Barbie, directed by Greta Gerwig, has emerged as the clear winner in the worldwide box office race, outshining Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. While Oppenheimer enjoys a strong hold on the Indian box office, Barbie’s international performance paints a different story.
Reports indicate that Barbie has surpassed Oppenheimer’s box office collections in more than 70 international territories.
Barbie’s Box Office Triumph
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Barbie garnered a remarkable $70 million on its first day of release in the US, including $22 million from Thursday previews.
Projections suggest that the film is set to amass around $150 million in the US throughout the weekend, in addition to an estimated $120 million from 70 worldwide territories. By Sunday, the film is expected to cross the $280 million mark in global box office collections.
Notably, Barbie’s impressive figures make it the year’s highest opener, surpassing the opening weekend collections of Tom Cruise’s Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One, which earned $235 million.
Additionally, Barbie secures its position as the third biggest Friday opener for a Warner Bros film, trailing only behind Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 and Batman V Superman. For director Greta Gerwig, the film’s phenomenal opening could make her the director of the biggest opener ever by a female filmmaker.
Oppenheimer’s Strong Global Impact
Despite facing stiff competition from Barbie, Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer has proven its mettle at the box office, raking in substantial numbers both domestically and internationally. As per a Deadline report, Oppenheimer is eyeing a $165 million worldwide weekend, with an estimated $88.9 million coming from international markets.
This makes Oppenheimer Christopher Nolan’s third highest-grossing opening weekend, trailing only behind The Dark Knight Rises ($131M) and The Dark Knight ($94M).
Box Office Performance in India
In India, Oppenheimer has made an impressive collection of ₹31 crore over the first two days, while Barbie has accumulated ₹11.5 crore so far, indicating a fierce box office clash between the two highly anticipated films.
Coexistence of Two Blockbusters
Experts believe that the film industry has a commendable track record of accommodating two major releases simultaneously. As David Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research explains, the studios are adept at managing the simultaneous release of two big movies, ensuring they cater to different target audiences.
While Oppenheimer may attract a more male-oriented and older audience, Barbie’s appeal lies in being more female-oriented and attracting younger viewers. Nevertheless, both films are expected to find a wide audience base, contributing to their resounding success at the box office.