Summer blockbuster Barbie has shattered a new box office record for Warner Bros. and is now setting its sights on ‘Harry Potter’ territory.
The ‘pink fever’ of the Margot Robbie starrer has propelled the film beyond the $1 billion mark, securing its position as not only being the second highest-grossing title in the Warner Bros. portfolio, but saving face for the studio that suffered the worst box office flop in history with The Flash.
Barbie has soared to a worldwide box office total of $1.18 billion, overtaking the previous second-place holder, Aquaman, which brought in $1.15 billion. The only film that stands ahead of Barbie in the Warner Bros. ranks is 2011’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, with an impressive $1.34 billion in global earnings.
The $160 million difference between Barbie and Harry Potter may appear minor on paper, but it represents a substantial sum. To put it into perspective, this gap is merely $8 million shy of the total worldwide earnings of the hit horror sequel Scream VI.
Barbie has defied expectations throughout its box office journey, debuting with a staggering $162 million during its opening weekend in the domestic market alone. While its weekend earnings have subsequently seen a decline, the film has maintained its grip on the top spot at the box office and continued to rake in profits.
With international ticket sales contributing further to its robust performance in the coming weeks, Barbie is poised to overtake ‘the boy who lived’ in no time. Additionally, the blockbuster faces limited competition as August comes to a close.
While potential contenders like the dual release of Strays and DC’s Blue Beetle might challenge its top position, neither currently seems likely to significantly dent Barbie’s existing viewership demographic, granting the film an unimpeded run through the rest of the month.
Directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie, Barbie debuted in theaters alongside Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer on July 21.
The film’s storyline follows Barbie (Robbie) as she embarks on a journey to the real world when her idyllic life in Barbie Land begins to unravel. Along for the ride is her stowaway boyfriend Ken, portrayed by Ryan Gosling.
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