Greta Gerwig’s highly anticipated film raked in a staggering $162 million during its opening weekend, setting a new record.
With a stellar cast and crew, a fierce box office competition, and arguably one of the most effective big-budget marketing campaigns in recent memory, Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” premiered to a monumental $162 million in its debut weekend. This impressive figure not only marks the biggest opening of the year but also establishes a new record for the highest-grossing debut for any female director in history.
“Barbie” masterfully blends absurdist comedy with poignant reflections on the realities of living as a woman in a patriarchal society—and it doesn’t shy away from sprinkling in a good measure of old-school musical numbers. Surprisingly, it manages to infuse what could have been a mere Mattel advertisement with genuine emotion and enjoyment. In an era where a financially successful bad movie seems inevitably poised to spawn a franchise, a question naturally arises:
Can We Expect a Sequel for Barbie?
Ryan Gosling, who plays the Ken to Margot Robbie’s quintessential Barbie, recently told Entertainment Tonight that he would collaborate with Robbie and Gerwig on any project. This statement potentially opens the door to a Ken-centric sequel—an enticing prospect, given that his portrayal of the bleach-blond “himbo” was undeniably one of the film’s standout performances.
Interestingly, in a move that deviates from industry norms, none of the lead trio in “Barbie” signed a contract committing them to a sequel. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. approached Gerwig about producing additional films several months ago, but her team wisely postponed negotiations until after the film premiered. Given the film’s box office triumph, this strategy could result in a significant payday for the director should she decide to helm a franchise.
As for Robbie, she remains ambivalent about launching a live-action Barbie series, despite Mattel’s evident intentions to continue producing toy-inspired films. “It could go a million different directions from this point,” the actor, who also served as a producer on the film, told Time. “But I think you fall into a bit of a trap if you try and set up a first movie while also planning for sequels.”
In a similar vein, Gerwig, celebrated for her incisive depictions of young women in films like “Lady Bird” and “Little Women,” acknowledged the commercial aspects of such movies, noting that she had to strive to imprint her unique voice onto “Barbie.” In a conversation with The New York Times, she disclosed that, as of now, she has no plans to create a sequel.
“At this moment, it’s all I’ve got,” she stated. “I feel like that at the end of every movie—like I’ll never have another idea and everything I’ve ever wanted to do, I did. I wouldn’t want to squash anybody else’s dream, but for me, at this moment, I’m at totally zero.”
For the time being, it seems best to simply revel in the original “Barbie” film—although we can always hold out hope for more Matchbox Twenty covers courtesy of Ryan Gosling.