Greta Gerwig has achieved a groundbreaking milestone in the entertainment industry. This past weekend, she became the first and only female director to cross the billion-dollar mark at the box office, thanks to the success of her film “Barbie.”
The dominance of “Barbie” at the box office has been undeniable. The film has held the top spot domestically for three consecutive weeks, and its worldwide earnings have surpassed $1 billion. This level of success shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.
Greta Gerwig’s achievement is particularly remarkable because she stands alone as a female director in the billion-dollar club. While there are other female directors who have reached the billion-dollar mark, such as Jennifer Lee and Anna Boden, they achieved this feat by co-directing films alongside men. Greta Gerwig, on the other hand, has proved her worth as a standalone director.
The gap between Greta Gerwig and other solo female directors with box office hits is substantial. The second highest-grossing film by a female director is Patty Jenkins’ “Wonder Woman,” which earned approximately $412 million. The drop-off in earnings for the next tier of films is even more significant, with Betty Thomas’ “Alvin and the Chipmunks” at $219 million, Catherine Hardwicke’s “Twilight” at $192 million, Elizabeth Banks’ “Pitch Perfect 2” at $184 million, and Cate Shortland’s “Black Widow” at $183 million, among others.
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Greta Gerwig’s milestone demonstrates that women are not only bankable as actresses but also behind the camera. This success comes full circle, aligning with the themes of her film “Barbie.”
It is worth noting that Greta Gerwig’s rise to success in the past five to six years has been meteoric, especially considering her indie background. This level of achievement usually prompts studios to plan for a sequel. However, at the moment, there are no active plans for a “Barbie” sequel, which is a rarity given the film’s immense success.
There are reports that Warner Bros. tried to negotiate a deal for Greta Gerwig to direct “Barbie 2” several months before the film’s release. However, her agents declined the offer, opting to wait and see how well the film would perform. In hindsight, this decision was a wise one, as Greta Gerwig’s value as a director has skyrocketed, and she is now able to command a significant fee.
In a delightful twist, Greta Gerwig recently celebrated her 40th birthday, and Ryan Gosling surprised her with a flash mob performance featuring dozens of Kens, complete with his signature song from the film.
Congratulations to Greta Gerwig on her historic achievement. She has shattered the glass ceiling for female directors and proven that women can excel in the film industry both in front of and behind the camera. Her success with “Barbie” is a testament to her talent, vision, and the demand for diverse storytelling in Hollywood.
