Barbie's Blockbuster Triumph: Why Hollywood's Reaction Misses the Mark
Hollywood's response to Barbie's success goes beyond just toys, empowering women and redefining societal standards
Summary
Randall Park asserts that instead of fixating on creating additional films about toys, Hollywood should shift its focus towards producing more movies featuring women both in front of and behind the camera, drawing upon the triumph of Barbie as a prime example.
Barbie's accomplishment stands as a significant triumph for women in Hollywood, as Greta Gerwig's female-centric film has emerged as the top-grossing movie ever directed by a woman in the US.
According to Park, Barbie's triumph should serve as a clear signal that audiences crave movies centered around women, created by women, and encompassing feminist themes. It is high time for Hollywood to heed this demand and implement the requisite transformations.
MCU actor Randall Park believes that Hollywood is drawing the wrong conclusion from Barbie's phenomenal success. Despite being released on July 21, Barbie has surpassed all expectations and achieved unprecedented financial success, surpassing $1 billion at the global box office in just three weekends. It now holds the title of Warner Bros.'s second highest-grossing film of all time, just behind Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2. Notably, Barbie has even surpassed Harry Potter in the UK box office, becoming the highest-grossing Warner Bros. movie of all time in the country.
However, Park is critical of the movie industry's response to Barbie's achievements. In an interview with Rolling Stone, the WandaVision star points out that the industry's approach seems to be focused on "making more movies about toys!" instead of recognizing the need to "make more movies created and centered around women." Park's full quote can be found below:
Hollywood’s Reaction to Barbie Explained
This industry seems to be learning the wrong lessons in general. A prime illustration of this is the huge success of "Barbie". Rather than simply making more movies about toys, it is crucial to prioritize making more movies both created and centered around women!
Barbie is not the first example of its kind, as The LEGO Movie franchise kicked off the trend in 2014. Nevertheless, Barbie's remarkable accomplishments have served as a catalyst for Mattel, leading to plans for numerous other movies inspired by toys. Among the upcoming releases are the highly anticipated Polly Pocket movie, an American Girl movie, Hot Wheels, and even a Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots movie.
Ignoring the larger significance of what Barbie represents for women in Hollywood, by solely focusing on the success of toy-based movies, is a missed opportunity. Park's statement highlights that Barbie is a movie that not only features women but is also created by women. It addresses themes of patriarchy and showcases a woman-centered narrative, both on and off screen. Directed by Greta Gerwig, Barbie has become the highest-grossing film directed by a woman in domestic box office history. Additionally, the film proved to be financially rewarding for Margot Robbie, who earned a reported $50 million from her salary and box office bonuses as both an actor and producer.
Therefore, Park's argument is valid. While Barbie may operate within the confines of its toy universe, its success should serve as a wake-up call for Hollywood. It demonstrates that audiences are interested in films that highlight women, are created by women, and explore feminist themes. It is high time that Hollywood acknowledges Barbie as a victory not only for the toy industry in films but also for women as a whole.
Source: Rolling Stone
