'Barbie' Was a Publicity Machine — Here's How Barbie and 4 Other Blockbusters Mastered the Art of Marketing'Barbie' reportedly had a $150 million marketing budget, and it exceeded that figure in its opening weekend. Here's how their marketing team pulled it off.

Barbie, the iconic doll that has captured the hearts of millions worldwide for over six decades, wascreated bybusinesswomanRuth Handler, the co-founder of Mattel.

Barbie was inspired by Ruth's observation that her daughter enjoyed playing with paper dolls representing adult women. Ruth envisioned a three-dimensional adult-like doll that would empower girls to imagine and role-play different professions and aspirations.

The first Barbie dolldebutedat the American International Toy Fair on March 9, 1959, in New York City, instantly gaining popularity and sparking a cultural phenomenon.

Over the years, Barbie has evolved to embracediversity, representing various ethnicities, professions and body types while remaining a symbol of inspiration, creativity and limitless possibilities for generations of children worldwide.

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'Barbie' debuted on July 21, 2023, to a historic$162 million opening weekend在国内,anticipat之前进来的方式ed $90 million to $110 million and, perhaps even more remarkably, surpassing its $146 million production budget.

But that's not why you're here. You're here because you've got your marketing hat on and are wondering, "Is marketing important when launching a product or a service?"

'Barbie' reportedly had a$150 million marketing budget. Here's the breakdown of some of the marketing campaigns:

• Awebsiteto make custom 'Barbie' posters.
• Progressiveinsurance partnership.
• Airbnb partnershipto create a life-size replica of Barbie's Malibu dreamhouse.
• Burger Kingcollaboration on a pink burger.

While the essence of a great film lies in itsstorytelling, there's no denying the impact of marketing in propelling a movie to phenomenal success. The marketing plan for 'Barbie' definitely paid off because 'Barbie' hadthe biggest opening weekend of 2023at the US box office.

In the fiercely competitive world of filmmaking, creating a successful movie requires much more than just a compelling script andtalented actors.

Over the years, several films have demonstrated the art of investing heavily inmarketingto achieve box office triumphs and leave an indelible mark on pop culture. Let's explore some of these movies that became cinematic juggernauts by strategically investing in their marketing campaigns.

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1. Avatar (2009)

James Cameron's groundbreaking sci-fi epic, "Avatar," took the world by storm and revolutionized how movies were made and experienced. With an estimated budget of $237 million, the film'smarketing campaignspared no expense. Avatar couldn't rely on brand (franchise) recognition to sell tickets, so it came up with an innovative promotional strategy:

• Imax3-D screening of the filmon 130 screens (16 nonsequential minutes) to raise awareness about the new 3-D technology for four months before the film's debut.
• A video game trailer.
• Mattel action figureset.
• Partnerships with McDonald's, Coke, LG and Panasonic.

The efforts paid off as "Avatar" became the highest-grossing movie ever, earning over $2.8 billion worldwide.

Related:From an Airbnb Stay at Barbie's Malibu DreamHouse to Frozen Yogurt Flavors and Park Benches—The 'Barbie' Movie Team Is Going All In on Marketing

2. The Avengers (2012)

Marvel Studios' "The Avengers" was a cinematic event that brought together Earth's mightiest heroes in a colossal ensemble spectacle. Marvel's marketing team meticulously laid the groundwork for this epic team-up, starting with individual character films like "Iron Man," "Captain America" and "Thor."

Marvel orchestrated a 5-year marketing plan by planting seeds for the all-star "The Avengers" movie in its preceding global hits:

• Iron Man(2008) - gross revenue of $585 Million
• Thor(2011) - gross revenue of $449 Million
• Captain America(2011) - gross revenue of $370 Million

If even one of the prior films had flopped, it is likely that"The Avengers" filmwould not have happened. The result? "The Avengers" became the first film togross over $1 billionwithout the help of a re-release.

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3. "Jurassic World" (2015)

Revisiting the beloved "Jurassic Park" franchise after a long hiatus was risky. Universal Pictures, however, made sure "Jurassic World" was a roaring success. With a substantial marketing budget, the studio launched anostalgia-driven运动that honored the original while presenting fresh, exhilarating content:

• JurassicWorld.com— designed like a park, including an interactive map, camera installations and digital tour of attractions.
• Jurassic World Youtube channel— corporate/educational videos about the park's staff, videos by Simon Masrani, park founder, on the park philosophy, and collaborations between lead actor Chriss Pratt and prominent YouTube channels.
• Shazaam app partnership— turned posters into dynamic content.

The film's marketing campaign paid off spectacularly, becoming the first movie to gross over$500 million worldwidein its opening weekend.

4. "Deadpool" (2016)

"Deadpool" defied conventional superhero movie norms by embracing its R-rated nature and quirky humor. Ryan Reynolds, who played the titular character, played a significant role in the film's marketing success. He actively engaged with fans on social media, shared witty promotional material, and even took part in offbeat marketing stunts, like posing as a faux bear for a Russian travel show. Some of the unconventional marketing campaigns:

• The Emoji Billboard- AdWeek described the billboard as "So Stupid It's Genius."
• Valentine's Day prank- jokingly released as a romantic comedy.
• Marketing on Tinder- users would match with Deadpool on the dating app.
• 3 Hours of Ads - Spike, MTV, and VH1 advertised nothing but Deadpool for 3 hours straight.

The unconventional approach worked wonders, and "Deadpool" became thehighest-grossing R-rated filmever.

The success of these movies is a testament to the power of marketing in the entertainment industry. By wisely investing in strategic and innovative promotional campaigns, studios were able to capture audiences' imaginations and generate unparalleled box office returns. Beyond their compelling stories and visual splendor, these films are shining examples of how marketing can elevate a movie from merely successful to a cultural phenomenon.