super Mario Bros., which garnered $1.357 billion, it has still solidified its position as the biggest movie directed by a woman, surpassing the global earnings of Wonder Woman at $821.8 million.
Among the 53 movies that have crossed the $1 billion mark in modern box office history, Barbie stands out as the biggest solo-directed movie by a woman. While movies like Frozen and Frozen 2 (co-directed by Jennifer Lee) and Captain Marvel (co-directed by Anna Boden) have higher global earnings, Barbie has outperformed Captain Marvel domestically, becoming the highest-grossing live-action film directed by a woman director in the North of Americ.
This landmark achievement marks a significant stride for women in Hollywood, with only five female directors having ever achieved a $1 billion-grossing movie worldwide. Moreover, Barbie stands as the first live-action comedy to achieve this distinction.
The success of Barbie is attributed not only to Greta Gerwig’s direction but also to the enduring appeal of the Barbie brand. Having been a cultural icon for decades, the Mattel doll’s nostalgia resonated with audiences while also capturing the interest of a new generation of fans.
Warner Bros. Pictures undoubtedly sees Barbie as a major win, and its impact on the film industry is likely to be lasting. The film serves as a testament to the strength of female directors and the enduring power of the Barbie brand, leaving a positive and influential mark on Hollywood.
For all those fans who aren’t aware, the movie is also going to premiere on OTT, somewhere around September 2023.
Stay tuned for more updates!
