The film "Barbie", under Greta Gerwig's direction and script co-written with Noah Baumbach, has raked in over $1 billion globally within 17 days of its release, Warner Bros. reports. This feat breaks the studio's record for fastest earnings, previously held by “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2”, which reached a billion in 19 days.
In its third weekend, "Barbie" held the top spot in the US and Canada, amassing $53 million, taking its domestic total to $459.4 million. Despite Warner Bros.' reservations before its release, particularly with the $145 million production budget granted to Gerwig, the film's success is undeniable.
"Barbie" not only achieves box office success but also counters a prevailing Hollywood misconception about female-centric films having limited reach. Other movies, such as "Wonder Woman" ($823 million in 2017), "Captain Marvel" ($1.1 billion in 2019), and "Twilight" ($408 million in 2008), have similarly defied this stereotype.
However, the industry's hesitancy with such films remains, rooted in the lack of women in high-ranking studio positions and reliance on outdated assumptions. The film's triumph is credited to the collaborative effort of many, including Mattel's CEO Ynon Kreiz and former Warner Bros. Pictures Group chairman, Toby Emmerich. The latter provided crucial approval for the film's production.