Greta Gerwig’s fantastical comedy “Barbie” has officially claimed the title of the highest-grossing movie of the year in North America. Starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, the film has raked in an impressive $575.4 million at the domestic box office, surpassing the previous frontrunner, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” which had garnered $574 million domestically.
The success of “Barbie” extends beyond North America, with a global box office haul of $1.3 billion. This achievement is poised to grow, as the film is on track to surpass the global earnings of “Mario” ($1.35 billion) and become the top worldwide release of 2023. Remarkably, this year’s billion-dollar blockbusters have not fallen into the typical superhero or franchise sequel categories.
“Barbie” embarked on its record-setting theatrical journey in July, debuting with a stunning $162 million, the year’s highest opening weekend. The movie maintained its grip on the top spot for four consecutive weekends. It also established new records, boasting the largest opening weekend for a film directed by a woman and becoming the highest-grossing movie directed solely by a woman. As it stands, “Barbie” ranks as the 14th highest-grossing domestic release and the 20th highest-grossing global release of all time.
Adding to its achievements, “Barbie” recently surpassed Warner Bros.’ own superhero blockbuster “The Dark Knight” ($536 million) to become the studio’s highest-grossing domestic release in history. It has the potential to eventually outshine even the likes of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” ($1.34 billion) as the studio’s highest-grossing worldwide release in its century-long history.
Directed by Greta Gerwig, an Oscar-nominated filmmaker known for works like “Lady Bird” and “Little Women,” “Barbie” features a screenplay co-written with her partner Noah Baumbach. The candy-colored blockbuster follows the iconic doll’s journey as she departs from the idyllic world of Barbie Land to explore the complexities of real life. The star-studded cast includes America Ferrera, Issa Rae, Will Ferrell, Kate McKinnon, Simu Liu, and Michael Cera.
