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Tag: Greta Gerwig

  • Greta Gerwig’s ‘Barbie’ Triumph: First Female-Directed Billion-Dollar Global Box Office Success

    The world of cinema has been painted pink as Warner Bros. Pictures’ “Barbie” speeds past the billion-dollar box office threshold. Just 17 days after release in North America and most international markets, this pop culture phenomenon has amassed a staggering $1.0315 billion worldwide. Of this, $459.4 million came from domestic theaters, with $572.1 million garnered overseas.

    Greta Gerwig: A Pioneer in Cinema

    ‘Barbie’ also solidifies Greta Gerwig’s place in the annals of film history. With this monumental success, she becomes the first woman to cross the billion-dollar benchmark as a solo director. This milestone announcement was shared by Jeff Goldstein, President of Domestic Distribution, and Andrew Cripps, President of International Distribution, for Warner Bros. Pictures.

    The public can glimpse the magic behind the scenes in a featurette titled, “Greta’s Vision” for “Barbie”. Watch the “Greta’s Vision” for Barbie in this featurette:

    ‘Barbie’ Shattering Expectations

    In their statement, Goldstein and Cripps confessed that ‘Barbie’s’ unprecedented performance left them at a loss for words. In their words, the movie has blown “as distribution chiefs, we’re not often rendered speechless by a film’s performance, but Barbillion has blown even our most optimistic predictions out of the water. This is a watershed moment for ‘Barbie,’ and no one but Greta Gerwig could have brought this cross-generational icon and her world to life in such a funny, emotional and entertaining story, one that is resonating with all four quadrants of moviegoers and literally turning the entire world pink. Long lines and repeat viewings prove that movies are back in a big, big way, and we look forward to seeing just how far ‘Barbie’ can go in the real world.”

    They hailed the success as a “watershed moment” for ‘Barbie,’ attributing its global resonance to Gerwig’s unique storytelling ability. 

    Greta Gerwig 2

    A Billion-Dollar Vision

    Echoing this sentiment, Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy, Co-Chairs & CEOs of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, cited the exceptional teamwork that led to the movie’s overwhelming success. They highlighted Gerwig’s exceptional contribution, stating “A massive achievement like this is possible when you have an incredible filmmaking team, with cast and crew coming together to create a truly special moviegoing experience. Along with our partners at Mattel, and with the support of the entire Warner Bros. Discovery family, we are thrilled that audiences the world over are embracing the ‘Barbie’ movie in such a profound way. With ‘Barbie’ becoming the biggest film at the summer box office, Greta now joins an elite group of writer/directors whose singular vision has generated $1 billion at the global box office, a milestone that is testament to her brilliance and to her commitment to deliver a movie that Barbie fans of every age want to see on the big screen.”

    ‘Barbie’: A Record-Breaking Phenomenon

    Since its highly-anticipated debut, ‘Barbie’ has not only met but surpassed every studio benchmark, setting all-time daily, weekly, and weekend records. It holds the distinction of being the fastest film to reach $400 million domestically and $500 million internationally.

    Barbie Margot Robbie

    ‘Barbie’ continues to bring joy to audiences, showing exclusively in cinemas worldwide. In the Philippines, ‘Barbie’ is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Discovery company.

    Now showing in Philippine cinemas, “Barbie” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Discovery company.

    BARBIE WORLD MARQUEE

    Join the global conversation about ‘Barbie’s’ historic success using the hashtags  #Barbie #BarbieTheMovie

    Photo & Video Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

  • Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” Opens in Ph July 19, Granted Permit in Other Asian Countries

    Greta Gerwig, who directed the highly anticipated “Barbie” movie. The best way to achieve this? Pink, and lots of it! “One of the first days I met with [production designer] Sarah Greenwood and the art team, we looked at all the different shades of pink to determine how they would interact,” adds Gerwig. “As a little girl, I liked the brightest pinks, but Barbie Land would incorporate the full spectrum of the color, so it was important to figure out where those bright pinks would live alongside our palest, pastel pink, and of course every tone of pink in between.”

