Photo:Warner Bros., PictureLux / The Hollywood Archive / Alamy

Warner Bros., PictureLux / The Hollywood Archive / Alamy
“Barbenheimer” was an even bigger success than first reported!
Two of the year’s most anticipated films,BarbieandOppenheimer, were runaway hits at the box office over the weekend, withBarbieblowing past Sunday’s already record-breaking estimates, with a three-day haul of $162 million, perVariety.
The movie — which boasts a star-studded cast withMargot Robbie,Ryan Gosling,Kate McKinnon,Will FerrellandAmerica Ferrera— had been previouslyestimated to have brought in $155 millionover its weekend opening, crowning Greta Gerwig with the biggest opening ever for a female-director.
Snapshot of ‘Barbie’ movie showing Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie.Warner Bros. Pictures

Warner Bros. Pictures
The film, based on the popular Mattel doll, also easily earned the biggest opening weekend of 2023, beatingThe Super Mario Bros. Movie’s $146 million that was scored earlier this year,Varietyreported.
Shewrote on Instagramthat amid the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strike, “Barbieand its success looms as a beacon of hope.”
“It’s wildly original, feminist, giant in scope and swing, and feels singular to a perspective,” she added. “These are all rare qualities for big movies these days. I hope to see more made like this in the coming years. Go Greta!”
The weekend was also a win for theChristopher Nolan-directed film, which had initially been projected to have opened at $80.5 million on Sunday (a far cry from early predictions a month ago that set the film at about a $40 - $50 million opening weekend, perForbes), but actually opened to $82.4 million.
Cillian Murphy as seen as J. Robert Oppenheimer in ‘Oppenheimer’ film.Universal Pictures

Universal Pictures
The film, which starsCillian Murphyas Manhattan Project physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, has also given Nolan another box-office juggernaut only falling short of the last two movies in his BatmanThe Dark Knightseries.Oppenheimeroutperformed opening weekends for 2010’sInception, 2017’sDunkirkand 2014’sInterstellar, perForbes.
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The “Barbenheimer” phenomenon has propelled both films to the highest collective opening weekend for the box office since the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing in $300 million,Varietyreported.
source: people.com