Warner Bros. Discovery announced Monday that its summer blockbuster Barbie will debut on subscription streaming smorgasbord Max on Dec. 15, just four days shy of the six-month anniversary for its boffo theatrical release.
In an era in which the “window” between a film's multiplex debut and its SVOD premiere can be well under two months — witness the December 1 Peacock premiere of Universal's Exorcist: Believer following its October 6 box office release — Barbie has certainly extended its 15 minutes (as Sunday night’s 60 Minutes profile of director Greta Gerwig further demonstrates).
Barbie generated nearly $1.442 billion at the global box office over the summer, then stayed parked as a $25 ($30 if you wanted 4K) for-sale-only transactional streaming title via Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu and other digital movie stores for several months.
The film didn't become available as a less expensive for-rental DVD/Blu-ray title until mid-October. (It remains at the top of the revenue charts for this now decidedly niche business.)
Barbie only became available as a $5.99 digital rental title in late November.
It's tough to say exactly how much Barbie made for Warner and licensor Mattel during what became a traditionally expansive — now fairly uncommon — “home entertainment” run. But judging by the 16% jump in Barbie merchandise sales reported by toymaker Mattel back in late October, it seems like it might be a lot.
