‘Barbie’ didn’t just break the 2023 opening weekend record. It also broke the weekend record for the first time for a film directed by a woman.
With $162 million in ticket sales from North American theaters, according to the studio’s tally on Monday, “Barbie” surpassed both Anna Boden’s “Captain Marvel,” which premiered in 2019 at $153.4 million, and Patty Jenkins’ 2017 film “Wonder Woman,” which premiered at $103.3 million. Boasting a reported $145 million price tag, “Barbie” was cheaper to make than “Captain Marvel” ($152 million) and “Wonder Woman” ($200 million).
Globally, Wonder Woman’s debut was $228.3 million, while it was well above $337 million, while Captain Marvel’s worldwide release surpassed it with $455 million.
The debut of “Barbie” was significant in that 65% of the audience was female, which in itself isn’t surprising, but box office history has shown that movies with grosses over $100 million tend to have a male audience (including both “Captain Marvel” and “Wonder Woman”). As many have pointed out, this is probably more due to the lack of blockbuster movies being made and promoted with blockbuster female audiences in mind than it is to rules.
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Gerwig co-wrote and directed “Barbie,” which was to be the first of many Mattel-inspired spin-offs. And in just one week, it has already surpassed her previous two domestic box office hits, “Little Women” ($108.1 million) and “Lady Bird” ($49 million).
Now the question is how high Barbie can reach and whether it can surpass other top female-directed films. To reach the No. 1 spot in North America, “Barbie” would have to earn more than $477.4 million from “Frozen 2,” co-directed by Jennifer Lee. “Captain Marvel” came in second with $426.8 million.
10 great movies directed by women coming to Netflix in 2023
“Lost Daughter”
This 2021 psychological drama is based on the novel of the same name by Elena Ferrante and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal. The story follows Leda (Olivia Colman), a middle-aged woman who becomes infatuated with her young mother and her daughter while on vacation in Greece.
“Version 40 years ago”
Written and directed by Radha Blank, this comedy-drama follows a struggling New York playwright whose filmmaker makes a fresh start as a rapper at age 40. The movie boasts a staggering 99% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
“Mudbound”
Writer-director Dee Reese became the first black woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for “Mudbound.” This acclaimed historical drama tells the story of Jim He and her two families (one black, the other white) who lived on a farm in rural Mississippi during the Crow era.
‘anxiety’
Jennifer Blair’s 2017 documentary follows her personal journey with chronic fatigue syndrome and explores the lives of others affected by this often misunderstood condition.
“The Land of Solid Customs”
Nicole Holofcener’s 2018 drama follows a recently retired man who abandons his comfortable life and his wife for a fresh start. Instead, he found himself struggling with addiction and personal growth challenges.
“Bird Box”
This post-apocalyptic thriller from director Suzanne Bier will leave you on the edge. Starring Sandra Bullock, Trevante Rhodes, and John Malkovich, the film follows a mother and her two children on a perilous journey where the only way to avoid dangerous supernatural creatures is to go blindfolded.
“Elephant Whisperer”
Directed by filmmaker and passionate conservationist Kartiki Gonsalves, the 2022 documentary follows the bond between a married couple and the orphaned elephant cub entrusted to their care.
“Tinder Fraudster”
Felicity Morris made headlines in this viral 2022 documentary. The film tells the story of Simon Leviev, a con man who uses the dating app Tinder to connect with women and emotionally manipulate them to fund their extravagant lifestyles.
‘Invitation’
This 2022 vampire horror film, directed by Jessica Thompson, tells the story of a young woman who reunites with her distant family after the death of her mother, only to discover they hold a dark secret.
“Julie and Julia”
This 2009 comedy-drama is written and directed by Nora Ephron and stars Meryl Streep as chef Julia Child. The film contrasts Child’s early cooking career with her life as current New Yorker Julie Powell (Amy Adams).
Whether you want inspiration to bring into your own kitchen or just love watching mouth-watering footage of the best food in the world…
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