No film this summer created more buzz than Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, and its box office numbers reflect its enormous success. After less than two months in theatres, Barbie passed The Super Mario Bros. Movie to become the highest-grossing film of the year so far.
Barbie finally crossed the $1.365 billion mark at the global box office on September 2, and its earnings are still rising. By doing so, it became the highest-earning film at the global box office of 2023, overcoming many obstacles, from bans in several countries to tough competition in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer.
Barbie’s latest box office milestone doesn’t come as a shocker, considering how well it’s been doing since hitting the theatres on July 21. It set several opening weekend records with its $356.3 million global opening, and it went on to become the highest-grossing film solely directed by a woman and Warner Bros.’ highest-grossing film of all time.
Barbie also helped the summer box office cross the $4 billion mark domestically for the first time in the pandemic era, but it wasn’t the only movie responsible for this impressive number. Other top stateside earners this summer include Christopher Nolan’s historic biopic Oppenheimer, Sony’s animated superhero movie Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and Disney’s The Little Mermaid remake.
