It was inevitable that Barbie would surpass the $1 billion milestone. This achievement may be attributed to varied components, such because the widespread recognition of Barbenheimer memes and the intriguing phenomenon skilled by some {couples} after watching the movie. Moreover, the presence of Ryan Gosling as Ken added to its success. Nevertheless, the principle cause for Barbie‘s triumph is its distinctive high quality as a movie, thanks partially to its proficient forged and the impeccable writing and route of Greta Gerwig.
Gerwig isn’t any stranger to creating good and heartfelt films about girls navigating their coming-of-age journeys (although none have been as high-profile or high-budget as Barbie). She made her mark as a filmmaker with the discharge of “Frances Ha” in 2012. Previous to Barbie, Gerwig wrote and directed “Girl Fowl,” a movie loosely based mostly on her personal teenage experiences, and “Little Ladies,” a 2019 adaptation of the beloved 1868 novel by Louisa Might Alcott.
Though Gerwig had achieved success along with her earlier movies, Barbie took her profession to new heights. It marked her first time directing a movie with a price range exceeding $100 million. Now that it has crossed the $1 billion mark, Barbie stands because the highest-grossing movie ever directed by a girl. The query stays: How a lot of the movie’s earnings did Gerwig herself obtain?
How a lot did Greta Gerwig make from directing Barbie?
On the time of writing, neither Gerwig nor Warner Bros. Footage have confirmed the precise quantity of her wage. In accordance with a Selection report, Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie have been every paid $12.5 million for his or her roles as Ken and Barbie, respectively. Selection additionally disclosed that the price range for Barbie amounted to $145 million. Given these particulars, one can assume that Gerwig acquired a considerable sum for her work on Barbie. Nevertheless, a director’s wage can fluctuate considerably, even for somebody as skilled as she is.
Most administrators are inclined to hold their salaries personal, however sometimes, this info turns into public data. In 2016, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Christopher Nolan, the director of the latest movie “Oppenheimer,” acquired an upfront fee of $20 million for guiding “Dunkirk,” along with 20% of the movie’s gross. The article emphasised that such excessive earnings is uncommon, even for famend filmmakers like Nolan. It was talked about that David Fincher allegedly missed out on directing “Steve Jobs” as a result of he refused to compromise on his $10 million price. In accordance with the report, administrators’ salaries throughout that point averaged from $750,000 to $1.5 million, relying on their earlier work.
Vainness Honest additionally reported comparable findings in 2017. The article famous that studios have been aiming to cut back dangers in an business more and more dominated by franchises, which led to decrease salaries for administrators. An nameless supply summed it up by stating, “On the shareholders assembly, they don’t care that David Fincher or Martin Scorsese directed the film. All they see is a big monetary loss, which they can’t have.” Nevertheless, one other supply talked about that youthful administrators typically commanded greater salaries in comparison with established veteran filmmakers. You will need to word that the panorama of the movie business has developed since these articles have been printed, and director salaries have probably modified as properly.
Whereas Gerwig has not disclosed the particular quantity she earned from directing Barbie, she did focus on her want to enhance her negotiating abilities relating to her wage in a 2020 interview with CNBC Make It. A part of her hesitation stemmed from the worry that combating for what she deserved may probably jeopardize the chance to make the movie. The shortage of transparency surrounding salaries additional complicates the negotiation course of. Gerwig defined, “Determining how you need to be reimbursed for one thing and what you’re price is sophisticated.” She expressed her want to finally undertake a compensation plan just like Nolan’s, which might be based mostly on the movie’s efficiency. If Gerwig carried out this technique for Barbie, it’s undoubtedly yielding vital rewards.