Box Office: Barbie Beats Out Oppenheimer

In a highly anticipated showdown at the box office, “Barbie” from Warner Bros. has emerged as the clear winner, beating out Universal’s “Oppenheimer.” Read more.

The battle began with impressive Thursday previews, as “Barbie” raked in a remarkable $22.3 million domestically, while “Oppenheimer” managed $10.5 million in previews.

The preview haul for “Barbie” now stands as the highest of the summer box office, surpassing the old record held by “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” which garnered $17.5 million in previews.

This early success has fueled expectations for “Barbie Movie” to make a massive debut during its opening weekend, with estimates projecting well over $100 million, some even reaching as high as $140 million, thanks to the film’s extensive marketing efforts.

The substantial preview earnings further reinforce the likelihood of meeting or surpassing these projections.

In contrast, Cillian Murphy’s “Oppenheimer” is expected to secure a respectable second place, with an estimated opening of $50 million. While not matching the blockbuster projections of “Barbie,” this figure still represents a notable achievement, outperforming “Dunkirk,” Nolan’s last pre-pandemic movie, in preview gross.

Both films, with budgets of $145 million for “Barbie” and $100 million for “Oppenheimer,” are poised to be financially successful in their own right.

However, the true beneficiaries of this box office battle are undoubtedly the theatre owners and the devoted fans of both movies, particularly the approximately 200,000 “Barbenheimer” enthusiasts who booked same-day, double screenings nationwide.

“Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” share common ground in their focus on globally recognized figures—the iconic toy doll and the physicist behind the atomic bomb, respectively. Additionally, both films boast star-studded casts that add to their allure.

In “Barbie,” Margot Robbie breathes life into the beloved doll, embarking on a journey from Barbie-Land to Earth alongside Ryan Gosling as her Ken. The ensemble includes Issa Rae, America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Michael Cera, Simu Liu, Helen Mirren, Will Ferrell, and more.

Meanwhile, “Oppenheimer (film)” delves into the life and career of J. Robert Oppenheimer over several decades, featuring Christopher Nolan’s frequent collaborator, Cillian Murphy, as the prominent historical figure. The film’s cast includes Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, Casey Affleck, Josh Hartnett, Benny Safdie, Kenneth Branagh, Rami Malek, and many others.

Although last weekend’s box office champion, “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One,” led by Tom Cruise, will now take third place with an expected $28 million to $30 million in its second weekend, it’s clear that the real headline of the summer belongs to the enthralling duel between “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.”

Movie enthusiasts and industry observers eagerly await the final box office results and the impact these two cinematic giants will have on the summer movie landscape.