The “Barbenheimer” phenomenon has become a major cultural moment, bringing moviegoers together in a delightful way. Despite the fierce competition at the box office, it was “Barbie” that emerged as the clear winner of the weekend. However, experts emphasize that it is the moviegoers who are the true victors in this situation.
The Barbenheimer trend took over social media, leading to the creation of memes and a new double feature, all while movie enthusiasts adorned themselves in pink outfits to celebrate. The opening weekend saw both “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” making waves at the number two spot in the movie theaters. With an unprecedented success, Barbie boasts the largest domestic opening of 2023, earning a remarkable $155 million, largely attributed to its extensive marketing campaigns and pre-sales.
On the other side of the theater, Christopher Nolan’s epic “Oppenheimer” also made a significant impact, garnering an estimated $80.5 million domestically during its opening weekend. This historical moment marks the first time in Hollywood history that two films have opened with such impressive figures at the domestic box office.
“Barbie” further stands out for being the biggest domestic opening by a female director ever, and its relatively lower budget compared to other blockbuster films makes it more likely to turn a profit in the long run.
The film has already surpassed the previous record held by “The Super Mario Bros Movie” for the highest-grossing domestic opening of the year, which hit $146 million during its three-day opening weekend and $573 million overall for 2023. Now, Barbie is on track to potentially surpass “Across the Spider-Verse” in total box office earnings as well. Despite a quieter opening weekend, “Spider-Verse” grew into a phenomenon with a current domestic box office of $372 million.
As Barbie continues its successful run, it remains to be seen how many more “dream houses” the beloved character will earn over the summer, or how much pink paint will be needed to keep the excitement going.
TYT Newsroom