Barbie vs. Oppenheimer: Battle at the Box Office
With two highly anticipated movies hitting the box office on the same day, the summer blockbuster has returned at long last. On July 21, viewers will be faced with a decades-old decision – which movie should you see first? We laid out the basics here for you to decide.
Barbie
Greta Gerwig is bringing the iconic cultural phenomenon, Barbie, to the big screen. The live-action comedy is bound to bring in tons of fans, as the toy, created in 1959, has been a paramount part of millions of childhoods since. With a lifesize dreamhouse set including a slide from bedroom to pool, two-dimensional details and all things pink, viewers are ecstatic to see how the toy is made into a character by actress Margot Robbie, playing Stereotypical Barbie.
Joining her on the screen is Ryan Gosling as Ken, and Emma Mackey, Dua Lipa, Kate McKinnon and more as other Barbies. In the movie, Stereotypical Barbie has a sort of existential crisis, and she embarks on a journey to the ‘real world’ with Ken in tow. The movie’s team is covering all their bases, ensuring even further anticipation and excitement for the film. From Margot Robbie’s Barbie-themed photoshoot and illuminating interview with Vogue to the Architectural Digest tour of the set, fans are getting more and more eager due to the expertly curated content.
Oppenheimer
Christopher Nolan agrees that his upcoming film Oppenheimer is “kind of a horror movie.” Its star-studded cast includes Florence Pugh, Robert Downey Jr., Emily Blunt, Matt Damon and more. The story is that of J. Robert Oppenheimer, one of the physicists behind the creation of the atomic bomb, and the horror is that of nuclear war. The biopic follows Oppenheimer, played by Cillian Murphy, through his work at the Manhattan Project that eventually led to the invention of the atomic bomb during World War II.
In 1953, Oppenheimer’s security clearance with the Atomic Energy Commission was revoked as a political move rather than a fair one. 68 years later, this decision was reversed. The movie will present a thought-provoking narrative that delves into Oppenheimer’s personal struggles, the weight of his decisions and the consequences of his actions. This titillating storyline will make for a drama-filled three-hour saga and is bound to bring in the big bucks.
The Verdict
With both films set to be released on July 21, a classic box office showdown is imminent. Early projections expect Barbie to outsell Oppenheimer with an opening projection of $45-55 million. Barbie will cater to a wider audience; rated PG-13, it will surely sell tickets across generations. Oppenheimer will draw a more mature and therefore smaller audience, although it seems both movies will turn out quite impressively. The movies will present distinct cinematic experiences, vastly different from one another. However, whether you seek inspiration or intellectual stimulation, both films have something unique to offer.
