Barbie, the Greta Gerwig-directed movie, has continued to dazzle at the global box office. In its second weekend, the film earned an incredible $131.5 million worldwide, with $93 million in the domestic market and $122.2 million from 70 international markets. This brings Barbie’s domestic total to $351.4 million and its overseas earnings to an impressive $423.1 million, resulting in a worldwide total of $774.5 million in just 12 days of release. This success puts Barbie on track to potentially join the billion-dollar club at the global box office, possibly even surpassing Wonder Woman as the highest-grossing Hollywood movie directed by a woman.
Despite initial predictions of a sharp drop-off in its second weekend, Barbie only fell 43 percent in North America and 32 percent overseas. The film has even exceeded expectations in China, where it has earned $25 million to date after a modest $8.2 million opening. This unexpected success in China may have a positive impact on Barbie’s performance in other Asian markets, such as Japan, where it is set to open next month.
Barbie has performed exceptionally well in several key regions. It has already become the biggest Warner Bros. movie ever in Brazil, grossing $33.5 million. In the U.K., it has surpassed the first 10 days of the final Harry Potter film, with earnings reaching $61.6 million. Additionally, Barbie is Warner Bros.’ second-biggest movie of all time regionally, trailing only Joker. The film has also seen significant success in Europe, where it experienced just a 22 percent drop in box office revenue.
The combination of Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer has been dubbed the “Barbenheimer effect” and has contributed to a successful summer box office. Oppenheimer, a three-hour biographical drama released by Universal, dropped only 44 percent in North America in its second weekend, earning $46.2 million. This makes it the biggest second weekend ever for an R-rated film. Its domestic total now stands at $174.6 million, with $72.4 million earned overseas, bringing its worldwide total to $400.4 million. Oppenheimer has also become Nolan’s biggest film in 28 markets and his biggest non-superhero film in 39 markets.
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As Barbie and Oppenheimer continue to perform well at the box office, it is clear that audiences are hungry for both female-led films and ambitious, thought-provoking cinema. These successes not only break records but also pave the way for more diverse stories and perspectives to be represented in Hollywood. With the possibility of Barbie joining the billion-dollar club, it marks a significant milestone for female directors and underscores the commercial viability of films that prioritize inclusivity and representation.
The remarkable success of Barbie and Oppenheimer is a testament to the power of compelling storytelling and the value of investing in diverse talent both behind and in front of the camera. As these films continue to captivate audiences around the world, it sends a powerful message to the industry that audiences are eager for more diverse and innovative content.
