Barbie movie added £80 million to UK economy, says Warner Bros
Warner Bros have said. \
The production, directed by Greta Gerwig, created 685 jobs, involved over 6,000 extras, supported 754 local businesses, and paid more than £40 million in local wages. Filming primarily took place at the Warner Bros.
studios in Leavesden, Hertfordshire. Additionally, the film has generated £95 million in UK box office revenues, as disclosed in evidence presented to a Parliamentary committee.
Leavesden studio, known for hosting the Harry Potter franchise, The Batman, and Aquaman, has contributed to the filming of various movies. The 200-acre site, just north of London, has been used for the upcoming film Wonka, based on Roald Dahl's Charlie & The Chocolate Factory and starring Timothée Chalamet.
In a submission to the Culture, Media and Sport committee's inquiry into British film and high-end television, Warner Bros Discovery revealed that the UK is the company's largest base outside the US, with over 4,000 permanent staff. The studio plans to expand its capacity by more than 50%, creating an additional 4,000 jobs and serving as the hub for future films in the DC Studios stable.
In related evidence, Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire highlighted that the UK is the world's most popular filming location, with 23% of international feature film and high-end television productions in 2022 based in the UK, surpassing California at 21%.
