Barbie Continues to Make History as the Top-Grossing Movie of 2023
Barbie, the highly acclaimed movie directed by Greta Gerwig, has achieved yet another milestone. On its 34th day in release, Barbie surpassed the blockbuster hit The Super Mario Bros. Movie at the domestic box office, becoming the top-grossing title of 2023 with a total of $575.4 million in North America.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie, produced by Universal and Illumination, had previously held the top spot with $574.3 million domestically, a record it achieved in 140 days. However, this doesn’t mark the end of the competition between the two films.
Although Barbie has claimed the domestic box office title, The Super Mario Bros. Movie still holds the crown as the highest-earning movie globally in 2023, with a worldwide total of $1.36 billion. This impressive figure places it at number 15 on the all-time list of biggest earners, without adjusting for inflation. Nevertheless, Barbie is not far behind, with a current global total of $1.3 billion, and is expected to surpass The Super Mario Bros. Movie by the first week of September.
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Once Barbie achieves this milestone, it will set its sights on overtaking the worldwide earnings of Frozen II, which amassed $1.43 billion, making it the top-grossing movie of all time directed by a female, whether live-action or animated. In recent days, Barbie has already surpassed Frozen’s worldwide earnings of $1.28 billion.
Greta Gerwig, the talented director behind Barbie, has already secured her place as the highest-grossing female director of a live-action movie at the global box office, as well as the highest-grossing female director of all time at the domestic box office. Additionally, Barbie has become the first live-action film directed solely by a woman to join the exclusive billion-dollar club within its first 17 days of release.
Industry experts are not ruling out the possibility of Barbie continuing to play in theaters for several more weeks, or even until the end of the year. This is primarily due to potential disruptions in the release calendar caused by ongoing writers and actors strikes, which could leave theaters in need of content.
In a recent announcement on August 24, Warner Bros. revealed that Barbie will have a special one-week limited engagement in IMAX theaters starting on September 22. Audiences attending these screenings will be treated to exclusive post-credit footage handpicked by Greta Gerwig herself.
Expressing her gratitude for the overwhelming support, Gerwig said, “The worldwide enthusiasm for Barbie has been overwhelming, humbling, and deeply moving. We made Barbie for the big screen, so it’s a thrill to be able to bring it to IMAX, the biggest screen of all.”
Barbie’s record-breaking success not only highlights the film’s popularity but also emphasizes the significance of female-led storytelling in the film industry. Greta Gerwig’s achievement as the director of a top-grossing movie further paves the way for more opportunities for women in film.
As Barbie continues its impressive run at the box office, fans and industry insiders eagerly await its next triumphs, as it sets its sights on surpassing Frozen II and becoming the highest-grossing movie of all time directed by a female. Barbie’s journey serves as a testament to the power of inclusivity, diversity, and the untapped potential within the film industry.
