t’s likely that you’ve seen either Barbie or Oppenheimer by now. After all, it’s been 11 days since the two blockbuster films were released, and frankly it’s difficult to remember a time when there was so much buzz about a set of films.
The sheer number of articles and think-pieces written and shared in the run up to their release can partly be explained by the hilarious contrast between the two movies. First, we have Barbie: Greta Gerwig’s pastel pink feminist meditation on being a woman in the patriarchy, told via the story of Mattel’s most famous toy doll. Then, standing in the corner and broodingly smoking a cigar from under a wide-brimmed hat, we have Oppenheimer: Christopher Nolan’s very serious historical three-hour black and white number, about the creation of the atomic bomb.
The films, which were both released on July 21, gained the portmanteau Barbenheimer and Boppenheimer, and fans argued over the correct order to see the films.
Adding further to the frenzy, Mattel went all out with its marketing campaign, turning cities pink and collaborating with a number of major brands and magazines: lead actor Margot Robbie graced American Vogue dressed up as a version of Barbie, while the Google pages for Robbie, Gerwig and Barbie herself were given a pink twinkle.
So perhaps it comes as no surprise that both films smashed the Box Office during their opening weekend: Barbie made a whopping $356 million worldwide, while Oppenheimer made $180 million.
Although the momentum around the films has slowed down a little, the success of both Barbie and Oppenheimer continues. To date, Barbie has made $780 million worldwide, which makes it the third highest-grossing film of the year – it’s just $65 million short of making the same as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
Meanwhile Oppenheimer has made $406 million worldwide. This already surpasses the Box Office takings of Nolan’s last film, 2020’s Tenet, which made $366 million. Oppenheimer’s budget was reportedly around $100 million, which means the historical drama has already made a tidy profit.
“I wanted to make something anarchic and wild and funny and cathartic,” said Gerwig to The New York Times after Barbie’s stellar opening. “And the idea that it’s actually being received that way, it’s sort of extraordinary.”
“Honestly, it’s been amazing to walk around and see people in pink. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine something like this.”
Tom Cruise’s latest film, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, which was released on July 14, has also enjoyed major Box Office success, raking in $448 million worldwide against a $291 million budget.
However, despite making almost half a billion dollars, Dead Reckoning has made far less than the franchise’s last two films. Rogue Nation and Fallout made $682.7 million and $791.7 million respectively.
Barbie and Oppenheimer are open in cinemas now