Barbie, the live-action film based on the popular Mattel doll franchise, has become the highest-grossing movie of 2023 so far, with a worldwide gross of over $1.3 billion.
The film stars Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, and follows the two characters as they embark on an adventure in the real world. The screenplay is written by director Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach. The supporting cast includes America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman, and Will Ferrell.
Critics have praised the film for its humor, heart, and positive message about self-acceptance. Gerwig wanted to cover everything in the film in pink, causing a pink paint shortage during production. The film also features references to discontinued Barbie dolls like Allan, Ken’s friend who was discontinued.
Barbie has been nominated for three Golden Globe Awards, including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. It is still early in the year, so another film could potentially overtake Barbie as the highest grossing movie of 2023. However, it is in a strong position to maintain its lead, as it continues to play in theaters and has yet to be released in major markets like China.
The success of Barbie shows the power of the Mattel brand and the appeal of the character. It is also a sign of the growing popularity of live-action films based on toys and games. Barbie is sure to inspire other studios to develop their own live-action films based on popular properties.
Here are the top 10 highest-grossing movies of 2023 so far:
- Barbie ($1.34 billion)
- The Super Mario Bros. Movie ($1.35 billion)
- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse ($381 million)
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 ($358 million)
- Oppenheimer ($302 million)
- The Little Mermaid ($298 million)
- Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania ($214 million)
- John Wick: Chapter 4 ($187 million)
- Sound of Freedom ($181 million)
- Top Gun: Maverick ($160 million)
