Warner Bros: Barbie movie contributed over £80 million to UK economy

Warner Bros has reported that the Barbie movie, shot predominantly at Leavesden studios in Hertfordshire, was its most successful theatrical release ever and significantly contributed to the UK economy.

The studio's submission to a parliamentary committee inquiry into the British film and high-end television industry outlined that Barbie, during its UK production, added over £80 million in direct spending to the local economy, generated 685 jobs, and involved more than 6,000 extras.

Warner Bros underscored the movie's positive impact on local businesses, with 754 businesses supported and over £40 million paid in local wages.


In contrast, voices from the independent sector painted a less optimistic picture. Veteran producer Michael Kuhn declared the independent film sector in the UK as nearly dead.

Kuhn expressed concerns that the UK studio sector is heavily dependent on mainly US-based entities, and the exhibition sector is facing challenges due to studios prioritising streaming over theatrical release.

Another independent producer, Mike Goodridge, echoed these sentiments, stating the difficulty of operating independently in the UK.

He lamented the government's historical encouragement of US productions to shoot in the UK, leading to a decline in the domestic film industry, with UK talent increasingly involved in US movies and series.