Ryan Gosling‘s box office performance reached unprecedented heights with Barbie, the blockbuster sensation that became a cinematic landmark in 2023. Starring alongside Margot Robbie, Gosling appeared in a film that amassed $356 million during its worldwide debut, eventually accumulating $1.4 billion globally, according to Box Office Mojo. This project marked a notable departure for the actor, who is often associated with dramatic and action roles, displaying his capacity to shine in a family-friendly blockbuster. His performance led to an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, further solidifying his star status.
Examining Gosling’s Filmography Beyond Barbie
Despite the massive success of Barbie, Ryan Gosling’s standing as a box office draw has often been debated, raising questions about his overall viability as a leading man for commercial hits. Many industry insiders have questioned whether his reputation as a box office asset is warranted. Prior to Barbie, Gosling’s previous box office highlight came with La La Land, the musical romantic drama directed by Damien Chazelle. The film, which came out nearly seven years before Barbie, generated $448 million globally during its initial run and surpassed $500 million after several re-releases. Even with such successes, Barbie required a mere 16 days to surpass La La Land and become the actor’s highest-grossing film to date.
His earlier works provide a more modest picture. Co-starring with Denzel Washington, Remember the Titans stands as one of Gosling’s few North American blockbusters, bringing in over $100 million domestically. Other romantic comedies like Crazy, Stupid, Love, which grossed $145 million, and The Notebook, with $118 million, have outperformed his many critically acclaimed indie films, but they too fall short of blockbuster territory. For most of his filmography, Gosling’s typical domestic openings hover around $11 million—as seen in releases like Drive, The Nice Guys, and Fracture—demonstrating a consistent pattern of restrained commercial returns.
Recent Projects and the Question of Commercial Appeal
The years following La La Land have presented challenges for Gosling in terms of box office prowess. Blade Runner 2049, while celebrated by critics, brought in $278 million worldwide but could not cover its significant production costs, making it a commercial letdown. The Fall Guy, a direct follow-up to Barbie, saw global earnings just above $181 million, ranking as the fourth biggest box office gross in his career yet far from the level achieved by Barbie.
Overall, prior to the Barbie phenomenon, the collective box office total for Gosling’s films stood at roughly $1.9 billion worldwide across two decades, giving an average of about $80 million per film. With Barbie included, this average has risen to $110 million per film, suggesting progress but still pointing toward the need for further substantial gains to match Hollywood’s leading stars.
From Academy Award® winning filmmakers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller comes #ProjectHailMary, starring Academy Award® nominee Ryan Gosling. Only in theaters and IMAX – 3.20.26 pic.twitter.com/O8lKbXOmoa
— Project Hail Mary (@projecthailmary) June 30, 2025
Looking Ahead: Can Gosling Sustain His Box Office Momentum?
While Ryan Gosling’s filmography prior to Barbie demonstrates steady if unspectacular returns, Barbie’s outlier success has shifted the conversation around his bankability. He continues to expand his repertoire with upcoming projects like Star Wars: Starfighter and Project Hail Mary, signaling an intent to further engage mainstream and genre audiences. Industry observers remain watchful, evaluating whether this surge in acclaim and earning power translates into a more consistent track record of major commercial success or remains the exception in a career characterized by strong performances but variable box office results.
