“Barbie” has answered the billion-dollar question with a resounding “yes.” Barely three weeks into its run, writer-director Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster has raked in an astounding $1.03 billion at the global box office, according to official Warner Bros. estimates. This makes Gerwig the first female director with a billion-dollar movie. As one half of the viral “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, it isn’t shocking “Barbie” has performed well.
1 release in these markets every weekend since its release, according to tracking site Box Office Mojo. “Barbie” also performed well in China, the second-largest market in the world and one that has becoming increasingly insular over the past few years. According to experts, franchise films like “Transformers,” “Fast and Furious,” and Marvel’s superhero movies tend to perform well with Chinese audiences.