Arts & Entertainment 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Greta Gerwig’s ‘Barbie’ “Barbie,” starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, has surpassed the U.S. $1 billion mark at the box office. And the Barbie magic continues. Reply (1)
Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling attend the European Premiere of “Barbie.” (Warner Bros.)
HOLLYWOOD, CA — “Barbie,” Greta Gerwig’s whimsically delightful take on the iconic doll’s story, has officially crossed the incredible $1 billion mark at the U.S. box office, earning Gerwig the distinction in cinematic history as the first-ever female director to join the one-billion-dollar club.
The movie, starring Margot Robbie in the title role and Ryan Gosling as Ken, is expected to continue to rake it in at theaters — Barbillion and counting. But have you heard everything about the movie? Related:
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Summer 2023 Blockbusters: Barbie, Ken, Indie And An Impossible Mission 10 Fun Facts About Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” From the fascinating set designs to movie references and fresco paintings, here are some fun facts you might not have heard about “Barbie.” 1. Think hot pink! That fluorescent Barbie Pink is inescapable in the movie. Warner Bros.: Think hot pink! That fluorescent Barbie Pink is inescapable in the movie. The Barbie Pink that has been associated with the Barbie brand since the 1970s dominates in Barbie Dreamland, where even the whites were replaced with the palest pink that anyone could possibly find in the world. And in case you’re wondering about plain black — No, it absolutely doesn’t exist in any of the set designs in the movie.
Notably, Margot Robbie, taking inspiration from the 2004 “Mean Girls,” encouraged the cast and crew to wear something pink every Wednesday. To up the ante, the star also enforced a caveat that those who’d rather opt-out had to pay fines to be donated to charity. And it worked fabulously. 2. Margot Robbie was not initially cast to play the iconic role of Barbie. Warner Bros. Since Robbie’s production company LuckyChap Entertainment acquired the rights to produce “Barbie,” the Australian actress was only going to work behind the scenes as a movie producer. However, when Gal Gadot — Robbie’s first choice to play the title character — could not commit to the role, Robbie stepped in to play the iconic part.
3. Ryan Gosling was a shoo-in favorite to bring in the Ken-tastic energy. Warner Bros. Writer-director Greta Gerwig and fellow screenwriter Noah Baumbach wrote the role of Ken specifically for Gosling. Robbie, who serves as the movie’s producer, also saw Gosling is undoubtedly Ken-tastic. 4. “Barbie” pays tribute to Stanley Kubricks’ “2001: A Space Odyssey” Warner Bros. The opening scene of “Barbie” is a homage to the opening “Dawn of Man” sequence in “2001: A Space Odyssey,” where a massive monolith appeared to represent the history of human evolution. As such, a giant Barbie appears to represent her ever-evolving world.
5. Margot Robbie is able to drive hands-free on set. Warner Bros. The wildly imaginative set-up adds authenticity to the scenes, all made possible by virtual reality technology and a remote-control transmitter that was specially made for the movie. 6. The Barbie ambulance is a life-sized replica of a toy ambulance. Warner Bros. When Ken gets in a surfing accident, a Barbie ambulance arrives to the rescue, replete with a doctor’s operating room within its confines. 7. Ken and Barbie are both eco-conscious. Warner Bros. The duo appreciates the significance of preserving and saving nature, so Barbie drives a Corvette EV, and Ken drives a Hummer EV. Meanwhile, Barbie has a flamingo mailbox outside her Dreamhouse that also serves as an electric charging station. Need we say more? 8. “Barbie” pays homage to the 1939 classic “The Wizard of Oz.” Warner Bros. Notably, Like “The Wizard of Oz,” “Barbie” explores a young woman’s path to self-discovery. Remember the Yellow Brick Road that Dorothy took in the critically acclaimed classic? In the same vein, Barbie takes the Pink Brick Road in her quest to find herself. 9. Margot Robbie performed her own stunts. Warner Bros. Amazingly enough, Robbie did not require any stunt double to do her own stunts, including the now-iconic Barbie foot sequence, in which the camera shows two high-heel-clad feet walking across the screen before slipping off Barbie’s hot pink shoes, all while the feet remain arched. How about jumping off the roof of Barbie’s 25-feet-tall Dreamhouse? Yes, the “Barbie” star did that too — fearlessly so.