LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� 鈥淏arbie鈥� has legs. Director 's film phenomenon remained a runaway No. 1 at the box office in its fourth week, bringing in $33.7 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.
The Margot Robbie-led and produced film from Warner Bros., still in 4,137 theaters, refused to drop off as most box-office toppers have this year, surpassing $500 million in North America overall a week after it crossed the $1 billion mark globally 鈥� a record for a female director.
The second half of the 鈥淏arbenheimer鈥� duo, returned to the No. 2 spot in its own fourth week after a week at No. 3 overall. The Christopher Nolan-directed film from Universal Pictures brought in $18.8 million from 3,761 locations for an overall domestic total of $264.3 million.
The top pair had thin competition. The week's only major wide release, Universal's 鈥淭he Last Voyage of the Demeter,鈥� finished fifth with a $6.5 million opening weekend.
in its second week, earned $15.6 million domestically for third place, and the Jason Statham shark sequel, brought in $12.7 million, dropping from second to fifth in its second week in theaters.
鈥淏arbie鈥� is poised to become 2023鈥檚 top film. Its $526.3 million domestic total and $1.18 billion global bankroll currently sits second behind 鈥淭he Super Mario Bros. Movie,鈥� which earned $574.2 million North America, and $1.358 billion globally in the spring. It's also the second-highest grossing film in the history of 鈥淲arner Bros.,鈥� behind only 2011鈥檚 鈥淗arry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.鈥�
The sustained performance of the Mattel movie continues to flip the script on what had been a weak year in theaters, with major sequels underperforming including 鈥淚ndiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" and 鈥淢ission: Impossible 鈥� Dead Reckoning Part I,鈥� which remained in the top 10 this week with $4.7 million.
鈥�'Barbie' is as hot a commodity as it was in its first week. It's just ensconced at the No. 1 spot, and I don鈥檛 know if it鈥檚 going anywhere soon,鈥� said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore. 鈥淎nd Oppenheimer right there with it. They鈥檙e just drafting off each other in this box office NASCAR race.鈥�
The put the industry-wide summer total ahead of 2022. It was lagging behind just a month ago.
鈥淚f you think of what 鈥楤arbie鈥� and 鈥極ppenheimer鈥� together 鈥� just those two movies 鈥� have contributed in these weekends at the box office, it鈥檚 really a staggering number," Dergarabedian said.
All movies combined this summer have earned $3.63 billion in North America. With significant releases remaining in August, including DC Comics' 鈥淏lue Beetle,鈥� the video game adaptation 鈥淕ran Turismo,鈥� and the Denzel Washington sequel 鈥淭he Equalizer 3,鈥� the box office has a chance of reaching the $4 billion that was considered a domestic benchmark for a strong summer before the pandemic.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. 鈥淏arbie,鈥� $33.7 million.
2. 鈥淥辫辫别苍丑别颈尘别谤,鈥� $18.8 million.
3. 鈥淭eenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,鈥� $15.6 million.
4. 鈥淢eg 2: The Trench,鈥� $12.7 million.
5. 鈥淭he Last Voyage of the Demeter,鈥� $6.5 million.
6. 鈥淗aunted Mansion,鈥� $5.6 million.
7. 鈥淭alk to Me,鈥� $5.1 million.
8. 鈥淪ound of Freedom,鈥� $4.8 million.
9. 鈥淢ission: Impossible 鈥� Dead Reckoning Part I,鈥� $4.7 million.
10. 鈥淛ailer,鈥� 2.6 million.
Andrew Dalton, The Associated Press
