Barbenheimer features score biggest opening weekend since pandemic

Barbenheimer saves cinema! How double-feature mega hit brought public back to the cinema

• New films ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’ fueled a post pandemic rush to the cinema, breaking records in the process
• It was the largest weekend haul taken in by theatres in North America since 2019, and the fourth largest overall 
• There has never been an opening weekend with one film grossing more than $100 million and a second making more than $50 million as the two have

Highly anticipated films Barbie and Oppenheimer blew past expectations to collect over $311 million domestically, in the biggest weekend haul for cinemas since 2019.

The two films, which spawned the internet phenomenon dubbed Barbenheimer, combined to sell far more movie tickets than anticipated. 

According to database Box Office Mojo, it was the largest weekend haul in North America since 2019, and the fourth-largest ever, before adjusting for inflation. 

In total, Greta Gerwig’s ‘Barbie’ accounted for 52 percent of the share, with Christopher Nolan’s biopic ‘Oppenheimer’ following with 26 percent. 

This equates to around $162 million for ‘Barbie’, $82 million for ‘Oppenheimer’, with  ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ and ‘Sound of Freedom’ adding more than $66 million. 

There has never been an opening weekend with one film grossing more than $100 million, Barbie, and a second making more than $50 million, Oppenheimer

Previously, Avengers: Endgame’s $402 million in April 2019 held the record, followed by Avengers: Infinity Wars’ $314.8 million in April 2018 and Star Wars: Force Awakens’ $313.2 million in December 2015.

Traditionally, the biggest weekends for domestic ticket sales have been dominated by one singular film, with ‘Avengers: Endgame’ accounting for nearly 90 percent of the box office takings back in April 2019. 

Over the past weekend however that landscape has shifted dramatically, with two films that could not be further apart in terms of content, both taking incredible numbers. 

There has never been an opening weekend with one film grossing more than $100 million and a second making more than $50 million as Barbie and Oppenheimer have. 

Previously, Avengers: Endgame’s $402 million in April 2019 held the record, followed by Avengers: Infinity Wars’ $314.8 million in April 2018 and Star Wars: Force Awakens’ $313.2 million in December 2015. 

According to the National Association of Theatre Owners, there were more than 200,000 tickets sold for same-day screenings of the films. 

Michael O’Leary, the President and CEO of the National Association of Theatre Owners, said: ‘This was a phenomenal experience for people who love movies on the big screen.

‘It was a truly historic weekend and continues the positive box office momentum of 2023. 

‘More importantly, it proves once again that America loves going to the movies to see great films. 

‘People recognized that something special was happening and they wanted to be a part of it. 

‘This weekend is a shining example of how there is simply no substitute for seeing a motion picture in the cinema.’

Previously, Avengers: Endgame’s $402 million in April 2019 held the record for the largest opening weekend

Robbie, right, starred alongside Ryan Gosling as Ken in the film, which has been well received by critics and audiences alike

Cillian Murphy is pictured here as J. Robert Oppenheimer, a performance which has brought him critical acclaim 

CEO of AMC Theatres Adam Aaron tweeted on Friday that more than 60,000 AMC Stubs members bought same day double feature tickets at AMC. 

The two films had caused a phenomenon due to their vastly different story lines and themes. 

‘Oppenheimer’ tells the dark and intense story of American theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, portrayed by Cillian Murphy, and his role in the development of the atomic bomb during the 1940s.

On the flip side of that, ‘Barbie’ taps into the world of the iconic doll that is known and loved across the globe – with Margot Robbie playing the titular character. 

Thousands of moviegoers arrived at theaters adorned in pink for screenings of the flick, with a third of viewers being male. 

Jeff Goldstein, president of domestic distribution at Warner Bros. told the New York Times: ‘For a film this pink, you would have expected the audience to be closer to 90 percent female — we got a ton of guys.

‘It exploded everywhere: large markets, small markets, coast to coast.’

The two films have broke records for both directors, with Christopher Nolan, left, collecting his highest weekend opening, and Greta Gerwig, right, earning the biggest opening on record for a female director. 

The success of Barbie at the box office has cemented Greta Gerwig in the history books, with it being the biggest opening on record for a female director. 

While Christopher Nolan, 52, celebrated his highest opening weekend ever and the best ever opening for an R-rate film, topping John Wick: Chapter 4’s $73.8 million. 

Universal said the R-rated ‘Oppenheimer’ collected an estimated $80.5 million in the US and Canada, around 60 percent more than analysts had predicted before release.

Cillian Murphy had previously stated that he ‘can’t wait to see’ the Barbie film, saying: ‘I think it’s just great for the industry and for audiences that we have two amazing films by amazing filmmakers coming out the same day. 

‘Could spend a whole day in the cinema, what’s better than that?’

The full run time for both films, back-to-back, is around five hours, not including trailers. 

Source: Read Full Article