“Hollywood’s Pink Wave Continues to Surge as ‘Barbie,’ Directed by Greta Gerwig and Starring Margot Robbie, Dominates for Third Consecutive Weekend at North American Theaters, Achieving Historic $1 Billion Global Box Office Success”

In a remarkable achievement for both women in film and the cultural landscape, Warner Bros.’ “Barbie,” directed by the talented Greta Gerwig and starring the charismatic Margot Robbie, has extended its triumphant run by securing the top spot at the North American box office for the third consecutive weekend.

Industry observer Exhibitor Relations confirmed the film’s global box office earnings have now soared beyond the remarkable milestone of $1 billion, marking a groundbreaking achievement for a solo woman director.

This cinematic sensation, under Gerwig’s creative guidance, has harnessed the spirit of our times. Not only has it reached the remarkable billion-dollar benchmark, but it has accomplished this feat at an unprecedented pace, outshining all other films, including those directed by men, in Warner Bros.’ century-long history, as stated by company executives.

The power of “Barbie” continues to captivate audiences worldwide, as analyst Paul Dergarabedian from Comscore highlighted, “The film has ignited the imaginations of moviegoers across the globe, resulting in truly impressive outcomes.”

Featuring Margot Robbie as the iconic Barbie and Ryan Gosling as her partner Ken, the movie garnered a projected $53 million during the Friday-to-Sunday timeframe, amassing a domestic total of $459 million and an astounding $1.03 billion worldwide.

Co-authored by Gerwig and her creative partner Noah Baumbach, the film delves into Barbie’s world, where her traditionally pink, fantasy-laden universe becomes entwined with real-world challenges. The movie serves as a clever and self-aware commentary on the enduring cultural significance of this beloved doll.

Adding even more star power to the ensemble, accomplished actors such as Will Ferrell, Kate McKinnon, and America Ferrera contribute to the film’s allure. The soundtrack, featuring chart-topping artists including Dua Lipa, Lizzo, and Nicki Minaj, alongside a surprise hit with Ryan Gosling’s heartfelt rendition of “I’m Just Ken,” enhances the movie’s magic.

Amid the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, “Barbie” stands as the sixth film to cross the remarkable $1 billion threshold at the box office, as reported by Variety. In the annals of modern box office history, a mere 53 films have achieved this distinction, without accounting for inflation.

“Barbie” now claims the title of the highest-grossing film directed by a single woman, surpassing the global earnings of “Wonder Woman” at $821.8 million. While “Frozen” and “Frozen 2,” both co-directed by Jennifer Lee, along with “Captain Marvel,” co-directed by Anna Boden, have claimed higher positions, “Barbie” proudly holds the North American record for live-action movies directed by women with its domestic total of $459.4 million, outperforming “Captain Marvel’s” $426.8 million.

Universal’s “Oppenheimer,” a thought-provoking historical drama, fell to third place, generating $28.7 million during the weekend and pushing its worldwide earnings to an impressive $552 million. This achievement has solidified its status as the highest-grossing World War II film in history, surpassing the notable works of Christopher Nolan’s “Dunkirk” and Steven Spielberg’s “Saving Private Ryan.”

Overall, it was a weekend of exceptional success for Hollywood, with the top four films amassing $28 million or more. As the industry faces the potential challenges of an impending writers’ and actors’ strike, the question of sustaining this momentum remains.

The weekend’s accomplishments were substantial, with earnings nearly doubling compared to the same period last year, and even surpassing the corresponding pre-pandemic weekend in 2019, as noted by analysts.

In the spirit of the film, one might say that the weekend’s performance was truly “sublime,” echoing a memorable line reportedly ad-libbed by Ryan Gosling in “Barbie.”