With months of anticipation building up, Barbie is set to make a significant impact at the box office, courtesy of its talented director, cast, and well-executed marketing. Recently, the production budget for the movie has been disclosed, shedding light on the financial expectations and what it needs to achieve to be deemed a commercial success.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, director Greta Gerwig disclosed that Barbie’s production came with a hefty price tag of $145 million. With this information, it becomes evident that for Mattel’s Barbie movie to attain blockbuster status, it must secure at least $300 million in box office earnings.
Barbie Expected To Work Wonders At The Box Office
Typically, film producers anticipate box office earnings to be two or three times the movie’s budget, as they usually claim around 50% of the revenue. Initially, Barbie was reported to have a budget of $100 million, but with the star-studded cast, extensive marketing, and numerous cameos, it is no surprise that the actual production cost has now been revealed to be $145 million.
The marketing campaign for Barbie has been a whirlwind of press tours, interviews, and eye-catching billboards and posters. In addition, creative collaborations with various brands have been instrumental in generating buzz around the movie. The icing on the cake is the Barbie Dream House in Malibu, a real-life attraction where people can visit and immerse themselves in the Barbie universe.
Thanks to the extensive marketing efforts, the initial box office predictions for Barbie’s opening weekend have been surpassed. Warner Bros. is now anticipating earnings of approximately $300-320 million globally on the opening weekend, a significant increase from the earlier estimates. The film features Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, with Greta Gerwig directing the project.
Switching Cinematic Universes Did The Trick For Margot Robbie
While Margot Robbie has achieved success in Hollywood, her journey within the DCEU has been met with mixed results. Having appeared in two DCEU films, Suicide Squad (2016) and Birds of Prey (2020), both movies received underwhelming reviews and box office performance, leaving her DCEU career somewhat lackluster.
Robbie’s disappointing DCEU journey can be attributed to various factors. The struggling nature of the DCEU as a whole, with inconsistent quality and lack of a clear vision, has impacted the overall reception of the franchise. Additionally, her characters in both Suicide Squad and Birds of Prey faced challenges; Harley Quinn was portrayed as a s*x object and a plot device in the former, while the latter received mixed reviews despite Robbie’s starring role as Harley Quinn.
However, after foraying into the Barbie universe, it seems Margot Robbie’s fortunes have taken a U-turn. Robbie approached the project with a sense of caution, acknowledging the uncertain prospects of its success and future demand. Her primary focus was on the current state of the film and how audiences would respond to it. Instead of assuming the need for sequels, she emphasized the importance of the present, valuing the quality and reception of the initial installment.
Also read: Margot Robbie Wanted ‘Revenge,’ Made an Entire ‘Barbie’ Film to Get Back at Her Sister
Source: Twitter
