The summer of 2023 will be remembered as the season of “Barbenheimer”, the phenomenon that brought moviegoers back to the theaters in droves to watch two of the most anticipated films of the year: Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer.

Both films exceeded expectations and shattered records, but it was Barbie that stole the spotlight with a staggering $155 million opening weekend in the US, making it the biggest debut ever for a film directed by a woman.

How Barbie Became a Box Office Sensation

Barbie, based on the iconic fashion doll by Mattel, is a colorful and comedic feminist fable that stars Margot Robbie as a young woman who discovers that she doesn’t fit in the perfect world of Barbies and embarks on an adventure in the real world. The film is written and directed by Greta Gerwig, who previously earned critical acclaim and Oscar nominations for Lady Bird and Little Women.

The film had been in development for years, with various writers and directors attached, including Amy Schumer, Anne Hathaway, and Patty Jenkins. Gerwig came on board in 2019 and brought her distinctive vision and voice to the project, transforming it from a conventional comedy to a subversive and empowering story that celebrates diversity, individuality, and creativity.

The film also features an impressive cast of supporting actors, including Chris Pine as Ken, Barbie’s love interest; Kristen Wiig as Raquelle, Barbie’s rival; Awkwafina as Renee, Barbie’s best friend; Billy Porter as Fabian, Barbie’s fairy godfather; and Daniel Kaluuya as Tommy, a toy store owner who helps Barbie find her purpose.

The film generated positive buzz from early screenings and reviews, which praised its humor, heart, and message. The film also benefited from a strong marketing campaign that highlighted its vibrant visuals, catchy songs, and star power. The film also tapped into the nostalgia and affection that many people have for the Barbie brand, which has been around since 1959 and has sold over a billion dolls worldwide.

How Barbie Broke Records and Barriers

Barbie opened on July 21, 2023, in 4,243 theaters across the US and Canada, and earned $70.5 million on its first day, including $22.3 million from Thursday night previews. The film went on to gross $155 million over the three-day weekend, surpassing The Super Mario Bros. Movie ($146.3 million) as the biggest opening of the year so far.

The film also broke several records and barriers for female filmmakers and representation. It became the biggest debut ever for a film directed by a woman solo, beating Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman ($103.3 million) and Anna Boden’s Captain Marvel ($153 million). It also became the biggest opening ever for a live-action comedy film directed by a woman, surpassing Elizabeth Banks’ Pitch Perfect 2 ($69.2 million).

The film also attracted a diverse and female-dominated audience, with women making up 65% of the ticket buyers and 40% of them being under the age of 25. The film also appealed to different ethnic groups, with 38% of the audience being white, 26% being Hispanic, 19% being African American, and 11% being Asian.

The film also performed well internationally, earning $182 million from 69 territories over the weekend, for a global total of $337 million. The film was especially popular in China, where it earned $62 million, making it the biggest opening ever for a Hollywood comedy film in the country.

How Barbie Outshone Oppenheimer

Barbie faced some competition from another blockbuster film that opened on the same weekend: Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, a historical drama about J. Robert Oppenheimer and the making of the atomic bomb. The film stars Cillian Murphy as Oppenheimer, along with Robert Pattinson, Emily Blunt, John David Washington, Michael Caine, and Kenneth Branagh.

Oppenheimer was also highly anticipated by fans of Nolan, who is known for his epic and complex films such as The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception, Interstellar, Dunkirk, and Tenet. The film was also praised by critics for its technical excellence, historical accuracy, and moral ambiguity.

Oppenheimer opened in 3,610 theaters in the US and Canada on July 21, 2023, and earned $33 million on its first day. The film went on to gross $80.5 million over the weekend, making it Nolan’s biggest non-Batman debut and one of the best ever starts for an R-rated biographical drama.

Oppenheimer also did well overseas, earning $93.7 million from 78 territories over the weekend, for a global total of $174.2 million. The film was especially popular in India, where it earned $12.5 million, surpassing Barbie and becoming the biggest opening ever for a Hollywood film in the country.

