The Barbie-Oppenheimer double feature actually takes place
New data from theaters shows fans are indeed planning to see the much-anticipated movies Barbie and Oppenheimer on the same day — a five-hour, popcorn-fuelled marathon that social media has dubbed Barbenheimer.
The world’s largest cinema chain, AMC Entertainment, has already sold more than 20,000 double deck tickets to its AMC Stubs members. according to Variety.
Elizabeth Frank, executive vice president of worldwide programming at AMC Theaters, told the outlet that the number of moviegoers who made their own double screening by buying tickets to both films on the same day has increased 33% since Friday.
“The growing online discussion about watching these two incredible films is driving ticket sales,” Frank told Variety.
Frank added that she expects sales of double films in AMC’s 95 theaters to increase even further ahead of the films’ July 21 release.
In the UK, major cinema chain Vue is seeing a similar trend.
As of Tuesday, 19% of people who booked tickets for Oppenheimer at any of Vue’s nearly 900 locations also bought tickets for Barbie. according to Bloomberg.
Alamo Drafthouse, a US-based cinema chain known for serving dinner and drinks during screenings, also said it sees demand for the “Barbenheimer” double film, including for its private events business, which it serves customers made it possible to rent screens for corporate events and birthday parties, Bloomberg reported.
Nick Isani, East Coast sales manager for private events at Alamo Drafthouse, told the outlet, “For months, requests have been coming in to rent spaces for the ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’ dual appearances.”
He added that it’s unique to see such a “significant number” of requests from customers wanting to watch the films back-to-back, especially with films that are so diverse.
“Barbie” – Greta Gerwig’s two-hour live-action film about the world’s most famous doll (PG-13) – is expected to sell more tickets overall than its Christopher Nolan-directed counterpart.
Low-end estimates from Box Office Pro show that the film will gross at least $85 million by its opening weekend.
While not much is known about the plot or tone of “Barbie,” starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling contributed to a lack of pink color and inspired culture and fashion labeled “Barbiecore.”
The movies IMDb page reads, “Barbie is suffering from a crisis that is causing her to question her world and her very existence,” suggesting that life in plastic might not be so fantastic.
Box Office Pro estimates Nolan’s latest biographical thriller is expected to gross at least $45 million in its opening weekend.
The film is an R-rated, three-hour documentary that tells the true story of how physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, played by Cillian Murphy, created the first atomic bomb.
Aside from the fact that both films hit theaters on July 21, they have almost nothing in common – but there are indications that moviegoers are really into both films anyway.
In the week leading up to the film’s simultaneous release, the internet was awash with memes, jokes, artistic mashups, and even merchandise piecing the films together into Barbenheimer.
Twitter users and artists took to the platform to view a slew of fan-made movie posters from the film mashup, which feature the iconic pink block lettering reminiscent of “Barbie” in the foreground and the fiery background that reads “Oppenheimer.” “ is attributed.
Another depiction shows the two protagonists of the film, with Barbie sitting cross-legged on Oppenheimer’s shoulder rather than Ken’s shoulder.