    Another unique thing about Barbie Land: “There’s no place for Newton’s laws in Barbie Land,” says Gerwig. “There is no wind, there is no sun, no gravity and no water, but as filmmakers we do live in a world of physics, so when dealing with the reality of Barbie Land, there were the rules of Barbie Land and then there were the rules we’ve set up for the filmmaking, and then how those two things interacted. I’m in love with 1950s soundstage musicals, those wonderfully artificial spaces, and because Barbie was invented in 1959, it felt like we could ground everything in that look and not be so beholden to it. I want everyone to feel like they can reach up to the screen and touch everything, because that’s the great thing about dolls and toys.” 

    Gerwig grew up with Barbie. She shares that when she was little, “I was always waiting for our neighbors’ children to grow tired of theirs so they would give me the hand-me-down Barbies.  That was the big thing I was always looking forward to.  I have a very vivid, visceral memory of Barbie and what it meant.”

    Her own love for Barbie when she was a kid helped Gerwig understand Barbie the way she’s meant to be understood. “The idea of the multiplicity of the Barbies and then the Kens really did come out of my first meeting with Mattel, when I started talking about different characters and they said, ‘No, we don’t have different characters. All of these women are Barbie,’” shares Gerwig. “And I replied that if all of these women are Barbie then Barbie is all of these women, and they said, ‘Yes.’”

    Barbie Greta Gerwig
    Greta Gerwig

    Robbie Brenner, who runs the movie division of Mattel, and is one of the producers of “Barbie,” lauds Gerwig’s vision for the film. “It’s amazing how Barbie has evolved as something really wonderful to play with and also to dream with,” she says. “That said, there are people who aren’t fans of Barbie, and Greta and Noah [Baumbach] did what they do so brilliantly, which is to explore all sides of Barbie and of the conversation around Barbie. By laughing with and embracing all things about Barbie at the same time makes the movie complex, interesting and simply brilliant.”

    Margot Robbie, who plays the titular doll in the film, gives high praise to Gerwig too: “Greta has this superpower in the vibe she creates on set, which is so in line with what we wanted Barbie Land to be: bright, happy and supportive. Greta is the happiest, loveliest, most supportive director and she’s also insanely talented. She’s literally got Barbie energy.”

    The highly anticipated movie about the iconic doll has been rated PG without cuts by the Movie & Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), which means children below 13 years old and below will be allowed admission if they are accompanied by an adult.  

    “Barbie” has also been granted permits for exhibition without cuts in other Asian countries such as Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea.

    Barbie Michael Cera America Ferrera Greta Gerwig Ryan Reynolds Margot Robbie Issa Rae Kate McKinnon
    Michael Cera, America Ferrera, Greta Gerwig, Ryan Gosling, Margot Robbie, Issa Rae, and Kate McKinnon

    “Barbie,” directed by Gerwig and starring Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, opens in Philippine cinemas July 19. Reserve your tickets now at  https://www.barbiemovie.com.ph/ 

    About “BARBIE”

    To live in Barbie Land is to be a perfect being in a perfect place. Unless you have a full-on existential crisis.  Or you’re a Ken.

    From Oscar-nominated writer/director Greta Gerwig comes “Barbie,” starring Oscar-nominees Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken, alongside America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Michael Cera, Ariana Greenblatt, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman and Will Ferrell. The film also stars Ana Cruz Kayne, Emma Mackey, Hari Nef, Alexandra Shipp, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Simu Liu, Ncuti Gatwa, Scott Evans, Jamie Demetriou, Connor Swindells, Sharon Rooney, Nicola Coughlin and Oscar-winner Helen Mirren.

    Gerwig directed “Barbie” from a screenplay by Gerwig & Oscar nominee Noah Baumbach, based on Barbie by Mattel. The film’s producers are Oscar nominee David Heyman, Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Robbie Brenner, with Michael Sharp, Josey McNamara, Ynon Kreiz, Courtenay Valenti, Toby Emmerich and Cate Adams serving as executive producers.

    In Philippine cinemas starting July 19, “Barbie” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Discovery company.

    Join the conversation online and use the hashtag #Barbie #BarbieTheMovie

    Photo & Video Credit: “Warner Bros. Pictures”