Despite the impressive numbers, Oppenheimer was overshadowed by Barbie, which had a wider appeal and a more upbeat tone. The films also catered to different demographics, with Oppenheimer attracting a mostly male and older audience, while Barbie appealed to a mostly female and younger audience.

The films also had different running times and ratings, which affected their box office potential. Oppenheimer had a runtime of three hours and was rated R for some violence and language, while Barbie had a runtime of two hours and was rated PG for some mild action and rude humor.

How Barbie and Oppenheimer Boosted the Box Office

Barbie and Oppenheimer were both released by Warner Bros., which had a dominant weekend at the box office. The studio also had two other films in the top 10: The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which came in third place with $19.5 million in its third weekend, and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, which came in ninth place with $2.1 million in its eighth weekend.

The combined grosses of Barbie and Oppenheimer made it the first time in history that a three-day weekend saw one movie open to $100 million or more and another to $80 million or more. The weekend also became the fourth-biggest of all time at the domestic box office, with more than $300 million industrywide.

Barbie and Oppenheimer also gave a much-needed boost to the movie theater industry, which has been struggling to recover from the pandemic. The films proved that there is still a strong demand for theatrical experiences, especially for big-budget and original films that offer something different from the usual superhero fare.

The films also created a social media frenzy, with fans coining the term “Barbenheimer” to refer to the phenomenon of watching both films in a double feature. Many theaters offered special deals and discounts for Barbenheimer tickets, and some celebrities and influencers also joined the trend and posted their reactions online.

Barbie and Oppenheimer are expected to have strong legs at the box office, as they have positive word-of-mouth and reviews, as well as loyal fan bases. The films are also likely to receive awards attention, as they showcase the talents of some of the most acclaimed filmmakers and actors in Hollywood.

FAQs

What is Barbie?

Barbie is a live-action comedy film based on the iconic fashion doll by Mattel. The film stars Margot Robbie as a young woman who discovers that she doesn’t fit in the perfect world of Barbies and embarks on an adventure in the real world. The film is written and directed by Greta Gerwig, who previously earned critical acclaim and Oscar nominations for Lady Bird and Little Women.

How much did Barbie make at the box office?

Barbie opened on July 21, 2023, in 4,243 theaters across the US and Canada, and earned $155 million over the three-day weekend, making it the biggest debut ever for a film directed by a woman. The film also earned $182 million from 69 territories overseas, for a global total of $337 million.

What records did Barbie break?

Barbie broke several records and barriers for female filmmakers and representation. It became the biggest debut ever for a film directed by a woman solo, beating Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman ($103.3 million) and Anna Boden’s Captain Marvel ($153 million). It also became the biggest opening ever for a live-action comedy film directed by a woman, surpassing Elizabeth Banks’ Pitch Perfect 2 ($69.2 million). It also became the biggest opening of 2023 to date, surpassing The Super Mario Bros. Movie ($146.3 million) and every Marvel film released this year.

Who are the cast and crew of Barbie?

Barbie features an impressive cast of supporting actors, including Chris Pine as Ken, Barbie’s love interest; Kristen Wiig as Raquelle, Barbie’s rival; Awkwafina as Renee, Barbie’s best friend; Billy Porter as Fabian, Barbie’s fairy godfather; and Daniel Kaluuya as Tommy, a toy store owner who helps Barbie find her purpose. The film is written and directed by Greta Gerwig, who also co-produced it with Robbie, Tom Ackerley, Josey McNamara, David Heyman, and Richard Suckle.

What is Barbenheimer?

A: Barbenheimer is the social media-fueled phenomenon that brought moviegoers back to the theaters in droves to watch two of the most anticipated films of the year: Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. Oppenheimer is a historical drama about J. Robert Oppenheimer and the making of the atomic bomb. The film stars Cillian Murphy as Oppenheimer, along with Robert Pattinson, Emily Blunt, John David Washington, Michael Caine, and Kenneth Branagh. The films were both released by Warner Bros. on the same weekend and created a frenzy among fans who watched them in a double feature. Many theaters offered special deals and discounts for Barbenheimer tickets, and some celebrities and influencers also joined the trend and posted their reactions online.