The Greta Gerwig-directed movie Barbie has been setting the box office on fire, crossing the $775 million mark globally. It is on the brink of entering the coveted billion-dollar club. Warner Bros. is beaming with pride as the female-driven film captivates audiences worldwide.
In its second weekend, Barbie added a staggering $131.5 million to its box office haul. The film secured $93 million domestically and an impressive $122.2 million from 70 international markets. With the domestic earnings reaching $351.4 million and the overseas tally standing at an equally impressive $423.1 million, the film’s worldwide gross has soared to an incredible $774.5 million. This feat was achieved in 12 days since its midweek release in various overseas regions.
The success of Barbie has surpassed expectations, fueling speculations that the film might become the first Hollywood movie directed solely by a woman to reach the $1 billion milestone. This would beat the record previously held by Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman, which grossed $822 million (not adjusted for inflation). Notably, it would be the second film in 2023 to join the billion-dollar club, following Universal’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie ($1.34 billion).
Critics who predicted a sharp decline in Barbie’s second weekend were proven wrong, as the movie only saw a 43 percent drop in North America and even less overseas, at 32 percent.
The film’s success has extended even to China, where Barbie generated $25 million in box office revenue by Sunday, despite a modest $8.2 million opening. The unexpected surge in China’s interest has raised hopes for a successful exit in Japan next month.
Among all markets, the U.K. stands as the top performer with $61.6 million in earnings, surpassing the first ten days of the final Harry Potter film. In Brazil, Barbie has already become Warner Bros.’s highest-grossing film with an impressive $33.5 million.
Barbie’s regional success has also been significant, as it now ranks as Warner Bros.’ second-biggest movie of all time after Joker. Surpassing substantial titles such as the final Harry Potter film, Batman v. Superman, and Aquaman, the film has also enjoyed a steady 22 percent drop in Europe.
Interestingly, the simultaneous success of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer has contributed to what is now called the “Barbenheimer effect,” providing a boost to the summer box office. Oppenheimer, from Universal Pictures, experienced an impressive second weekend, dropping only 44 percent in North America and earning $46.2 million, becoming the largest second weekend for an R-rated film, surpassing Deadpool 2’s record of $43.5 million. With a domestic total of $174.6 million and a foreign haul of $226.3 million, Oppenheimer has reached $400.4 million worldwide, ranking as Nolan’s sixth-biggest film.
In addition, Oppenheimer has become Nolan’s most prominent film ever in 28 markets and his most successful non-superhero title in 39 markets.
As both Barbie and Oppenheimer continue to flourish at the box office, the Barbenheimer effect showcases the remarkable impact of female-led cinema combined with the allure of Christopher Nolan’s unique storytelling, delivering an extraordinary summer movie season.
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