Barbie Smashes Four-Week Record, Outshining Super Mario Bros: A 2023 Movie Sensation

Summary

Barbie continues to dominate the box office, matching the record set by another animated hit earlier this year.

Greta Gerwig's directorial venture, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, has proven to be a phenomenal hit, with Barbie raking in more than $1 billion globally. The film's incredible success can be attributed to its dominance at the domestic box office, holding onto the number one position for four consecutive weekends - a remarkable achievement in the cinema landscape of 2023, matched only by The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

Barbie continues to reign supreme at the box office, matching a previously set record by a highly successful animated film earlier this year. Directed by Greta Gerwig and co-written by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach, the movie stars Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken. With a full ensemble cast representing both the real world and Barbie Land, this film has proven to be a monumental success. Debuting at No. 1 on July 21 with a staggering $162 million opening, it has quickly surpassed $1 billion in worldwide earnings.

As reported by Deadline, the domestic box office for Barbie will see an additional $30 million by the end of the weekend. This impressive feat secures the film's position at No. 1 for the fourth consecutive weekend. This is only the second time in 2023 that a film has achieved this level of dominance, with the first being The Super Mario Bros. Movie in April.

How Long Can Barbie Stay No. 1?

The 2023 box office chart has seen movies staying at No. 1 for a maximum of four weeks. Alongside Barbie and Super Mario, Avatar: The Way of Water also achieved this feat. The sequel by James Cameron dominated the box office for the first four weeks of the year, following its successful run in late 2022.

Whether Barbie can maintain its position and set a new record for 2023 remains to be seen. However, it has a good chance to do so as it competes with Mario to become the highest-grossing movie worldwide this year. Barbie has consistently surpassed all other movies on the chart, indicating that it will likely require a big new release to knock it down to the second spot.

Next week, Barbie will face its toughest rivals yet as Blue Beetle and Strays are set to be released on August 18. Although Strays, being an R-rated comedy, may have a smaller built-in audience, there is potential for Blue Beetle to become a top contender for the No. 1 spot. This will depend on whether the DC Universe movie can overcome the recent box office struggles that have affected the superhero franchise. In the event that Barbie manages to survive this challenge, the next movie that poses the greatest threat is The Nun II, scheduled for release on September 8. If successful, it could potentially end Barbie's seven-week streak at No. 1.