How Barbie and the Wonders Support Female Creativity

The year 2023 brought with it an avalanche of films written, directed, adapted, and starring women. From established, respected names like Greta Gerwig, Nia DaCosta, Adele Lim, Emerald Fennell and Sofia Coppola to debuts from Celine Song and Raven Jackson, women from diverse backgrounds have created timeless, unforgettable films that primarily female moviegoers have flocked to and adored . From raunchy comedies and hard-hitting dramas to historical time capsules and a film based on everyone’s favorite doll, the diversity of both the women behind the camera and those portrayed in front of it proved refreshing, necessary and popular.

Barbie was an international hit, grossing over a billion dollars at the box office and dominating the pop culture lexicon for the rest of the summer. Captain Marvel already had similar box office returns in 2019, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of the year (and coincidentally co-directed by a woman). Barbie And The wonders proved to studios that films with a female crew and cast were no longer just pretty to look at; They are necessary and vital for the cinema landscape.

Barbie was a bright pink pop culture explosion

On July 21, 2023, movie theaters everywhere were flooded with a sea of ​​pink. Women and girls of all generations came to the event in colorful, sparkling dresses Barbie, the latest film that Greta Gerwig directed and co-wrote. Fans couldn’t go more than five seconds without seeing something related to the film on social media or in any store. Pink clothes, glitter and “Hello Barbie!” greetings were on every street corner and in every cinema lobby. The film wasn’t just another summer blockbuster – it was an entire event in itself. While the publication of Oppenheimera film with a completely different aesthetic, tone and story, also helped bring people to the cinemas, as people had been anticipating the puppet’s live-action film long beforehand OppenheimerThe release date of has been changed to accommodate Barbie‘S. Women wanted to see the film, especially because they knew who was behind the camera and behind the script.

Greta Gerwig carved out a spot for herself as an indie darling in 2014 Frances Habut she rose to popularity with her directorial debut in 2017. Lady Bird. The film focuses on a tumultuous relationship between a Sacramento teenager and her mother and resonates strongly with a female audience. It wasn’t the first time a film documented the complexities of such a relationship, but it resonated with women and girls alike. Gerwig’s 2019 adaptation Little woman firmly cemented her as a writer and director who understood, both past and present, the female experience and the challenges and fears that come with growing up as a young woman. Seeing her embrace the doll that so many played with as young girls, before facing misogyny and the struggles of being a woman, was something moviegoers had been waiting to see for years. Barbie The wait was worth it.

Barbie was much more than just another drop in the ocean. It was a meaningful, deeply powerful film that made as many women cry as it did laugh. The themes of growing up, not knowing where you fit in the world, not feeling beautiful, and struggling to figure out what it means to be a woman in the world resonated with female moviegoers.

Barbie celebrates the power of female friendships

The next big release of upcoming female-directed films, The wonderswas released in theaters on November 10th. With the talented Nia DaCosta behind the camera, Marvel’s latest release could finally break her streak of formulaic, forgettable content that she has produced over the past two years, with a few exceptions, such as: Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3. While many female fans were excited about this new team-up film, the lack of hype and support for superhero films lately has been impossible to ignore. Superhero and Marvel fatigue isn’t going away any time soon. 2019 Captain Marvel grossed over a billion dollars at the box office The wonders officially set a record low for the MCU’s opening weekend box office.

Other female-focused projects did not experience such problems. Taylor Swift’s The concert film “The Eras Tour”. grossed over $100 million in its opening weekend alone. Sofia Coppola’s latest film, Priscillaachieved the second-highest box office of her career on the opening weekend. The wonders will face many obstacles in breaking even, but stranger things have happened, both in characters and in box office returns. After all, Carol Danvers’ entry into the MCU has performed above average at the box office, and WandaVision And Ms. Marvel were some of the MCU’s best-received TV projects.

Barbie proved that post-pandemic women were quite willing to return to the cinema, even two or three times, to rewatch a new favorite film, and that they wanted to dress up and have fun while doing it. But Marvel’s latest film might just win out Barbie and other women-centered films’ messages about feminism, women’s collaboration, and the different types of strength women possess. It might stand out in the sea of ​​superhero movies. Carol Danvers, Maria Rambeau, and Kamala Khan all had completely different personalities in their respective films and television shows. Seeing how they interact with each other, how their powers mix and work together, and what intergalactic battles they end up fighting is promising. The wonders could come back and show that female audiences may not have had enough of superhero movies yet. Carol, Maria and Kamala could become the best and brightest trio of 2023, going higher, further and faster than their previous installments.

Breaking down the final trailer for The Marvels.

The year of the women’s film will not be over yet

Taylor Swift’s The concert film “The Eras Tour”. In October, women and girls went to the theater with their arms laden with friendship bracelets to sing, dance and exchange bracelets with their friends. Sofia Coppola, a critically acclaimed director whose fans appreciate and applaud the depictions of girlhood in her films, had her latest film, Priscilla, hits theaters November 4th. While a concert film and the depiction of a toxic relationship hidden under the guise of glamor and fame couldn’t be more different, it was incredibly refreshing to see two films starring women (and one directed by them) focusing on different aspects of femininity . Audiences need to watch entertaining and motivating films Barbie And The wonders Just as much, they need films that deal with the trauma and misogynistic reality that many women sadly suffer, such as: Priscilla.

Women of all backgrounds deserve to see themselves on the big screen, especially when a woman directed the camera and/or wrote the script. While many men have told women’s stories well, it was powerful, important and long overdue for the film industry to produce such diverse films and showcase such diverse women. If the Academy unfairly snubs the majority of these women during awards season (only three women in the history of the Oscars have ever won Best Director), it will not forget the memory of the women who saw themselves in these films and them to cherish for the rest of their lives.

Barbie

Barbie is going through a crisis that causes her to question her world and her existence.

Release date

July 21, 2023

director

Greta Gerwig

Pour

Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Ariana Greenblatt, Helen Mirren

Evaluation

PG-13

Duration

114 minutes

Main genre

adventure

Genres

Adventure, comedy, fantasy

The wonders

Carol Danvers entangles her powers with those of Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau, forcing them to work together to save the universe.

Release date

November 10, 2023

director

Nia DaCosta

Pour

Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Iman Vellani, Zawe Ashton

Evaluation

PG-13

Duration

105 minutes

Main genre

superhero

Genres

Superhero, action, adventure

writer

Nia DaCosta, Megan McDonnell, Elissa Karasik