On July 21, 2023, thousands flocked to their local cinema for movie sensations Barbie and Oppenheimer’s opening weekend. Theaters were filled with crowds either wearing extravagant and vibrant clothes or dark suits with fedoras. This weekend and the internet craze that surrounds it has been nicknamed “Barbenheimer” to joke about how vastly different the two films are, with their only similarity being their release date.
The Barbie movie follows Barbie (Margot Robbie) and Ken (Ryan Gosling) and their journey to the real world from Barbie Land as they try to figure out how to stop Barbie’s unusual malfunctions and save their home. The nostalgia and deeper meaning within the movie makes Barbie a hit with both older audiences and children. The movie features a star-studded cast, including Will Ferrel, Michael Cera, and Kate McKinnon. The soundtrack is also a focal point, with songs from popular artists such as Nicki Minaj, Dua Lipa, Ava Max, and more.
“I thought [Barbie] had a strong emphasis on Ken, which I did not expect, but I loved how it incorporated a mother-daughter relationship throughout the movie,” Laika Olwana, junior, said.
Oppenheimer is based on the true story about American theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his invention of the atomic bomb. The movie reviews have been extremely positive, and its release even broke multiple records, including becoming the highest-grossing World War II movie of all time. Christopher Nolan, the director and co-writer, encourages watching the movie in IMAX 70-millimeter due to the bigger screens, higher quality, and better sound. It also gives viewers a life-like experience with its 3D feel. With only 30 IMAX-70 millimeter screens in the world and 19 in the United States, many are traveling far and wide to see the movie in all its glory.
“I liked [Oppenheimer] because of the history behind it and how it tried to include everything about [J. Robert Oppenheimer],” Nolin Linenkugel, senior, said.
While reviews for both movies have been very positive in the U.S., many in Japan feel that “Barbenheimer’s” popularity is offensive and makes light of the atomic bombs’ mass destruction. This is a heavy topic in Japan, as more than 200,000 people died due to the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings in 1945 that resulted from Oppenheimer’s invention. Warner Bros Japan released a statement condemning Warner Bros U.S. for feeding into the internet trend by posting tweets with memes that poke fun at the two movies, leading to the hashtag “No Barbenheimer” trending in Japan. Warner Bros U.S. responded with their own statement, apologizing for their actions.
“Warner Brothers regrets its recent insensitive social media engagement. The studio offers a sincere apology,” Warner Bros U.S. said in the statement.
Many fans had a “double feature” weekend, watching both movies back-to-back with a “costume change” in between. To partake in this trend, one should have their own “double feature” weekend with costumes and friends to experience the movie sensations before they leave theaters.
