Both Barbie and Oppenheimer had a magnificent premiere on Thursday night, with Friday’s midpoint data suggesting extraordinary numbers that could lead to the busiest weekend in the post-COVID era. Barbie, a Greta Gerwig and Warner Bros. Discovery production, is poised to gross between $68 million and $70 million today, factoring in last night’s impressive $22.3 million preview earnings. This could set the stage for an estimated $150 million opening weekend across 4,243 theaters. Some box office pundits even predict the movie could surge as high as $170 million. In any case, this would surpass the opening weekend of the biggest hit of the year, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which raked in $146.3 million.
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However, it doesn’t mean Oppenheimer, the intense and ominous three-hour biographical film about the creator of the atomic bomb, is receding into the background. Quite the opposite, it pulled in $10.5 million in preview earnings and is aiming for a $32 million opening day, forecasting a three-day weekend gross of $75 million from 3,610 theaters. It’s crucial to note that the film is being shown in fewer theaters than Barbie, and has fewer screenings due to its length. The film is also anticipated to experience a slower decline over the subsequent weeks, given its mature themes and appeal to an older audience, unlike Barbie, which is projected to peak early, as is often the case with female-targeted films.
Adding all these up, the weekend looks set to be a blockbuster one for cinemas, potentially grossing $225 million, a figure that will certainly cheer theater owners. But that’s not all. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is still running and appears poised for a solid second weekend, estimating $25 million. This would push its domestic cumulative gross to $124.2 million. The film is also performing exceptionally well internationally, and its earnings are set to get another lift in a few weeks when it gets an IMAX slot, which is currently reserved for Nolan’s Oppenheimer. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is expected to land in fifth place with a weekend earnings of $7 million, taking its total to $159.3 million by the end of the weekend.
Image via Universal Pictures
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‘Barbie’ & ‘Oppenheimer’ Achieve Remarkable Box Office Results In Previews
Urge Your Friends to Hit the Movie Theaters
Both movies have been lavished with exceptional reviews. Barbie boasts an impressive 89% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 81 on Metacritic. On the other hand, Oppenheimer has ascended to a formidable 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and 90 on Metacritic. The positive word-of-mouth surrounding both films is expected to further propel their success. Fueling the enthusiasm, the viral phenomenon dubbed “Barbenheimer” has made a significant impression, enticing around 200,000 eager fans to opt for same-day double features, buying tickets for both films.
This weekend, Barbie has gone nuclear, validating that life as a plastic doll is indeed wonderful. Don’t miss our exclusive interview with Barbie and Ken below:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Opening Box Office Performance
How much did Barbie and Oppenheimer make in their previews?
Barbie made $22.3 million, while Oppenheimer brought in $10.5 million in their preview showings.
What are the projected opening weekend earnings for Barbie and Oppenheimer?
Barbie is projected to make between $150 million to $170 million, while Oppenheimer is aiming for an estimated $75 million.
What are the Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic ratings for Barbie and Oppenheimer?
Barbie has received an 89% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 81 on Metacritic. Oppenheimer, on the other hand, has scored a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and 90 on Metacritic.
What is the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon?
The “Barbenheimer” phenomenon refers to the trend where around 200,000 fans chose to watch both Barbie and Oppenheimer on the same day, contributing to their box office success.
Which movie has been the biggest hit of the year before Barbie and Oppenheimer?
Before Barbie and Oppenheimer, the biggest hit of the year was The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which opened to $146.3 million.
More about Opening Box Office Performance
- Box Office Mojo’s latest statistics
- Rotten Tomatoes review of Barbie
- Metacritic’s review of Oppenheimer
- Preview earnings report on Variety
- Review of The Super Mario Bros. Movie
6 comments
Barbenheimer, best idea ever! Watched both, worth every penny. Recommend to all.
just watched Oppenheimer, intense stuff! the box office numbers r well deserved. Can’t wait 2 c what’s next.
Super excited to c Barbie top the charts! Been a fan since forever, this is just epic! Greta Gerwig u rock!
gotta give it 2 Nolan, dude knows how to create hype. Oppenheimer’s box office takings, impressive.
man, Barbie killin it at the box office, who would’ve thought? life in plastic, it’s fantastic alright! 😀
Not enough love for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny here, solid 5th place aint bad guys. Keep supporting!