Greta Gerwig and the March sisters are making a major mark at the box office. “Little Women,” which cost $40 million to make, has surpassed $100 million in North America, Variety confirms.
At the time of writing, the film has raked in $100,005,138 domestically and $64,611,579 internationally, amounting to $164,616,717 worldwide, as per Box Office Mojo.
The critically acclaimed adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s beloved 1868 novel is up for six awards at Sunday’s Oscars, including best picture, best adapted screenplay for Gerwig, best actress for Saoirse Ronan, and best supporting actress for Florence Pugh.
Set between 1861-68, “Little Women” follows Jo (Ronan), Amy (Pugh), Meg (Emma Watson), and Beth (Eliza Scanlen) March, sisters who battle societal expectations and experience loss and love on their journey to womanhood. Laura Dern plays their doting mother, Marmee, and Meryl Streep plays their judgmental Aunt March.
As Variety notes, the coming-of-age story’s box office success helps show Hollywood and theater owners “that moviegoers want to see more than just superheroes and franchise fare on the big screen.”
Gerwig’s solo directorial debut, 2017 Ronan-starrer “Lady Bird,” grossed $78,965,611 worldwide and received five Oscar nominations: best picture, best original screenplay and best director for Gerwig, best actress for Ronan, and best supporting actress for Laurie Metcalf. Gerwig’s directing nom made her the fifth woman ever up for the honor. Kathryn Bigelow is the only woman who has taken home the prize. She won in 2010 for “The Hurt Locker.”
Gerwig shared the best advice she received about being a first-time director with us. “Never try to be ahead of where you actually are,” she was told. “You only get to not know what you’re doing once, so make the most of it. You’ll never be so foolish and so brave again.” The multi-hyphenate also shared the worst advice she was given, which was about her career aspirations: “Women don’t really have the right personality traits to be directors.”
Up next for Gerwig is a live-action “Barbie” pic starring Margot Robbie.
