HEY, HOLLYWOOD! THE NEXT “WICKED” OR “BARBIE”? FEMALE-DRIVEN HITS ARE TAKING OVER.
First of all, Deadline is spot on: women are the ultimate ticket-selling ninjas, and they’ve propelled “Wicked” to a cool $500 million worldwide. And while “Wicked” might not chase down “Barbie’s” $1.4 billion (thanks, international market), it’s proof that the female audience is a financial powerhouse and loves a good event flick.
Here’s the tea: replicating “Wicked’s” success isn’t about finding the next musical or making more toy-based movies (even though Barbie rocked our socks). It’s all about creating films specifically for the massive, increasingly affluent female audience. Forget trying to morph male action heroes into female leads (sorry, but the box office isn’t feeling it). We need movies by women, for women, marketed to women. The men? They’ll follow.
SO, WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON? SOME SPARKLY IDEAS:
POLLY POCKET: Mattel’s next big swing, directed by Lena Dunham and starring Lily Collins. Maybe it won’t hit Barbie’s billion-dollar mark, but it could surprise. Dunham’s got the creds, and Collins has her “Emily in Paris” fanbase. Anything’s possible.
THE SIMS: Brilliant. With 70 million players (a lot of them women) deeply attached to the game, Amazon’s snagged a potential gem. Female directors, female writers, and Margot Robbie producing—she totally gets the market.
WUTHERING HEIGHTS: Hello, Margot again. This one’s got the drama but maybe not the brand power to hit “Wicked” heights. Still, the buzz is real, especially with all the chatter about needing a theatrical release (sorry, Netflix).
THE HOOVERVERSE: No single title might hit “Barbie” or “Wicked” levels, but combined, Colleen Hoover’s adaptations will definitely rake in the cash. Her brand is huge.
MUSIC BIOPICS: The Madonna movie’s getting back on track, and a Britney Spears biopic could totally do “Bohemian Rhapsody” numbers. Imagine the possibilities!
BOTTOM LINE: The female audience is a goldmine, and it’s time Hollywood consistently caters to it. “Wicked” and “Barbie” are blueprints for success: quality content that speaks to women, by women, and for women. This isn’t a trend; it’s an evolution. Hollywood, take note.
What’s your take? Got any other brilliant ideas for the next big female-driven hit? Drop your thoughts below!
