The Barbie movie, attacked by conservative pundits for its pro-feminist message, is about to become the highest grossing movie of 2023.
The movie will surpass $574.2 million at the box office, putting it ahead of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which held the earnings title for most of the year.
Hundreds of thousands of people have gone to the film, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, directed by Greta Gerwig. The Barbie movie’s launch, coupled with Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” has been one of the most talked about cultural events of the year.
The film has earned over $1 billion globally and broken records for movies directed by women.
Conservative pundits, like the Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro, loudly complained about the film. They argued that the film’s message, centering the needs of women in an oppressive male-led society, was too “woke.”
Box office receipts would seem to show that the conservative point of view is out of step with the more progressive viewpoints of a majority of moviegoers. Conservative films have not been similarly successful.
One of the first political bloggers in the world, Oliver Willis has operated OliverWillis.com since 2000. Contributor at Media Matters for America and The American Independent. Follow on Twitter at @owillis. Full bio.