Box Office Surprises: The Rise of "Barbenheimer"

You may have heard of the cultural craze that's caused a recent box office boom.

Dubbed "Barbenheimer," the odd cinematic pairing of Gretta Gerwig's "Barbie" and Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" is proving to be exactly what tinsel town needs. The impact goes beyond movie tickets, however. The pairing has also inspired moviegoers to create art, memes, clothing, and more to celebrate this mash-up.

Variety breaks down the financial impact of this summer's unlikely duo :

• "Barbie" breaks records: Gerwig's film brought in $162 million in the opening weekend, making it the highest-grossing debut for a female director.¹
• The surprise of "Oppenheimer": "Oppenheimer also exceeded expectations, pulling in a respectable $82.4 million.¹
• "Barbie" Goes Global: The global ticket sales for "Barbie" reached a stunning $356.3 million, with $194.3 million accounting for international ticket sales alone.¹
• "Oppenheimer" and IMAX: Nolan filmed "Oppenheimer" in the IMAX format, which saw ticket sales surge.¹

So this summer, whether you're disappearing into a pink life in plastic or pondering one of humanity's most pivotal scientific discoveries, remember that there's room for us to inhabit both worlds. Even if only for a few hours.

Have a great summer!

Ted de Groot
Spurstone Partner

^{1. Variety.com, July 24, 2023}