The Barbie film, in which Margot Robbie’s titular toy leaves her pink fantasy castle for the real world, has already grossed $1.38 billion (£1.1 billion) worldwide.

This has pushed it over the $1.36 billion earned by the Super Mario Bros. Movie.

Barbie has also contributed to the US summer box office exceeding $4 billion (£3.2 billion) for the first time since the epidemic.

Analysts did not expect theaters to achieve that mark, but the popularity of Barbenheimer – Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, both of which were released on the same day in July – drove takings above last year’s total of $3.4 billion (£2.7 billion).

According to industry insiders, the Super Mario Bros. Movie will be the top film of 2023. But Barbie, directed by Greta Gerwig, has proven them incorrect as well.

The Equalizer 3, starring Denzel Washington, became another summer success this weekend, grossing $34.5 million (£27.3 million) in its first three days at North American box offices.

However, there are concerns in Hollywood that the rest of the year would see a drop-off after projects such as Dune: Part II, Kraven the Hunter, and the Ghostbusters: Afterlife sequel were pushed back to 2024 due to the ongoing Hollywood strike, which forbids performers from promoting studio pictures.