A little over two weeks since its release, Barbie hit a major milestone by crossing the one billion dollar mark at the box office. (Thanks to CNN for putting this news on our radar.) The Greta Gerwig film, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, was one of the most anticipated films of 2023. First, there was the obvious curiosity about bringing a pop culture icon to the big screen. Then, Barbie’s incredible marketing push sealed the deal for many moviegoers as they donned pink and swarmed theaters.
Now, Barbie is making history by joining a small club of films to hit one billion dollars, with Greta Gerwig making history as the first woman director to hit this mark. The power of Barbie and good Kenergy are powerful, indeed. It joins The Super Mario Bros. Movie as the second film this year to accomplish this great feat.
With its huge success, it seems almost inevitable that Barbie will get a sequel. The ending of the film does feel pretty final, but we all know that Hollywood will find a way to make more cash. In fact, Mattel is apparently forming its own cinematic universe with 14 confirmed projects on the way. Barney, Hot Wheels, Polly Pocket, and even the great historian Wishbone will get their time to shine on the screen. We don’t know if they will make a billion dollars like Barbie. But we are still very curious to see if Mattel will continue to have a foothold in the entertainment business.
For now, Barbie will continue to rake in cash at theaters. The film is set to come to streaming via Max sometime this Fall; however, the date isn’t confirmed yet. We will see just how high those box office numbers will soar for one of the most entertaining and heartfelt films this year.