The Barbenheimer phenomenon has made a significant impact, and it seems that the clash between Barbie and Oppenheimer has been beneficial for both films, as they emerged as the two major releases of the week. In India, Oppenheimer is dominating the box office, although Barbie’s performance there is also notable, albeit slightly less impressive.
However, when it comes to the international market, the narrative takes a different turn. According to several reports, Barbie has outperformed Oppenheimer in more than 70 international territories, showcasing its strong global appeal and popularity among audiences worldwide.
According to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, Barbie’s US box office performance on its first day of release was outstanding, garnering $70 million, which includes $22 million from Thursday previews. Projections indicate that the film is expected to achieve around $150 million in the US during the weekend and an additional $120 million from approximately 70 international territories. This could result in Barbie’s total box office collection surpassing $280 million by Sunday.
The impressive aspect of these figures lies in the fact that Barbie has now become the year’s biggest opener, surpassing Tom Cruise’s Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One, which earned $235 million during its first weekend. What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that Barbie’s budget is merely half of that of Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One.
Barbie’s box office success also places it as the third biggest Friday opening for a Warner Bros film ever, trailing only behind Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 and Batman V Superman. Additionally, this remarkable opening has the potential to make Greta Gerwig, the film’s director, the creator of the biggest opener by a female director. These achievements have given plenty of reasons for both the film’s producers and director to celebrate.
According to a report from Deadline, Oppenheimer is aiming for an impressive $165 million worldwide opening weekend, with approximately $88.9 million anticipated to come from international markets. This would position it as Christopher Nolan’s third highest-grossing opening weekend ever, trailing only behind The Dark Knight Rises ($131 million) and The Dark Knight ($94 million).
In India, Oppenheimer has achieved a collection of ₹31 crore over the first two days of release, while Barbie has garnered ₹11.5 crore during the same period.
David Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research remarked that the movie industry has a strong track record of accommodating two big releases simultaneously. He mentioned that the studios are well-versed in handling such situations, and both movies typically appeal to different audiences. Oppenheimer is expected to attract a more male-oriented and older demographic, while Barbie is likely to cater to a younger and female-oriented audience. However, Gross believes that many moviegoers will watch both films, given their diverse appeal, making it a complementary situation for both movies.
