The Barbie movie reaches the billion-dollar milestone just 17 days after release, making Greta Gerwig the first woman to achieve this as a solo director. Warner Bros calls it a “watershed moment.”
Jeff Goldstein, president of domestic distribution, praises Gerwig’s work in bringing the iconic character to life, leading to long lines in cinemas and repeat viewings, signaling the return of movies after pandemic challenges.
While Goldstein made the announcement, he stated:
“As distribution chiefs, we’re not often rendered speechless by a film’s performance, but Barbillion has blown even our most optimistic predictions out of the water. This is a watershed moment for ‘Barbie,’ and no one but Greta Gerwig could have brought this cross-generational icon and her world to life in such a funny, emotional and entertaining story, one that is resonating with all four quadrants of moviegoers and literally turning the entire world pink. Long lines and repeat viewings prove that movies are back in a big, big way, and we look forward to seeing just how far ‘Barbie’ can go in the real world.”
The pink-hued film receives critical acclaim and generates excitement with doll box selfies in UK cinemas.
According to BBC, “Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, co-chairs and bosses of Warner Bros Motion Picture Group, described audiences as “embracing the Barbie movie in a profound way.”
Starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, it grosses $459m in the US and $572m internationally. This achievement, dubbed “Barbillion,” is rare, with only five other films reaching it since the pandemic.
Mattel’s extensive marketing campaign includes pink billboards and a pink Tardis at Tower Bridge. Toy-maker Mattel plans to replicate this success with other movie adaptations of their brands like Barney, Hot Wheels, and Polly Pocket. Despite this success, Mattel reports a 12% decline in sales for the three months leading up to June.
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