Barbie Set to Surpass “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” as Warner Bros’ Highest-Grossing Film
In a remarkable turn of events, Barbie, directed by Greta Gerwig, is poised to overtake the box office collection of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” (2011) as Warner Bros’ highest-grossing film worldwide. This impressive milestone is expected to be achieved on Monday. According to Collider, Barbie has now secured the title of the highest-grossing global release in Warner Bros’ history at the domestic box office, surpassing the earnings of “The Dark Knight” ($533 million).
Variety reports that Barbie’s recent weekend performance contributed significantly to its success, generating $18.2 million from 12,852 screens across 75 international territories. This accomplishment propelled its total worldwide earnings to $1.34 billion. Notably, Barbie’s weekend earnings are merely $1 million shy of matching the lifetime earnings of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2,” which stands at $1.341 billion.
Barbie’s Triumph Over “The Super Mario Bros. Movie”
According to the Associated Press, Warner Bros. estimated Barbie’s earnings at $17.1 million during its sixth week of release. The film has already overtaken “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” ($574 million) to claim the title of this year’s highest-grossing domestic hit. With its $1.34 billion global earnings, Barbie is also poised to soon surpass the $1.35 billion worldwide earnings of “Mario.” Warner Bros. projected that Barbie’s Sunday earnings would reach $7.8 million, indicating that nearly 2 million viewers watched the film on that day alone.
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2”
Directed by David Yates, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” serves as the concluding chapter in the beloved Harry Potter film series. Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, the film wraps up the magical journey of the iconic trio.
The Phenomenon of “Barbie”
This weekend’s dominant force at the box office was undoubtedly “Barbie,” as affirmed by Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros’ distribution chief. The film features Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken. Marking the iconic doll’s transition into the real world, this live-action adaptation follows a string of computer-animated films and specials. Alongside Robbie and Gosling, the star-studded cast includes America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Helen Mirren, Issa Rae, Simu Liu, Michael Cera, Rhea Perlman, and Will Ferrell.
Clash with “Oppenheimer”
Barbie’s theatrical release in July marked a triumphant opening weekend, raking in a record-breaking $162 million domestically. Its launch coincided with Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer.” Despite the competition, Barbie has retained its allure, while “Oppenheimer” has achieved notable success, amassing over $300 million in the United States and $777.1 million globally. The film, centered around theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, features Cillian Murphy in the title role, alongside Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., and Florence Pugh.
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