Summary

Barbie is not just a commercial success, but also a critical one, grossing over $1.2 billion at the global box office and becoming the highest-grossing domestic release of 2023. The involvement of director Greta Gerwig and co-writer Noah Baumbach brings a satirical and subversive edge to the film, making it a must-watch for moviegoers. The success of Barbie at the box office could boost its chances in the Oscar race, potentially leading to nominations in major categories like Best Picture and Best Director. Margot Robbie’s role as a producer on the project also brings attention to her chances of getting an acting nomination.

Barbie has achieved many accomplishments since opening back in July, and those accolades just keep growing. The film was well-received critically, it has cleared $1.2 billion at the global box office, and it has topped The Super Mario Bros.Movie to become the highest-grossing domestic release of 2023. That would be enough for any project, but Barbie is also likely to be in the conversation during awards season, and its Oscar chances for big nominations, most notably Best Picture, have only improved thanks to its box office supremacy.

Barbie’s Oscar prospects were being whispered about ahead of its release thanks to director Greta Gerwig and her co-writer on the project Noah Baumbach. They are no strangers to the awards circuit, and it was clear that their involvement would mean that Barbie would be something we didn’t quite expect.

This would be no straight adaptation of the Mattel doll line. We would be getting something more satirical and a bit more subversive. The end result continues to be a must-watch for moviegoers, with the film grossing $572.9 million at the domestic box office and counting as of this writing.

It’s set to be the biggest hit of the year, and it has fueled the summer box office, along with Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. One might not expect Barbie to also be one to watch with Oscar voters since the history angle of Oppenheimer might be more their speed, but Margot Robbie and company will be standing right alongside the historical epic.

Barbie Could Bring Big Ratings to The Oscars
Warner Bros. Pictures

A big reason Barbie’s big box office will boost its chances in the Oscar race is that the Academy Awards have long been accused of nominating much smaller films that casual moviegoers don’t see. Having the biggest film of the year present on Oscar night could ensure that the telecast, which has seen its ratings decline, could get a bump from fans curious to see what awards Barbie could take home. It won’t be enough for the film to snag several technical nominations. It will need some of the big ones of the night to garner fan interest, and this could play into having Barbie represented in key categories.

Related: Barbie: Could Ryan Gosling Actually Win an Oscar?

Don’t be surprised if you hear Barbie’s name announced as a Best Picture nominee alongside much more prestige films when the nominations are read. Not only does Barbie have critical love, but it also has box office on its side. During a time when the industry is still fighting to get people back to the movies, Barbie put butts in seats.

Its $162 million opening weekend was the first stage of this, but its weekday numbers showed its staying power. Grossing $20 million+ during the week ahead of its second weekend showed that this film was playing more like the latest MCU release. If everyone thought Top Gun: Maverick deserved a Best Picture nomination for its quality, and for saving cinema with its box office numbers, then Barbie would be in a similar conversation. Not only is it a good film, but its cultural impact has also left its mark on moviegoing in 2023.

The film’s box office will also make it relevant in other categories, most notably Best Director. Greta Gerwig is now the first female director to have a film clear $1 billion worldwide, which is a feat that should be celebrated. Her name in the Best Director race would be the icing on the cake, and the film’s box office longevity will likely be part of why her name will be announced.

That’s not to say that it guarantees a win by any means, but it will be a category that fans of the film will be watching, which will only give them more incentive to pay attention to the Oscars if she’s nominated. Gerwig could also hear her name in the Screenplay category along with Baumbach, but Warner Bros. still needs to decide if they’re going the Adapted route or Original. It feels like a sure thing either way because the script is one of its best aspects.

Margot Robbie’s Oscar Chances Have Increased Too
Warner Bros. Pictures

Even though Ryan Gosling earned much of the film’s early much-deserved Oscar buzz for his supporting turn as Ken (a nomination he certainly has on lock), Robbie has seen her name pushed into consideration for her third possible acting nomination in the titular role thanks in large part to the film’s success.

Not only is it a good performance that transitions from the hilarity of Stereotypical Barbie to a more grounded portrayal as she discovers the real world, but Robbie’s job as a behind-the-scenes boss on the project has also been a topic of discussion.

Related: Barbie’s Margot Robbie Knew the Film Would Be a Billion-Dollar Blockbuster When She Pitched it to Warner Bros.

Robbie serves as a producer on the project, so should the film get a Best Picture nomination, she’ll land one as well. The actress was a huge part of the film getting made as she pitched Warner Bros. on Barbie being an event, and now it’s their highest-grossing film to date. According to reports, Robbie could earn $50 million+ for her role as producer and actress on the project, thanks to the smart business move of getting a percentage of the box office profits. Her chances in the Best Actress category will come down to competition, but her big money moves with Barbie and its financial success have certainly helped her chances even more.

Barbie will certainly shine in other categories, including Original Song (please nominate “I’m Just Ken” for us to get a Gosling live performance on Oscar night), Costume Design, Production Design, and Makeup & Hairstyling. Those categories were bound to be sure things, but thanks to Barbie being a box office success story, its shot in every major category has only gone up, so don’t be surprised when it’s a Barbie world as the Oscar nominations are announced.