STORY BY JANE VALADAKIS

Summer 2023: a summer that gave us Barbie Dreamhouses and abounding “Kenergy,” along with the origin story of nuclear weaponry. This past summer was one for the books in the movie industry, with many highly anticipated films simultaneously hitting the big screen. It was predominantly defined by the widespread “Barbenheimer” phenomenon fueled by the shared release date of the two strikingly dissimilar blockbusters, yet countless other movies made a trip to the theater worthwhile this summer. Below is a list of the top five highest-grossing movies of the summer in the United States, followed by a few honorable mentions (warning: contains spoilers). 

1. Barbie

Unsurprisingly, Barbie was the highest-grossing movie of the summer, coming in at $612 million at the domestic box office and setting the record as Warner Bros’ highest-earning release of all time. The film was directed by acclaimed writer and director Greta Gerwig and featured a star-studded cast adorned with big names like Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Kate McKinnon, and Will Ferrell. The film was an instant hit around the globe. 

While most expected the movie to be a lighthearted watch, many were surprised to find it embedded with many emotional themes about womanhood. The story follows Barbie and Ken’s journey to the real world, where Barbie quickly discovers that she is viewed much differently in this male-dominated reality. Contrarily, Ken is inspired by the patriarchal values he witnesses and proceeds to take over the Barbie Dream World, renaming it “Kendom.” The Barbies and Alan (Michael Cera) band together to reclaim the Dream World by pitting the Kens against each other. A particularly unforgettable part of the film is America Ferrera’s monologue about the countless expectations that come with being a woman, pulling the heartstrings of viewers around the world. Meanwhile, comedic relief is provided by Ken’s unforgettable musical number, “I’m Just Ken.”

Aside from its vibrant cinematography and clever writing, Barbie’s incredible soundtrack contributed to its massive success. Songs like “Dance the Night” by Dua Lipa and “Barbie World” by Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice, and Aqua became the songs of the summer. “What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish played over a montage of home videos portraying motherhood from the women who worked on the film. Overall, Barbie undeniably defined summer 2023. The public response to it was overwhelming, with moviegoers decked out in glamorous pink outfits flooding theaters everywhere. 

2. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

A sequel to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, this film was the second highest-grossing release of the summer, accumulating $381 million at the box office. What makes this saga so mesmerizing to moviegoers is its incredibly unique animation style. The animators utilize a “2.5D” style of animation, drawing influences from both 2D and 3D styles, and creating nontraditional visuals unlike any movie made before. Across the Spider-Verse went above and beyond the original film with its six different animation styles. Considering that the vast majority of animated movies only feature one animation style, it's no surprise that this movie was a massive hit.  

The film continues the story of young Miles Morales, who, in the last film, was bitten by a spider, which gave him superpowers. This time around, he learns about “canon events,” which are events that must occur for the multiverse’s timeline to unfold properly. In a major plot twist, it turns out that Miles was never supposed to become Spiderman, as the spider that bit him was from a different universe. What’s more, a second plot twist occurs in a mixup during Miles’s attempt to change the canon event of his father dying wherein he accidentally ends up teleporting to Earth-42 instead of his own reality. He finds that his dad has already died in this universe, and the alternate universe version of himself is the notorious villain, the Prowler. 

Ending on this ominous note, the movie leaves fans wondering what’s in store for the Spider-Verse’s main protagonist. The cliffhanger ending is undoubtedly a setup for a third installation of the saga, which was initially expected to hit the big screen in March 2024 but now is indefinitely delayed as a result of the writers’ strike. In the meantime, fans wait in anticipation for the return of the comic book-inspired multiverse they love so much.

3. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

The third addition to Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy series, this film had many Marvel fans leaving the theater with tears streaming down their faces. Vol. 3 was a huge success for Marvel, taking home a whopping $358 million at the box office. This recent release explores the origin story of the beloved character, Rocket the Raccoon, amidst a perilous mission to save his life. 

In the film, Rocket ends up wounded when Adam Warlock tries to capture him for the High Evolutionary, a scientist who seeks to create a utopian world by reengineering different life forms. It is eventually revealed that the High Evolutionary created Rocket through a series of cruel experiments, along with many other animals, although Rocket turned out to be the most intelligent. Some of these animals became Rocket’s friends, but they tragically were killed by the High Evolutionary during an escape attempt by Rocket. Ultimately, the Guardians defeat the High Evolutionary, rescue his test subjects, and save Rocket’s life. Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), the leader of the Guardians throughout the series, decides to go back to Earth and make Rocket and Groot the new leaders of the squad. 

While the movie has a happy ending, with its final scene set to the tune of “Dog Days are Over,” MCU fans will forever have a new view of the unapologetic Rocket. With Rocket and Groot officially being the new leaders of the group, many are hopeful for a Volume 4 of the Guardians saga to watch this new dynamic play out. 

4. Oppenheimer

Fourth in the rankings with a global gross of $310 million, Oppenheimer hit theaters with a bang (literally). The film was written and directed by Christopher Nolan and had an extensive run time of just over three hours. It starred Cillian Murphy as the famous scientist Robert J. Oppenheimer, who created the atomic bomb, along with other well-known Hollywood names such as Matt Damon, Florence Pugh, and Emily Blunt.

The film follows Oppenheimer through the works of his ingenious mind as well as his messy personal life, which all culminate in him leading the top-secret Manhattan Project and the successful creation of the world’s first atomic bomb. One of its most memorable scenes portrays the suspenseful test drop of the atomic bomb in the remote deserts of Los Alamos. With the potential threat of the bomb igniting the atmosphere and resulting in a full-blown destruction of the world within seconds, the harrowing sense of impending doom leaves viewers on the edge of their seats. After the bomb drops, there is a long moment of deafening silence followed by a sudden roaring implosion. Oppenheimer's struggle with agonizing guilt is depicted following the weapon’s use in Japan to end World War II. Additionally, the film portrays Oppenheimer’s complex legal trials in which he faced accusations of being a communist and colluding with the Soviets.

Oppenheimer rivaled Barbie for the movie of the summer with its brilliant cinematography and immersive telling of a story that forever changed the course of history. As is the case of most Christopher Nolan films, it was indisputably a booming success.

5. The Little Mermaid

Thirty-four years after the release of the original classic tale, Disney’s live-action rendition of The Little Mermaid brought a new life to the magical adventures of Ariel. It was massively successful, with a domestic gross of $298 million, making it the fifth most popular movie of the summer. Halle Bailey’s charming on-screen presence combined with her angelic voice perfectly captured the essence of Ariel as she starred alongside other Hollywood names, including Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Daveed Diggs as Sebastian, and Awkwafina as Scuttle.

The Little Mermaid mostly remained true to the original plot, although a few additions were made. This rendition added a layer of depth to Ariel and Prince Eric’s relationship that the original version lacked, creating a more sensical and less superficial dynamic between the two. Four new songs were also incorporated into the film, which were co-written by Alan Menken (one of the songwriters for the original Little Mermaid) and Lin Manuel Miranda. Among them were a Prince Eric solo, “Wild Uncharted Waters,” and a rap song by Sebastian and Scuttle, “The Scuttlebutt.” Despite initial controversy about the hyper-realistic character design of Sebastian and Flounder, this new take on the classic tale was a hit among moviegoers.