Barbie has massively exceeded expectations and is now on track to be the most successful movie in Warner Bros.' 100-year history. The trailers promised a unique take on the iconic Mattel doll, but it's fair to say no one anticipated it being so culturally significant.
Filmmaker Greta Gerwig and star Margot Robbie have created something special, that's for sure, and the latter's reward for bringing Barbie to the party has been revealed.
According to Variety (via Toonado.com), the Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey star - who also served as a producer on Barbie - stands to make around $50 million in salary and box office bonuses. Gerwig is also expected to receive bonuses, though we don't have any details about how much that will be.
Barbie has so far made $526.3 million domestically and $657.6 million at the international box office. Its $1.18 billion global haul makes the movie 2023's biggest title, and it's hard to imagine any other title this year which comes close to earning that much.
Robbie's massive $50 million payday is well-deserved and significant for a female actor in Hollywood. Ryan Gosling co-stars in the movie alongside the actress as Ken, though it's unclear whether he'll also receive box office bonuses.
Talk of a possible sequel has dominated headlines in recent weeks, though neither Gerwig nor Robbie signed up for one prior to this movie's release. Should they decide to return, both women will have a tremendous amount of bargaining power with Warner Bros. and Mattel, likely netting a historic payday.
"To live in Barbie Land is to be a perfect being in a perfect place," reads the movie's brief synopsis. "Unless you have a full-on existential crisis. Or you’re a Ken."
The epic ensemble includes Will Ferrell, John Cena, Simu Liu, America Ferrera, Ariana Greenblatt, Ncuti Gatwa, Emma Mackey, Alexandra Shipp, Michael Cera, Issa Rae, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Rhea Perlman, Kate McKinnon, Dua Lipa and Helen Mirren.
Barbie is now playing in theaters.