Greta Gerwig's film "Barbie" had a remarkable opening weekend, earning a staggering $155ьn domestically, making it the biggest debut for a female director and the largest opening weekend of 2023, CNN reports.
The simultaneous release of Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" alongside "Barbie," dubbed "Barbenheimer," has become a pop culture sensation, and it's expected to boost the struggling movie industry.
Together, "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" contributed to the fourth highest-grossing industry weekend in North America, totaling $302mn on Sunday. Industry analysts anticipate these numbers to grow even further when final figures are reported.
"Barbie" outperformed expectations, taking in $70.5mn on its opening day, including Thursday pre-shows. This film represents the most significant domestic start for a female-directed movie, surpassing previous records set by films like "Wonder Woman" and "Captain Marvel."
The success of both "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" is unique, as they have mutually benefitted each other, fueling the Barbenheimer trend. The movies can now enjoy a summer with little competition, particularly "Barbie," which benefits from being one of the first female-driven blockbusters since "The Little Mermaid."
The strong box office performance of these films sends a signal to studios that they don't have to play it safe all the time and that counterprogramming can be successful. The double-feature phenomenon sparked by a social media-driven campaign has given a much-needed boost to the movie industry, following underwhelming box office numbers from earlier summer releases.
Overall, the success of "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" signifies a promising resurgence for the movie industry and offers audiences an opportunity to escape through captivating and nostalgic storytelling.
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