Barbie’s latest film has achieved a stunning feat at the box office, surpassing a record previously held by Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. Greta Gerwig’s movie, starring Margot Robbie as the iconic Barbie, has claimed the title for the best-ever Monday performance at the box office for a Warner Bros. film, raking in a whopping $26 million.
This achievement overtakes The Dark Knight’s previous record of $24.6 million set in 2008, making Barbie’s success all the more remarkable. The film follows Barbie’s adventures as she leaves Barbie Land behind and ventures into The Real World. Alongside Robbie, the star-studded cast includes Ryan Gosling as Ken, Michael Cera as Alan, and America Ferrera, Issa Rae, Kate McKinnon, and Will Ferrell.
Barbie’s box office dominance doesn’t stop there. The film also secured a spot in the top 15 highest-grossing Mondays of all time, even without the support of a long weekend.
Within its first week, Barbie has already amassed an impressive $188 million at the US box office and $194.3 million internationally, bringing its total global earnings to a staggering $382 million.
The film’s triumph began with its massive opening weekend, raking in $162 million, toppling The Super Mario Bros. Movie’s record of $146 million in April.
Critics have also lavished praise on the film, bestowing it with a remarkable 90 per cent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Renowned movie critics have hailed Barbie as a “dazzling achievement” and a “visual feast.” It has been described as a feminist master’s thesis intertwined with an Austin Powers-esque romp, and its celebration and satire of the Barbie brand have been applauded.
Time Out’s Alice Saville praised the film’s ability to celebrate and satirize the Barbie brand while presenting a wonderfully fun watch. Variety’s Peter Debruge hailed Gerwig’s accomplishment in conveying multiple messages within Barbie’s seemingly hollow hourglass figure.
Barbie’s overwhelming success at the box office has solidified its position as a must-watch film. With its impressive earnings and critical acclaim, it has undoubtedly secured a place in cinema history. Australian audiences can catch Barbie in theaters now.
