The double start of Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” was already dubbed “Barbenheimer” and was accompanied by some very funny image creations on social media. Even though very few people get to watch both titles in a double feature, the meme promotes seeing both at the end – as some of those involved in the projects did. Especially “Barbie” director Gerwig and her protagonist Margot Robbie called on their audience to also go to “Oppenheimer”.
It pays – because, as the first figures from Germany now show, both titles have had a very successful start. This will certainly be a balm for many cinema fans as there have been a number of box office disappointments lately that have led to heightened concerns about the future of the big screen.
Nice start for “Barbie” in Germany
Unsurprisingly, “Barbie” will of course be the bigger start – although it’s pretty tight in Germany. Many people, often dressed in pink, have already flocked to see the film about the legendary doll in this country, and many more will do so this weekend.
115,000 people would have seen “Barbie” directly the day it started. At least 500,000 movie tickets will be sold in the first weekend, with more optimistic forecasts of nearly 600,000. Since the film was still running in many previews, “Barbie” should already have about 700,000 visitors after the weekendlike the portal reported.
“Barbie” would therefore have the second best start of the 2023 cinema year. Only “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” had an even stronger start with a sensational 950,000 visitors.
“Oppenheimer”: Best Nolan Start Since “The Dark Knight Rises”
But the numbers for “Oppenheimer” are also great. 95,000 tickets have already been sold here. After the weekend, at least 400,000 visitors must be registered. At least 500,000 tickets have been sold.
Although it is a three-hour film on a difficult subject (the biography of the inventor of the atomic bomb), it will probably be the best start in Germany for Nolan since his superhero days and The Dark Knight Rises. Both “Interstellar” and “Dunkirk” and “Tenet”, which of course started under difficult corona circumstances, had fewer than 400,000 visitors at the start.
“Barbenheimer” – also successful in the USA!
Also internationally there are already strong successes for “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer”. Of course, the largest and most important cinema market is always interesting: North America!
Movies don’t start here until Friday, so there’s only early reports of preview results so far. “Barbie” is said to have achieved the best preview numbers of any Summer 2023 launch in North America. Previews alone are expected to generate around $20 million in revenue. But “Oppenheimer”, which ran in fewer previews, would have already collected nine million dollars here.
“Barbie” and “Oppenheimer”: Do both movies even set US starting records?
The US box office result for the weekend is eagerly awaited, especially for “Barbie”. Lately, forecasts have been increasingly revised upwards – as ticket presales have surged into previously unknown realms. While the forecast was 90 million dollars some time ago, experts now assume that that for “Barbie” there is between 140 and 175 million dollars at the American start. Greta Gerwig’s bright pink satire might even break the record for the most successful start to a movie with a woman in the director’s chair. So far, “Captain Marvel,” which Anna Boden co-directed with Ryan Fleck, has grossed $153.4 million.
Christopher Nolan could give “Oppenheimer” the best theatrical release outside of “The Dark Knight” series in the US. The latest projections were for a launch between $52 million and $72 million. Right in the middle is his best non-Batman theatrical release to date with “Inception” at $62.8 million.
The numbers are impressive proof that people enjoy going to the cinema and both films. “Barbenheimer” is real.