Greta Gerwig’s Barbie is set to achieve a major milestone in the film industry. The movie is projected to surpass $700 million in worldwide ticket sales at the box office, making it the biggest week in history for a Warner Bros. film with a staggering $578.5 million. This achievement also solidifies Barbie’s position in the billion-dollar club globally and establishes it as the highest-grossing movie ever for a solo female director, without adjusting for inflation.
In addition to Barbie’s success, Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer also contributed to the fifth-biggest week at the domestic box office, with an estimated total revenue of $500 million for all films. Comscore, the leading media analytics company, will provide the final figures later on Friday.Comscore chief box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian expressed his awe at this remarkable feat, comparing it to a perfect game in bowling or a no-hitter in baseball. He stated that a $500 million domestic week at the box office is a rare occurrence, happening only four times before in history and never before in July. Dergarabedian credits this incredible achievement to the Barbenheimer craze, which boosted the fortunes of the entire theatrical marketplace.
The top four grossing weeks in box office history were dominated by films like Avengers: Endgame, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and Avatar, according to Comscore. Star Wars: The Force Awakens holds spots No. 2 and No. 3 on the list.Barbie continues to dominate the North American market, earning an additional $21.2 million on Thursday, bringing its domestic total to $258.2 million. This makes it the biggest week ever for Warner Bros. at the domestic box office, surpassing Nolan’s The Dark Knight. The movie is expected to cross the $300 million mark on Friday. Internationally, Barbie has already amassed an astonishing $320.3 million through Thursday.
The question now is where Barbie will stand globally by Sunday. Some industry experts believe it could even surpass $750 million, making it the third-highest-grossing film of 2023 after only its second weekend. Currently, the top global earners of the year are Illumination/Universal’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie ($1.34 billion), Marvel/Disney’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 ($844.8 million), and Universal’s Fast X ($704.9 million).Barbie’s success is not only a triumph for Warner Bros. and toymaker Mattel but also for Gerwig and the entire cast involved in the film.
In other news, Oppenheimer, directed by Christopher Nolan, grossed an impressive $10 million on Friday, bringing its domestic total to $127.9 million. Globally, the film has accumulated $292.6 million as of Thursday.
At Thursday’s domestic box office, Disney’s new entry Haunted Mansion debuted with $3.1 million in Thursday previews, including select advance Dolby Cinema Screenings on Wednesday evening. Haunted Mansion’s preview gross surpassed that of other Disney live-action films like Jungle Cruise ($2.7 million) and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil ($2.3 million). Directed by Justin Simien, Haunted Mansion hopes to benefit from being the only PG-rated offering in the marketplace and is projected to have an opening weekend in the range of $30 million.
Overall, this week has been a record-breaking one for the box office, with Barbie leading the charge and achieving unprecedented success. The film’s performance not only showcases the power of female-led projects but also highlights the enduring appeal of iconic characters like Barbie. As the movie continues to captivate audiences worldwide, it is poised to leave a lasting impact on the film industry.