The films “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” stormed North American cinemas, grossing an impressive $235.5 million during their opening weekend, providing a much-needed boost to Hollywood during a sluggish start to the summer at the box office and amid an ongoing strike.
“Barbie,” directed by Greta Gerwig, wowed audiences and critics alike, grossing a whopping $155 million in ticket sales. “Barbie” surpassed “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” as the biggest opening of 2023. Meanwhile, Christopher Nolan’s biographical drama “Oppenheimer,” which chronicles the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb, performed exceptionally well, grossing an impressive $80.5 million in its opening weekend, exceeding expectations and becoming one of the best debuts for a biographical drama.
The simultaneous release of both films sparked a frenzy on social media, coining the term “Barbenheimer.” This unusual double feature drew hundreds of thousands of moviegoers, resulting in a total weekend haul of more than $300 million, making it the fourth-largest box office opening of all time.
Both films received high marks from critics, with “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” receiving 90 percent and 94 percent, respectively, on Rotten Tomatoes. “The Barbenheimer thing was a real boost for both movies,” said Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros.’ president of domestic distribution. It is a proud moment for all of us.”
The outstanding performance of “Barbenheimer” comes at a critical juncture for Hollywood, which is dealing with its most significant strike in decades. Furthermore, highly anticipated films such as “The Flash” and “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” performed poorly at the box office in June and July.
As a result of “Barbenheimer’s” strong performance, the rest of the top five box office films trailed far behind. The controversial action thriller “Sound of Freedom” earned $20.14 million in third place, despite critics pointing out its alleged promotion of QAnon conspiracy theories. The top five were rounded out by “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” from Paramount and “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” which earned $19.5 million and $6.7 million, respectively.
The National Association of Theatre Owners’ CEO, Michael O’Leary, was effusive in his praise for the historic weekend: “This was a phenomenal experience for people who love films on the big screen,” he said in a statement on Sunday.
Finally, “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” proved to be a formidable box office duo, providing audiences with an unforgettable cinematic experience and revitalising Hollywood’s spirit in the face of industry challenges. “Barbenheimer” has undoubtedly left a lasting impression on the world of cinema, thanks to their impressive critical acclaim and record-breaking earnings.
