Greta Gerwig Didn’t Expect The ‘Barbie’ Outrage But Hopes The Film Is “An Invitation For Everybody To Be Part Of The Party”

To say Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” is a hit is a gross understatement. Not only did the film wow critics, with a great 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, but the comedy has connected with the general public in a massive way, earning a huge $162 million in its first three days. But that doesn’t mean everyone loved it. As with most everything in today’s culture, there are folks who enjoy something and then others who make it their mission to destroy that same thing. So, with “Barbie,” even when the world seemingly embraced the plastic doll movie, there were some Conservative folks who decided the film was “woke” and somehow a danger to society. Yes, that’s ridiculous, but it’s the way the world works nowadays.

And in a new interview with The New York Times, Greta Gerwig commented on the reaction to her new film, “Barbie,” both good and bad. While she’s excited by the overall impact the film has had on the industry and culture, she definitely understands there are people who are out there trashing her film, mostly due to its diverse cast and story focused on *gasp* women. 

READ MORE: ‘Barbie’ Review: An Existential & Electrifying Comedy Cementing Greta Gerwig’s Status As Master Storyteller

Overall, she’s just really excited about how people have responded, and she said, “I wanted to make something anarchic and wild and funny and cathartic, and the idea that it’s actually being received that way, it’s sort of extraordinary.”

As for the negative reaction, that’s something that caught the filmmaker off guard.

“No, I didn’t,” said Gerwig when asked if she expected the backlash. “Certainly, there’s a lot of passion. My hope for the movie is that it’s an invitation for everybody to be part of the party and let go of the things that aren’t necessarily serving us as either women or men. I hope that in all of that passion, if they see it or engage with it, it can give them some of the relief that it gave other people.”

READ MORE: Greta Gerwig Is “Terrified” Of Adapting ‘The Chronicles Of Narnia’ But “When I’m Scared, That’s Always A Good Sign”

Regardless of the reaction to the film, it’s clear that people are paying good money to see “Barbie.” With its massive opening weekend box office—the biggest opening ever for a female director—there are now questions about the future. This could be a huge franchise. However, right now, Gerwig isn’t even thinking about that.

“At this moment, it’s all I’ve got,” she explained. “I feel like that at the end of every movie, like I’ll never have another idea and everything I’ve ever wanted to do, I did. I wouldn’t want to squash anybody else’s dream but for me, at this moment, I’m at totally zero.”

Will Gerwig figure out a sequel? Does she actually want to do a sequel or move onto something else (such as the two ‘Narnia’ films)? We’ll have to wait and see. “Barbie” is now in theaters.”