Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon Surpasses Barbie in Viewer Count: Unveiling the $1.6 Billion Revelation

Rebel Moon director Zack Snyder recently shared some interesting statistics to show that more people watched his Netflix space opera than Barbie. The movie, starring Sofia Boutella as Kora, tells the story of a lone warrior who assembles a group of fighters to protect a peaceful colony from an evil galactic empire. Rebel Moon was released on Netflix in December, following the success of Greta Gerwig's Barbie, which received critical acclaim and was a hit at the box office.

In a recent interview on the Joe Rogan Experience, Snyder discussed why Rebel Moon attracted a larger audience compared to Barbie.

Snyder shared the estimated number of viewers for Rebel Moon on Netflix and compared it to potential box office earnings. Surprisingly, his calculation surpasses the $1.446 billion generated by Barbie. Check out his detailed statement here:

When you think about Netflix, it's as simple as pushing a button to watch a movie like Rebel Moon, right? Currently, it has almost 90 million views from about 80 or 90 million accounts that tuned in. If we assume two viewers per account, that's the kind of math we're talking about.

Now, imagine if Rebel Moon was released in theaters instead of on Netflix. Based on the same math, that would be like 160,000,000 people potentially watching it. If each ticket cost $10, the total revenue would be...let's see, 160,000,000 multiplied by ten equals 1.6 billion. So, it's possible that more people watched Rebel Moon on Netflix than saw Barbie in theaters, right?

Barbie is currently available to stream on Max.

Rebel Moon's Reception & Popularity Explained

The Reception To Zack Snyder's Latest Movie Was Mixed

Michiel Huisman in Rebel Moon - The Reception To Zack Snyder's Latest Movie Was Mixed - Rebel Moon's Reception & Popularity Explained

Box office returns are a common way to measure a film's success, but it can be more challenging to evaluate a movie's popularity when it is released mainly on streaming platforms. When Netflix revealed data about Rebel Moon in December, they reported that the film had received 23.9 million views in its first three days. While this indicates a level of popularity, it falls behind other Netflix hits like Murder Mystery 2, Extraction 2, The Mother, and Leave the World Behind.

Critics gave mostly negative reviews of Rebel Moon, making it the lowest-rated movie of director Snyder's career on Rotten Tomatoes. They criticized the film for borrowing elements from other sci-fi works, as well as for its basic plot and underdeveloped characters. The audience score is slightly better at 58%, but it is still not very high, which could have impacted the film's reputation if it had been shown in theaters.

It is possible that more people have watched Rebel Moon on Netflix compared to Barbie in theaters. However, the reception for Barbie has been overwhelmingly positive. The movie is currently the highest-grossing film of 2023, with critics praising Gerwig's direction and unique approach to the iconic Mattel doll. This highlights the influence of streaming services like Netflix, making it more convenient to watch a movie with just a click of a button on a remote control rather than going to a theater.

Editor's P/S:

Zack Snyder's assertion that more people watched "Rebel Moon" on Netflix than "Barbie" in theaters raises intriguing questions about the evolving landscape of film distribution and audience preferences. While Snyder's hypothetical box office revenue calculation is speculative, it highlights the potential reach of streaming services like Netflix. The convenience and accessibility of streaming platforms make it easier for audiences to consume content compared to traditional theatrical releases, which may have contributed to "Rebel Moon's" wider viewership.

However, it's important to consider the different viewing experiences offered by streaming and theatrical releases. While streaming provides comfort and flexibility, the communal experience of watching a movie in a theater can enhance the cinematic impact and foster a sense of shared entertainment. The critical reception and audience scores of "Barbie" and "Rebel Moon" also suggest that quality and audience preferences play a significant role in shaping the success of a film, regardless of its distribution channel.