‘Barbie’ makes historic box office splash with $155 million-plus debut, ‘Oppenheimer’ impresses with $77 million. See details

The "Barbie" film, which has been directed by Greta Gerwig, has amassed a staggering $155 million+ opening, while Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" also excels with a projected $77 million debut. The unprecedented "Barbenheimer" phenomenon showcases a historic three-day weekend in cinema's history with both movies reaching big milestones.

On its opening day, "Barbie," the Warner Bros. movie centered around Mattel's iconic fashion doll, raked in a phenomenal $70.5 million, including $22.3 million from previews. Early projections indicate that the film is on track to achieve a historic $155 million-plus domestic opening, a feat typically associated with male-driven superhero films or marquee franchises such as the final Harry Potter installment. Some predictions even suggest the possibility of crossing the $160 million mark, although Warner Bros. remains cautious and sticks with a $150 million estimate in case Saturday's attendance decreases.

The success of "Barbie" extends beyond North America, with projections pointing towards a substantial international debut, estimated at around $120 million.


In parallel, Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer," a historical drama about J. Robert Oppenheimer and the creation of the atomic bomb, is also exceeding expectations. The movie garnered $33 million on Friday, heading towards a $77 million weekend, ranking as the third-biggest domestic debut for Nolan behind "The Dark Knight Rises" and "The Dark Knight." "Oppenheimer" is also set to become the third-biggest biographical film opening in North America, trailing "American Sniper," "The Passion of the Christ," and "Straight Outta Compton."

The combined success of "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" has ignited a much-needed boost for the movie industry and box office, which is still recovering from the impact of the pandemic.

FAQs

Q1: What records has "Barbie" broken at the box office?
A: "Barbie," directed by Greta Gerwig, achieved a stupendous $70.5 million opening day domestically and is projected to reach a historic $155 million-plus weekend, setting a new benchmark for movies directed by women.

Q2: How well is "Oppenheimer" performing compared to expectations?
A: Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer," the historical drama about J. Robert Oppenheimer, is surpassing expectations with a projected $77 million weekend, becoming one of Nolan's top domestic debuts and ranking among the biggest biographical film openings in North America.