Barbenheimer blows up the box office
Why Barbie and Oppenheimer make for a perfect double feature
By Poch Eulalia
Published Jul 25, 2023 10:06 am
Over the weekend, theater lines worldwide appeared full of people, a sight that had undoubtedly been missed since the pandemic nearly killed the cinematic viewing experience.
MEET THE DIRECTORS Greta Gerwig (left) and Christopher Nolan (right) have both directed award-winning films that have earned each of them a place among cinema’s best directors
Sure enough, the initial returns show that "Barbenheimer" has become a success as both films immediately took the top spots at the box office over their weekend release. We take a deeper look into why in this duo, one complements the other in giving a wonderful viewing experience. Starting off with the lighter of the two, Greta Gerwig’s *Barbie* has Margot Robbie *(Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, The Wolf of Wall Street*) starring as Mattel’s most recognizable toy line. Gerwig has established herself as a director of invaluable experience, whose significant works include her take on American novelist Louisa May Alcott’s *Little Women* and the indie scene hit *Lady Bird*. Through her direction, *Barbie* has become something more than what many assumed would simply be a stretched-out commercial.
SHE’S A BARBIE GIRL Margot Robbie depicts Barbie on a journey of self-discovery
In the film, Barbie goes on a journey of self-discovery after she finds herself having an existential crisis over who she really is. Joining her along the way is Ken, played by Ryan Gosling (*Drive, Bladerunner 2049*), who struggles with trying to have his feelings recognized by Barbie. To sort out their problems, they leave the fictional realm of Barbie Land and end up in the real world. Hijinks ensue leading to many laughs and an overall grand time. Worth noting as well are its themes revolving around feminism and the patriarchy. While it might come across as radical or preachy for some, *Barbie* is an essential film for introducing these complicated topics to its target young audience. Despite it being a film marketed toward women, Barbie also offers much for male audiences to think about regarding topics such as toxic masculinity, which among peers can be harmful. Overall, it’s a lighthearted movie that leaves you with much to think about and reflect on upon viewing.
HE HAS BECOME DEATH Cillian Murphy takes on the role of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb
Next up, Christopher Nolan’s *Oppenheimer* is a biopic about the theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer. It has Cillian Murphy (*Dunkirk, 28 Days Later*) taking on the role of the father of the atomic bomb. Nolan needs no introduction as his work has been widely acknowledged. If you’ve been living under a rock for the past two decades, Nolan’s best commercial hit would be his take on DC’s Batman character, giving us three of what is arguably the best superhero movies of all time. His other cinematic works include grand spectacles such as *Dunkirk, Inception, and Interstellar*. Much like his other films, Nolan utilizes time as a means to heighten the suspense. Much of the movie is centered around the Manhattan Project, which has the US and its allies in a race against Nazi Germany to build what would eventually become the world’s first nuclear weapon. There’s also a focus on Oppenheimer’s personal life, giving us a look into a brilliant mind with leftist ideals plagued by his very own creation. Through his desperate hopes for worldwide peace, he had instead given the world the means to destroy itself. While the film’s main focus was the construction of the two atom bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it went on to show us just how much this show of destruction had changed the world and plunged us into the Cold War era. It also sheds light on how Oppenheimer had to deal with political mudslinging, with much of the story showing how his loyalty to the US had been questioned simply because of his ties with left-leaning groups that called for just compensation by means of unionizing early on in his career. It makes for quite a relevant theme even today, when red-tagging is a hot-button issue.
Overall, the “Barbenheimer” double feature clearly has much to offer and makes for a great viewing experience due to the ideas each of the films instills in its viewers, stimulating minds instead of just serving up the same old algorithm-based films we’ve come to expect from Hollywood.
But what movie could bring about such a stir?
