Greta Gerwig's visionary take on the Mattel icon has been met with rave reviews and record crowds at cinemas in South Africa. The fantasy comedy, inspired by the popular and nostalgic line of toys, took in almost R12 million in its opening weekend locally selling 66,000 tickets and has generated more than $337 million worldwide. The film is the biggest industry opening in 2023 in 18 countries, including Australia, Brazil, and the UK.

In South Africa, Barbie broke records for the biggest opening for a film without format since the pandemic. It also became the second biggest opening of 2023. This is a phenomenal achievement when you contrast the film's big opening weekend with those of other contemporary film releases. Testament to the overwhelming power of the Barbie brand, Margot Robbie's star power and the appeal of Gerwig's work, it's sure to maintain its momentum and continue to be a box office hit in the weeks and months to come.

Barbie stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken respectively. The actors have been in the public eye for many months with sneak peeks, trailer hype and associated press in anticipation of film's release.

The movie's opening weekend success can be attributed to a number of factors, including Gerwig's unique vision, the strong cast and positive critical reception, landing a Certified Fresh Rotten Tomatoes Critics rating of 90% with a matching Audience Score. The film has been praised for its humor, heart, and message of empowerment.