2023-08-07 16:19:14
“Barbie” rushes from superlative to superlative. The feature film by director Greta Gerwig has already grossed more than a billion dollars. The toy doll business is also doing well outside of the cinema halls.
New York.
US director Greta Gerwig made history with the box office hit “Barbie”: As the first woman and solo director, she has made more than one billion dollars (around 910 million euros) at the box office worldwide with her satire about the famous toy doll the Hollywood studio Warner Bros. announced. In Germany, the film with Margot Robbie (33) as Barbie and Ryan Gosling (42) as Ken broke the mark of three million visitors at the weekend, according to the industry association HDF Kino.
“Barbie” has grossed about $459 million in US theaters just two and a half weeks after its release and about $572 million abroad, according to Warner Bros. Jeff Goldstein and Andrew Cripps: “No one but Greta Gerwig could have brought this generational icon and her world to life in such a funny, emotional and entertaining story (…).” The 40-year-old director (“Lady Bird”) literally colored the world pink.
A film for Barbie fans of all ages
Warner executives Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy paid tribute to Gerwig’s “unique vision”. The fact that the film broke the billion mark is “a milestone that testifies to her brilliance and her commitment to deliver a film that Barbie fans of all ages want to see on the big screen”. So far, according to media reports, only about 50 films have grossed more than one billion dollars in cinemas worldwide.
Warner Bros. announced the project with Australian Robbie 2019. The Barbie doll has only appeared in animated films, never in a feature-length film with real actors. Director Gerwig, along with her husband Noah Baumbach (“Marriage Story”) also wrote the screenplay for the trip of the famous toy doll and her boyfriend Ken to real California.
“Barbie” toys are selling well
The three millionth ticket was bought in German cinemas on Saturday, according to the industry association HDF Kino. “Thanks to “Barbie”, one of the best July results of recent years was achieved in Germany,” said the association, which awarded the film the “Golden Screen” – an award for particularly successful films that had at least three million cinema visitors within 18 years months after the theatrical release. HDF Kino represents around 600 member companies, which use around 75 percent of German screens.
According to GfK Entertainment, the cinema success has also boosted the Barbie merchandising business in Germany. Since the theatrical release on July 20, 19 percent more licensed items have been sold, the market research company said on Monday. “Barbie toys in particular sell well, but food and kitchen products sell a lot too,” it said. “Barbie” clothing has even increased sales by more than seven times.
“Barbie” is also well represented in the official German charts. Five film songs are currently represented in the single hit list: “Dance The Night” (Dua Lipa, nine), “Barbie World” (Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice feat. Aqua, ten), “What Was I Made For?” (Billie Eilish, 11), “Speed Drive” (Charli XCX, 83) and “I’m Just Ken” (Ryan Gosling, 86). “Barbie – The Album” recently achieved the highest entry of a soundtrack this year in the album charts at number six. (dpa)
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