© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: America Ferrera and Margot Robbie attend the premiere of “Barbie” in London, Britain on July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Maja Smijkowska/File Photo
By Lisa Richwin
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The new Barbie movie starring Margot Robbie as the iconic doll dominated theaters over the weekend, grossing an estimated $155 million, setting a record for the biggest domestic opening of 2023, distributor Warner Bros. said on Sunday.
And Christopher Nolan’s film “Oppenheimer,” about the creation of the atomic bomb, beat expectations with $80.5 million in domestic theaters in a cinematic battle dubbed “Barpenheimer.”
The record numbers provided a welcome boost for studios and theaters that had had a disappointing summer so far. Ticket sales fell last year despite more films being in cinemas.
The Barpenheimer frenzy, more than two anticipated but very different films opening simultaneously, was buzzing.
“Barbie” is “Little Woman” director Greta Gerwig’s conceptualization of the doll, which debuted 60 years ago. The $155 million debut was topped by “The Super Mario Bros.”‘s $146.4 million. in April and ranked as the highest domestic opening ever for a film directed by a female director.
Mattel (NASDAQ:) has launched an all-out global marketing campaign to stoke the craze, lighting up London landmarks pink and buzz in products from Barbie fashions to the Barbie X-box console.
Many fans dressed up in pink costumes and stages served pink cocktails and sparkling popcorn.
Drama “Oppenheimer” starring Cillian Murphy as the American scientist Robert Oppenheimer, the man who developed the atomic bomb. The film received rave reviews and is expected to be a contender in the upcoming Oscars race.
The film’s distributor, Universal Pictures, said the film added $93.7 million in international markets, for a total of $174.2 million.
