Table of Contents
The movie “Barbie” has made history by becoming the first billion-dollar movie directed by a woman.
“Barbie,” which was directed and written by Greta Gerwig, earned over $1 billion at the global box office since its release on July 21. Paul Dergarabedian, a media analyst, says that only about 50 films in history have made a billion dollars.
Margot Robbie produced and played the character Barbie in the movie. Before the movie was created, she had a meeting with the movie studio and told them that she thought the movie could earn a billion dollars.
The movie’s marketing campaign was highly successful and created a lot of buzz.
Barbie was released at the same time as the movie “Oppenheimer,” so the media and fans created the word “Barbenheimer” which trended online. Many saw both movies on the same weekend.
“Barbie” was a big hit globally, especially in countries like the United Kingdom, Mexico, and Australia. Surprisingly, “Barbie” was successful in China although Barbie dolls are not well-known to all generations there.
Barbie’s global iconic status is a big reason for the film’s success. Michael Berry, who researches Chinese cinema and pop culture at UCLA, says that the film cleverly appealed to both kids and adults. The film “Barbie” has started conversations about gender roles, empowering women, and the brand’s history.
Vocabulary
- Make history – to do something important that has not been done before and will be recorded publicly and remembered for a long time
- Direct – To be in charge; to command; to give orders
- Earn – to get something (usually money) because you worked, sold something, or helped someone; to receive
- Global – related to the whole world; everywhere in the world
- Box office – the place in a theater or cinema where you buy tickets;
- Release – make available to everyone; launch; put on the market
- Analyst – a person who studies and evaluates information or data to understand a situation or problem
- Produce – to create or make something
- Play a character – To act the part of someone in a movie, TV show, or play; Pretending to be someone else in a story
- Movie studio – A company that makes movies
- Marketing campaign – A plan to get people to buy or use something;
- Create buzz – Making people really excited and interested in something
- Trend – to be one of the words, subjects, or names that is being mentioned most often on a social media website or a news website at a particular time
- Hit – something that is very successful/popular, especially in the entertainment industry (hit movie, hit song, etc.)
- Although – even though; despite the fact; however; but
- Generation – a group of people born and living around the same time;
- Iconic – very famous or popular; widely recognized and well-established;
- Status – rank; classification; position ;standing; level in society
- Research – the process of studying a subject to learn more about it and gain new understanding
- Pop culture – The popular entertainment and trends of a particular time;
- Cleverly – Doing something in a smart and/or tricky way;
- Appeal – To be attractive or interesting to someone; to get someone’s attention; to be liked by someone
- Gender role – The social expectations for how men and women should behave; the things that people think boys and girls should do because of their gender
- Empower – To give someone the power or confidence to do something; To make someone feel strong and like they can do anything
- Brand – the name of a company and its image; one product with a specific name made by one company, e.g., Sprite is one of Coca-Cola’s brands
Quiz
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think the movie “Barbie” was so successful?
- Why do you think the marketing campaign for “Barbie” created a lot of buzz?
- What are your thoughts on the word “Barbenheimer” being created by the media and fans? Do you think it’s a catchy and creative word?
- The movie “Barbie” has started conversations about gender roles and empowering women. Do you think movies can influence how people think about these topics?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
The movie “Barbie” has made history _____ becoming the first billion-dollar movie directed by a _____.
“Barbie,” which was _____ and written by Greta Gerwig, earned over $1 billion at the global box office _____ its release on July 21. Paul Dergarabedian, a _____ analyst, says that only about 50 films in history have made a _____ dollars.
Margot Robbie produced and _____ the character Barbie in the movie. Before the movie was created, she _____ a meeting with the movie studio and told them that she thought the movie could _____ a billion dollars.
The movie’s marketing campaign was highly successful and created a lot of _____.
Barbie was released at the same _____ as the movie “Oppenheimer,” so the media and fans created the word “Barbenheimer” which _____ online. Many saw both movies on the same weekend.
“Barbie” was a big hit _____, especially in countries like the United Kingdom, Mexico, and Australia. Surprisingly, “Barbie” was successful in China although Barbie _____ are not well-known to all generations there.
Barbie’s global iconic _____ is a big reason for the film’s success. Michael Berry, who researches Chinese cinema and pop _____ at UCLA, says that the film cleverly appealed to both kids and _____. The film “Barbie” has started conversations about gender roles, _____ women, and the brand’s history.
