Movies

'Barbie' on pace for biggest opening weekend of 2023

The movie was written and directed by Greta Gerwig, who said she wanted to capture the complicated nature of the doll.

Barbie waving
Warner Bros. Pictures via AP
SMS

What can't Barbie do? She is now a smash hit on the big screen. 

"Barbie," featuring Margot Robbie as the Mattel doll and Ryan Gosling as Ken, is expected to rake in $155 million in its opening weekend in the U.S., according to Variety. 

That tops "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" for the best opening weekend of 2023. 

"Barbie" was written and directed by Greta Gerwig, who said she wanted to capture the complicated nature of the doll. While the Barbie has set unrealistic beauty standards, Gewig noted that she has still been an inspiration for girls and women.  

"Barbie was invented in 1959 and she had gone to the moon before women could have credit cards," Gerwig said on "The View."

In the movie, Barbie questions her "perfect" world and is thrust into reality, where she has to navigate the "real world" 

A look back at Barbie's history
A look back at Barbie's history

A look back at Barbie's history

Before Barbie, young girls were more likely to be playing with baby dolls — toys that encouraged them to aspire to raise children.

LEARN MORE

"Barbie" wasn't the only movie to see massive success this weekend. "Oppenheimer" surpassed expectations, earning $80 million, according to Variety. 

The Christopher Nolan film documents J. Robert Oppenheimer's journey as he developed the atomic bomb. It stars Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt and Matt Damon.

"Barbie" and "Oppenheimer," dubbed "Barbenheimer," created history between them. According to The Hollywood Reporter, this is the first time one movie has earned more than $100 million while another earned more than $50 million in a three-day weekend.

The success of the movies comes amid turmoil in Hollywood. Actors and writers are still on strike amid disputes over wages and emerging technology. 

AI fears are fueling the labor strikes in Hollywood
AI fears are fueling the labor strikes in Hollywood

AI fears are fueling the labor strikes in Hollywood

Artificial intelligence is poised to completely change the film and TV industries, but Hollywood’s workers want a say in how it develops.

LEARN MORE