Here’s how much “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” made during its opening weekend!
The film industry received a significant boost from the success of the blockbusters “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.” The two films recently broke box-office opening weekend records.
According to BOXOFFICE PRO, “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” made $511 million in box office sales over their opening weekend.
“Barbie” emerged as the top performer. The film earned $337 million globally, making it the largest opening weekend of 2023. It is also the biggest-ever debut for a female director, Greta Gerwig.
The success of these films has breathed new life into the film industry, leading to a surge in ticket sales. Timothy Richards, chief executive of Vue International, reported that it experienced its highest weekend admissions since “Avengers: Endgame” in 2019, calling it “an incredibly exciting moment for the industry.”
The films’ box office success was backed by intense marketing efforts, particularly for “Barbie,” which saw a pop culture sensation and viral campaign around going to the movies.
The unlikely pairing of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” seemed to fuel interest in both. AMC reported that 60,000 people bought tickets to see both films on the same day.
Despite the positive momentum, the film industry is still grappling with challenges. Big-budget films like “The Flash” and “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” have underperformed. In addition, an ongoing strike by Hollywood actors and writers over pay and working conditions has halted the production of many films.
The pandemic has taken a massive toll on the industry. It lead to the bankruptcy of Cineworld, the world’s second-biggest movie theater chain. Many movie theaters, including Cineworld’s Regal Cinemas, have faced permanent closures.
Banner Image Paulo Correa
