For the first time since the pandemic began, movie theaters were full. This was because of the release of Greta Gerwig’s film Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s biopic Oppenheimer. Dubbed “Barbenheimer,” the two films combined for the fourth-largest opening weekend in cinema history, trailing only the openings of both Avengers: Endgame and Avengers: Infinity War, along with Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The phenomena of “Barbenheimer” spread across social media, being dubbed one of the most hyped up and anticipated weekends in film history. As of August 11, 2023, Barbie has made over $1,000,000,000, while Oppenheimer has made just over $550,000,000.
Not only did these moves make large amounts of money, but both were critically acclaimed too. Barbie earned a score of 88% on the Rotten Tomatoes scale, while Oppenheimer reeled in a slightly better 93%. Both are projected to be nominated for Best Picture come awards season, and individual performances by actors have been highly applauded. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling have received high praise for their roles as the titular Barbie and Ken. Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., and Emily Blunt all delivered excellent performances in Nolan’s film. Overall, this was an incredible situation for the box office and for both theaters and fans alike.
With Barbie and Oppenheimer being such different films, one might expect them to draw very different audiences. However, many individuals booked double features on opening day, sitting through nearly six hours of film to watch both movies. “I loved both movies,” Helene Miller, 11, said. “But Barbie holds a special place in my heart. It was one of my favorite movies ever.” Audiences, critics, and the movie industry alike may not agree on everything, but there is one thing that is certainly more agreed upon than others, and that is the fact that both Barbie and Oppenheimer were incredible films in their own right.
