Barbenheimer: Barbie could bring in $140 million in ticket sales in opening weekend vs Oppenheimer’s $60 million

This weekend’s box office will focus on the battle between two of the most-anticipated films of 2023 – Barbie and Oppenheimer.

Dubbed “Barbenheimer,” the release has created a complementary dynamic, where many moviegoers are planning double feature trips to cinemas. Instead of competing for ticket sales, Warner Bros.’ “Barbie” and Universal’s “Oppenheimer” are attracting audiences who want to enjoy both films in a single moviegoing experience.

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“Ever since we knew that these two films were going to open on the same weekend there’s just been instantly a pop culture phenomenon,” Erik Davis, managing director at Fandango, said, according to CNBC. “It’s been the most anticipated weekend of the year.”

The “Barbie” movie takes audiences on a journey of a doll navigating life outside of Barbie Land, exploring her adventures beyond the familiar world she knows. On the other hand, “Oppenheimer” serves as a documentary, shedding light on the remarkable life of the father of the atomic bomb, detailing how he played a pivotal role in crafting the first nuclear weapons. Both films offer distinct and intriguing narratives, providing moviegoers with diverse and captivating cinematic experiences.

As the weekend approaches, “Barbie” is anticipated to make a significant impact at the box office, with domestic ticket sales expected to reach a minimum of $90 million. However, some box office analysts are projecting the film to surpass expectations and potentially accumulate upwards of $140 million in ticket sales, CNBC reported. On the other hand, “Oppenheimer” is also expected to perform well but on a relatively lower scale, with box office estimates suggesting it could secure ticket sales ranging from $40 million to $60 million.

The combined box office earnings of the two films, “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” are projected to contribute around $200 million during their opening weekend. This impressive figure becomes even more significant when factoring in additional ticket sales from other highly anticipated movies like “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One,” “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” and “Sound of Freedom.” With these films’ added revenue, there’s a strong possibility that this weekend could become the highest-grossing weekend of the year so far, promising an exciting and successful time for the film industry.

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Under the AMC Theatre loyalty program, approximately 40,000 members have already purchased tickets to watch both “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” on the same day. Moreover, the National Association of Theatre Owners predicts that the excitement extends beyond AMC, estimating that over 200,000 moviegoers will be attending same-day viewings of these two films across various theaters. This level of interest and engagement from movie enthusiasts is a strong indication of the potential success and popularity these movies might achieve during their opening weekend.

“Going into this weekend anticipation has been very high for both ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer,’” said Jeffrey Kaufman, chief content officer at Malco Theatres. “Media coverage and the public embrace of the #Barbenheimer tag shows awareness and excitement for both releases.”