The monumental success of the film “Barbie” continues to make waves in the entertainment industry, now surpassing $1.34 billion in global box office earnings. This remarkable achievement solidifies “Barbie” as the highest-grossing movie in the storied history of Warner Bros. studios. With an astounding worldwide gross of $1,340,301,000, the film finds itself on the cusp of outpacing “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” by a mere $20 million to claim the coveted title of the highest-grossing movie of the year on the global cinematic stage. Notably, “Barbie” has already secured its position as the year’s top-grossing film in domestic markets.
Barring unforeseen outcomes, such as unexpected overperformances by films like “Aquaman” or “The Marvels,” it is becoming increasingly likely that “Barbie” will ultimately reign as the preeminent top-grossing film of 2023. As it stands, only “Barbie” and “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” have managed to break the $1 billion threshold in worldwide box office earnings, setting them apart as the elite members of this exclusive billion-dollar club.
Seizing the third spot in the annual box office race is “Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3,” amassing a commendable sum of just over $845 million. This achievement potentially establishes a target for contenders like “Aquaman” and “The Marvels.” Although the inaugural installments in their respective franchises achieved the prestigious $1 billion milestone, the sequels have encountered relatively subdued anticipation.
In the annals of Warner Bros.’ box office history, “Barbie”‘s triumphant journey led it to surpass “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II,” a once-untouchable title-holder, by a significant margin. This installment in the “Harry Potter” series had amassed an impressive $1.34 billion in earnings. Trailing behind was the formidable “Aquaman,” securing the second spot with earnings of $1,143,758,700 during its theatrical run.
“Barbie,” making its debut on July 21, quickly ascended to a dominant position, reigning as the box office champion for four consecutive weeks. Even during its fifth and sixth weeks, it maintained an impressive standing, closely following “Blue Beetle” and nearly surpassing “Gran Turismo” in its opening weekend. The film’s domestic box office contributions reached a commendable $594,801,000, representing approximately 46% of its overall earnings. International markets further bolstered its success, contributing a substantial $745,500,000 to its global tally. This balanced distribution of domestic and international ticket sales mirrors the strategic formula that propelled “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” to its phenomenal triumph.
Credit: This article is adapted from a piece originally published on ComicBook.com.
