Barbie always looked set for an impressive debut after taking in over $22 million from Thursday previews, but it's fair to say that the movie has exceeded all expectations after a truly astounding audience turnout.
With a massive $155 million opening, Barbie has officially scored the best domestic bow of 2023 - as well as the biggest-ever debut for a movie by a female director.
The critically-acclaimed fantasy comedy/satire topped previous record-holder Wonder Woman (helmed by Patty Jenkins), and Captain Marvel (which was co-directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck).
This also means that Barbie has achieved the biggest three-day debut of the year - although The Super Mario Bros. Movie still holds the record for the best overall debut of 2023 ($224 million) due to three days of previews.
Globally, Barbie is already approaching the $340 million mark.
From Oscar-nominated writer/director Greta Gerwig (Little Women, Lady Bird) comes Barbie, which also stars America Ferrera (End of Watch, the How to Train Your Dragon films), Kate McKinnon (Bombshell, Yesterday), Issa Rae (The Photograph, Insecure), Rhea Perlman (I’ll See You in My Dreams, Matilda), and Will Ferrell (the Anchorman films, Talladega Nights), and more.
Gerwig directs from a screenplay she penned alongside Oscar nominee Noah Baumbach (Marriage Story, The Squid and the Whale), based on the iconic fashion dolls by Mattel.
The film’s producers are Oscar nominee David Heyman (Marriage Story, Gravity), Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Robbie Brenner, with Gerwig, Baumbach, Ynon Kreiz, Richard Dickson, Michael Sharp, Josey McNamara, Courtenay Valenti, Toby Emmerich and Cate Adams serving as executive producers.