Oppenheimer vs Barbie Box Office Battle: Who Will Win? -

The Barbie vs Oppenheimer debate has been going for over a year now with many fans suspecting that one of the films would definitely be delayed to avoid a box office clash. However, nothing of the sort happened. It is also rumored that Barbie is Warner Bros’ revenge on Christopher Nolan for leaving them. I cannot believe that I’m saying this but considering all the new updates especially the R-rating which practically severs an age group of audience for Oppenheimer, the advantage lies with Barbie as for now. Whether Nolan will claim his throne back as the box office king or not all depends on Oppenheimer, a film which is also considered to earn him his well deserved first Oscar. As the films are just a month away from their release, we have a new report that tells us who is winning the box office race at the moment.

Barbie Trumping Oppenheimer At The Box Office?

The Hollywood Reporter has revealed in the box office race between Oppenheimer and Barbie, Greta Gerwig’s venture will open ahead of Nolan’s three hours long epic. While no concrete figures are revealed at this time but we will get them soon as well, as the release date comes closer and closer. Earlier everyone firmly believed that Nolan’s period drama will easily kick Barbie’s ass at the box office but ever since the production of the film began it has become an internet sensation and a huge rival for Oppenheimer.

However, that is not the only reason why Barbie is ahead of Oppenheimer at the moment. Nolan is famous for putting butts in theatre seats simply because of the audiences’ adoration for him but a summer blockbuster isn’t R-rated. Barbie is rated PG-13. This instantly cuts a section of audience for Oppenheimer. Barbie with its ideal rating is available for all sections of the audience. Oppenheimer also happens to be Nolan’s longest film yet, nearing three hours.

People shy away from long films nowadays which is another con for Oppenheimer and a point in Barbie’s favor as the film is definitely not three hours long. It is also important to note that all the box office success enjoyed by Nolan was pre pandemic. The market has changed after the pandemic so will Oppenheimer make its massive budget back and prove to be profitable is the true test for Nolan’s hold over the audience.

The story of Oppenheimer is adapted from Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin’s book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer. Oppenheimer will be the first film to be shot in B/W and IMAX. The film is made on a hefty budget of $100 Million. The film basically has half of Hollywood in it including Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Rami Malek, Benny Safdie, Josh Hartnett, Dane DeHaan, Jack Quaid, Matthew Modine, Alden Ehrenreich, David Krumholtz, Kenneth Branagh, Gary Oldman, Casey Affleck, Michael Angarano and without a doubt Michael Caine.

Barbie’s script has been co-written with Greta Gerwig and her partner Noah Baumbach (Marriage Story, Frances Ha, White Noise). Margot Robbie will star in the titular role with Ryan Gosling playing Ken, Barbie’s male counterpart. The rest of the cast includes, America Ferrera, Simu Liu, Issa Rae, Ncuti Gatwa, Alexandra Shipp, Ariana Greenblatt, Sharon Rooney, Ana Cruz Kayne, Emma Mackay and Hari Nef.

Oppenheimer and Barbie are set to release in theatres near you on 21st July 2023.

If you have any questions regarding Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, feel free to ask in the comments below. For more content, stay tuned. As usual, like, subscribe and share our articles as we here are trying to build a community of people High on Cinema!

Sameer Talawdekar

author

A student of cinema with a keen eye and an acquired taste. Blunt and critical while reviewing, if Sameer says a film is good, it’s basically a guarantee that it is. He may not like what you do, but that’s what makes him a quality fit for any cinema publication. He craves excellence and perfection and that’s why you can blindly trust his word!

See author's posts