Surprisingly enough, it isn’t just a single movie that caused these crowds in theaters. A few months ago, it was announced that Greta Gerwig’s *Barbie* and Christopher Nolan’s *Oppenheimer* were expected to release on the same day. It prompted many executives and media outlets early on to believe that one film would steamroll over the other in box office earnings. Much of social media users did not share the same sentiment and instead dubbed this theatrical phenomenon as the “Barbenheimer” event. Many believed that the unlikely pairing served as the perfect double feature as both films have experienced directors at the helm, a stellar cast, and revolve around themes that are increasingly relevant today.
MEET THE DIRECTORS Greta Gerwig (left) and Christopher Nolan (right) have both directed award-winning films that have earned each of them a place among cinema’s best directors
Sure enough, the initial returns show that "Barbenheimer" has become a success as both films immediately took the top spots at the box office over their weekend release. We take a deeper look into why in this duo, one complements the other in giving a wonderful viewing experience. Starting off with the lighter of the two, Greta Gerwig’s *Barbie* has Margot Robbie *(Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, The Wolf of Wall Street*) starring as Mattel’s most recognizable toy line. Gerwig has established herself as a director of invaluable experience, whose significant works include her take on American novelist Louisa May Alcott’s *Little Women* and the indie scene hit *Lady Bird*. Through her direction, *Barbie* has become something more than what many assumed would simply be a stretched-out commercial.
SHE’S A BARBIE GIRL Margot Robbie depicts Barbie on a journey of self-discovery
In the film, Barbie goes on a journey of self-discovery after she finds herself having an existential crisis over who she really is. Joining her along the way is Ken, played by Ryan Gosling (*Drive, Bladerunner 2049*), who struggles with trying to have his feelings recognized by Barbie. To sort out their problems, they leave the fictional realm of Barbie Land and end up in the real world. Hijinks ensue leading to many laughs and an overall grand time. Worth noting as well are its themes revolving around feminism and the patriarchy. While it might come across as radical or preachy for some, *Barbie* is an essential film for introducing these complicated topics to its target young audience. Despite it being a film marketed toward women, Barbie also offers much for male audiences to think about regarding topics such as toxic masculinity, which among peers can be harmful. Overall, it’s a lighthearted movie that leaves you with much to think about and reflect on upon viewing.
HE HAS BECOME DEATH Cillian Murphy takes on the role of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb
Next up, Christopher Nolan’s *Oppenheimer* is a biopic about the theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer. It has Cillian Murphy (*Dunkirk, 28 Days Later*) taking on the role of the father of the atomic bomb. Nolan needs no introduction as his work has been widely acknowledged. If you’ve been living under a rock for the past two decades, Nolan’s best commercial hit would be his take on DC’s Batman character, giving us three of what is arguably the best superhero movies of all time. His other cinematic works include grand spectacles such as *Dunkirk, Inception, and Interstellar*. Much like his other films, Nolan utilizes time as a means to heighten the suspense. Much of the movie is centered around the Manhattan Project, which has the US and its allies in a race against Nazi Germany to build what would eventually become the world’s first nuclear weapon. There’s also a focus on Oppenheimer’s personal life, giving us a look into a brilliant mind with leftist ideals plagued by his very own creation. Through his desperate hopes for worldwide peace, he had instead given the world the means to destroy itself. While the film’s main focus was the construction of the two atom bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it went on to show us just how much this show of destruction had changed the world and plunged us into the Cold War era. It also sheds light on how Oppenheimer had to deal with political mudslinging, with much of the story showing how his loyalty to the US had been questioned simply because of his ties with left-leaning groups that called for just compensation by means of unionizing early on in his career. It makes for quite a relevant theme even today, when red-tagging is a hot-button issue.
Overall, the “Barbenheimer” double feature clearly has much to offer and makes for a great viewing experience due to the ideas each of the films instills in its viewers, stimulating minds instead of just serving up the same old algorithm-based films we’ve come to expect from Hollywood. Consider it an unforgettable cinematic experience that will leave you with a heightened sense of the world we live in today.