Margot Robbie’s film Barbie has made history by surpassing mega franchises like DC and Marvel. Since its release in theaters, the film’s box office collection appears to be unstoppable. Not only has it outperformed Marvel and DC films, but it has also exceeded the box office earnings of big-budget productions such as Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible 7.
Moreover, Barbie is not just a financial success; it has also received critical acclaim from audiences.
Greta Gerwig’s Barbie Outperforms Every Big-Budget Film
Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic began, theaters worldwide have experienced a prolonged period of silence. Even when everything returned to basics, regaining the audience’s attention was a significant challenge for filmmakers, as a major portion of the audience had shifted to OTT platforms.
Since then, many films have hit theaters and enjoyed successful runs, and people eventually readjusted to visiting theaters for entertainment. However, what was missing was the thrill among the audience for theatrical releases. This year marked the release of many successful movies, among which is Greta Gerwig’s 2023 film, Barbie. Barbie was one of the highly anticipated films of the year, released on July 21, 2023.
The film debuted alongside Christopher Nolan’s R-rated high-budget film, Oppenheimer. Both films created massive buzz among the audience and found success at the box office.
However, the buzz around Gerwig’s film wasn’t short-lived. The movie turned out to be a major contender in terms of box office collections, surpassing not only Nolan’s films but also previous releases like Mission: Impossible 7 and Guardians of the Galaxy.
Despite this year witnessing the release of several superhero films from Marvel and other franchises, none could match the combination of fan expectations and box office success achieved by Barbie. The Margot Robbie-led film has earned a box office collection of $1.34 billion.
With a worldwide total of $1.342 billion, Barbie has become the highest-grossing film ever by WB, surpassing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 which previously held the record.
Additionally, it has a high chance of becoming the top-grossing film of the year worldwide, potentially surpassing The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which earned more than $1.35 billion. This marks the biggest debut ever for a film directed by a woman.
The Secret Behind Barbie’s Massive Success
The unexpected success of a fictional tale centered around a Mattel doll has captivated audiences worldwide. Gerwig’s film has become one of the highest-grossing films of the year. The question arises: What’s the secret behind its success? How did it surpass major films like Nolan’s biographical drama, Tom Cruise’s action film, and even every superhero film from the MCU and DCEU?
Perhaps the answer lies in Greta Gerwig’s empowering narrative, which serves as both a satire on patriarchal society and an initiative for a more practical approach to beauty. The film aesthetically critiques unrealistic beauty standards while emphasizing self-discovery and self-love.
Source: Forbes