Barbie and Oppenheimer smash box office records with $465 million

Barbie breaks box office records as comedy opens to $300M at the global box office while Oppenheimer draws $165M – as Barbenheimer draws countless fans to the theatres

Published: 18:28, 23 July 2023 | Updated: 22:48, 23 July 2023

Barbenheimer has generated some serious cash at the box office after the two highly-anticipated films were simultaneously released this weekend.

In total, Barbie and Oppenheimer drew an estimated $465 million in ticket sales following their joint release date of July 21.

Barbie, starring Margot Robbie, 33, was the weekend’s big winner with $155 million domestically and more than $300 million in worldwide ticket sales, per Deadline. The numbers make it the biggest film debut of 2023, according to Variety.

The Greta Gerwig, 39, directed film about the iconic doll is the second biggest opening of all time. Only Avengers: Endgame in 2019 did better with $357 million.

Oppenheimer, starring Cillian Murphy, 47, took second place with over $80.5 million domestically and $165 million globally.

Moviegoers are turning out in droves for both films, with many opting to see both in a double feature.

Let’s party! Barbenheimer weekend has absolutely obliterated box office records with an estimated $465 million in ticket sales for the two highly-anticipated films’ opening weekend

The Barbenheimer numbers are in! Oppenheimer, starring Cillian Murphy, 47, took second place with over $80 million domestically and $165 million globally

That’s the biggest weekend post-pandemic, easily eclipsing Spider-Man: No Way Home’s opening weekend when all pics totaled $281.8 million.

If the $465 million figure is accurate, Barbenheimer weekend becomes the biggest box office weekend of all time.

Previously, Avengers: Endgame’s $402 million in April 2019 held the record, followed by Avengers: Infinity Wars’ $314.8 million in April 2018 and Star Wars: Force Awakens’ $313.2 million in December 2015.

And it’s all being done by a bubbly blonde and her himbo boyfriend – not a superhero or space adventurer in sight.

Barbie also brought in the most ticket sales of any opening weekend in 2023 with $70.5 in ticket sales on Friday, while Oppenheimer came in second with $33 million.

The highly-anticipated Barbie comedy is now the highest grossing film directed by a woman.

Patty Jenkins‘ Wonder Woman formerly held the record for any movie solely directed by a woman with its $103 million in 2017.

The Christopher Nolan, 52, biopic is his highest opening weekend ever and the best-ever opening for an R-rated film, topping John Wick: Chapter 4’s $73.8 million.

There has never been an opening weekend with one film grossing more than $100 million and a second making more than $50 million as Barbie and Oppenheimer have.

Barbie had the largest pre sales at $22.3 million of any Warner Brothers film ever.

She’s everything: Barbie, starring Margot Robbie, 33, was the weekend’s big winner with $150 million domestically and more than $300 million in worldwide ticket sales

Whoa! Oppenheimer, starring Cillian Murphy, 47, took second place with over $80.5 million domestically and $165 million globally

Record holder: The Greta Gerwig, 39, directed film about the iconic doll is the second biggest opening of all time. Only Avengers: Endgame in 2019 did better with $357 million

Big deal: Moviegoers are turning out in droves for both films, with many opting to see both in a double feature

It is also the best box office opening weekend numbers for Gerwig, Robbie and Ryan Gosling, 42.

The film is also the second best all-time for a female-skewing movie, topped only by Beauty and the Beast’s $174.7 opening weekend.

In addition to Robbie and Gosling, Barbie also stars Kate McKinnon, America Ferrera, Will Ferrell, Simu Liu and Issa Rae.

Alongside Murphy, Oppenheimer also stars Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Rami Malek, Kenneth Branagh, Emily Blunt and Florence Pugh.

As Barbie hits cinemas… here’s what the critics are saying

Margot Robbie’s highly-anticipated Barbie movie is released July 21 after a whirlwind press tour, and already it has earned many rave reviews.

The film stars Robbie as the iconic Mattel doll and Ryan Gosling as Ken alongside an A-list ensemble cast that includes America Ferrera, Dua Lipa, Simu Liu, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae and Will Ferrell.

Here, DailyMail.com takes a look at what the critics are saying…

‘Dazzling’: Barbie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosliing, is a hit with critics

‘My main criticism, actually, has nothing to do with the subject matter. Barbie or no Barbie, it’s not intrinsically that good a film. It’s uneven, disjointed, the plot makes no real sense — and the dead hand of corporate America weighs heavily upon it.’ – Sarah Vine, Daily Mail

‘Yes, Barbie is fun. Yes, it will make you laugh and might make you think. But […] it won’t change your life, probably not your summer, maybe not even your week.’ – Brian Viner, Daily Mail

‘This is a truly original work – one of the smartest, funniest, sweetest, most insightful and just plain flat-out entertaining movies of the year’ – Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times

‘In Gerwig’s capable hands, even a movie about the one of most popular toys of all time eludes expectations at every turn. Barbie is her mainstream masterpiece, a dazzling dream that will touch the souls of everyone who sees it’ – Coleman Spilde, The Daily Beast

Both a master’s thesis on feminism and an Austin Powers-esque romp’ – Chandler Levack, Globe And Mail

‘The zaniness of Barbie, combined with Gerwig’s interest in skewering the patriarchy, sometimes makes the movie a baggy, tonally dissonant viewing experience. But for the most part, she achieves a pleasing balance between the silly and the serious’ – Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

‘Barbed statement wrapped in a visually sumptuous & sublimely silly cinematic confection’ – Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service

‘A soulful film underneath all the persistent fuchsia. One that has heart and ambition as well as abundant beauty, inside and out’ – Tomris Laffly, TheWrap

‘What really makes this comedy click are the stellar performances, from the lead role on down. This is the funniest cast I’ve seen in some time’ – Peter Howell, Toronto Star

‘This is a wonderfully fun watch that somehow manages to simultaneously celebrate and satirise the Barbie brand, its feminism and girliness pairing like gorpcore sandals with a floaty pink skirt’ – Alice Saville, Time Out

‘Robbie takes an archetype long dismissed as an airheaded caricature and, moment by deeply felt moment, teases and fleshes her out’ – Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times

Barbie and Oppenheimer smash box office records with $465 million

Barbie breaks box office records as comedy opens to $300M at the global box office while Oppenheimer draws $165M – as Barbenheimer draws countless fans to the theatres

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