In an unexpected turn of events, “Barbenheimer” has taken the box office by storm, proving to be a potent combination of Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer.” This unique social media-driven fusion exceeded all expectations, revitalizing the exhibition business, which has been grappling with strikes.
Warner Bros.’ “Barbie” dominated the charts, amassing a staggering $155 million in North American ticket sales from 4,243 locations. Notably, it became the biggest opening of the year, surpassing all Marvel movies this year, and set a new record as the largest debut for a film directed by a woman. Meanwhile, Universal’s “Oppenheimer” also performed exceptionally well, earning $80.5 million from 3,610 theaters in the U.S. and Canada, marking Christopher Nolan’s most substantial non-Batman opening and one of the top starts for an R-rated biographical drama.
The weekend saw an unprecedented milestone as both movies opened to over $100 million and $80 million, respectively. Overall, the box office is estimated to have reached a remarkable $300 million, making it one of the most successful weekends in history.
Despite competition, “Barbenheimer” proved to be beneficial for both films, sparking heated discussions and debates on social media. “Barbie” drew a predominantly female audience, with women accounting for 65% of the viewership, and 40% of ticket buyers being under 25. In contrast, “Oppenheimer” attracted a mainly male audience, with 62% of viewers being male and 63% over the age of 25.
The success of “Oppenheimer” can also be attributed to its availability on premium large format screens, with most IMAX 70-mm screenings completely sold out throughout the weekend. The film’s cinematic appeal significantly contributed to its box office triumph.
While this exceptional box office weekend may seem promising, Hollywood studios face ongoing challenges with striking actors and writers, putting the future at risk. Nonetheless, this monumental box office event has given the industry hope for a brighter and more prosperous future in the realm of cinema.
As the excitement continues, the box office may see further success, fueled by the allure of the movie theatre experience and the phenomenon that “Barbenheimer” has created.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
- “Barbie,” US$155 million.
- “Oppenheimer,” US$80.5 million.
- “Sound of Freedom,” US$20.1 million.
- “Mission: Impossible-Dead Reckoning Part I,” US$19.5 million.
- “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” US$6.7 million.
- “Insidious: The Red Door,” US$6.5 million.
- “Elemental,” US$5.8 million.
- “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” US$2.8 million.
- “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts,” US$1.1 million.
- “No Hard Feelings,” US$1.1 million.