Jodie Foster is lauding the success of Greta Gerwig's film, Barbie, and believes that the movie has helped to bring female directors to the forefront of the Hollywood industry. Foster, who has been in the business since the 1960s, noted that women filmmakers were extremely marginalized during her time. However, with the massive success of Barbie, which grossed $1.4 billion worldwide and became the top-grossing movie of 2023, the perception of female directors has changed.

During an interview with Variety, Foster expressed her admiration for Barbie and discussed how the movie would have fared differently if it had been released during her heyday.

She stated, "In the old days, they saw women as a risk. Not sure why they saw us as a risk — 50% of the population!" Foster is grateful that the industry's view of female directors and movies with female leads has evolved over time, and she hopes that this mindset continues.

Barbie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, explores the existential crisis of the iconic doll as she ventures into the human world to discover her true purpose. The film has been praised for its colorful portrayal of Barbie's world and its ability to achieve cinematic greatness while also making box office history.

Interestingly, Gerwig is not the first filmmaker to attempt a Barbie movie. Sharon Stone revealed on Instagram that she pitched a Barbie movie in the 1990s but was dismissed. However, Gerwig's success with Barbie has shown how much progress has been made since then.

Other actresses, such as Anne Hathaway and Amy Schumer, have also been attached to previous Barbie movie projects that never materialized. However, the success of Barbie has paved the way for more films centered around women's stories and has even earned the movie its first-ever Golden Globe award.