Barbie cast turn London Eye pink to celebrate film premiere
Cinemas around the world were busier than ever over the weekend, thanks to the simultaneous release of Barbie and Oppenheimer.
Excitement for Greta Gerwig and Christopher Nolan‘s respective blockbustershas been in overdrive in the run-up to their release on Friday 21 July.
While Oppenheimer’s critical ratings have blown past Barbie with a near-perfect Rotten Tomato score, the latter, which stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, is now expected to double the Cillian Murphy-starring biopic’s box office takings.
However, both releases have shot past their expectations in a huge way, perhaps proving that audiences are tired of sequels and superhero films.
Barbie was estimated to earn $110m at the US box office during opening weekend, with Oppenheimer‘s total projected to sit around $50m. Impressively, Barbie is now on track to take $150m, with Nolan’s drama set to amass $75m. Internationally, Barbie’s takings will see it have the second biggest debut ever.
Meanwhile, speaking in a new interview with The Independent, Nolan described Oppenheimer as “the biggest film I’ve made”. Murphy admitted to struggling to watch the film due to seeing his face projected on the screen, but acknowleged that the film is “designed” to be “watched with an audience”.
Christopher Nolan says Oppenheimer is ‘the biggest film I’ve ever made’
The Independent sat down with both Nolan and Cillan Murphy to discuss Oppenheimer.
During the chat, Nolan discussed his new film as well as his directing future while Murphy admitted: “I love watching Christopher Nolan’s films when I’m not in them.
Read the full interview here.
Peony Hirwani24 July 2023 06:30
Rishi Sunak has seen ‘Barbie’
Getting in on Barbenheimer this weekend was Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who wrote: “The family vote was only ever going one way… Barbie first it is #Barbenheimer.”
Although it seems if he was planning on double billing with Oppenheimer, which has a 15 age certificate, he would have had to send his nine and 11year-old daughters home first.
Peony Hirwani24 July 2023 06:00
Barbie release delayed in Pakistan over ‘objectionable content’
The release of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie was delayed in Pakistan’s Punjab province over “objectionable content”.
Officials said the film would be reviewed and need clearance from the provincial boards that censor scenes violating the country’s social, cultural, and religious values.
“There will be a full review of the film, and it will be censored where deemed necessary,” Farrukh Mahmood, secretary of the Punjab Film Censor Board, told AFP.
The board did not clarify which content was “objectionable,” or why.
Peony Hirwani24 July 2023 05:30
Barbie and Oppenheimer beat global box office records
Warner Bros’ Barbie and Universal’s Oppenheimer have delivered massive global debuts of $337m and $174.2m, respectively.
At the international box office, Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, collected $182m from 69 markets.
On the other hand, Christopher Nolan’s Cillian Murphy-led Oppenheimer in 78 markets earned a whopping $93.7m overseas.
Speaking of the result, Andrew Cripps, Warner Bros president of international theatrical distribution, told Deadline: “The incredible worldwide results we’ve seen are a testament to the filmmakers’ singular vision to provide a fun and engaging experience that audiences of all ages are responding to in a fun and powerful way.”
Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, president of distribution for Universal Pictures International, added: “We couldn’t be happier for Chris Nolan and Emma Thomas, the phenomenal cast and crew, and our partners at Imax and exhibition around the world.”
Peony Hirwani24 July 2023 05:00
‘Barbenheimer’ leads box office with $235m opening in North America
The films Barbie and Oppenheimer attracted cinemagoers in record numbers for their opening weekend in North America, earning a combined sum of $235.5m.
Warner Bros’ Barbie, directed by Greta Gerwig, generated $155m in ticket sales while Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer bagged $80.5m.
Peony Hirwani24 July 2023 04:33
Quentin Tarantino has Barbenheimed
Filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, a noted champion of cinema, has found himself caught up in Barbenheimer.
According to one Twitter user, the Pulp Fiction director saw Oppenheimer first in Los Angeles before heading over the road to see Barbie.
In a meta twist, the cinema he’s seen getting a ticket from here (the Bruin) is the one Sharon Tate – played by Barbie star Margot Robbie – goes to in his latest film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Jacob Stolworthy23 July 2023 23:15
The women of ‘Oppenheimer’
Oppenheimer might be about the inventor of the atomic bomb, but the film features two characters who are worthy of their own three-hour film: Florence Pugh’s Jean Tatlock and Emily Blunt, who playes Oppehenimer’s wife Kitty.
Annabel Nugent spoke to historians to find out more about their lives.
Jacob Stolworthy23 July 2023 22:15
Why Rob Brydon is in ‘Barbie’
Rob Brydon himself announced before the release of Barbie that he had a role in the film – and sure enough, he does!
It turns out that Margot Robbie cast him “as a priority” for a rather touching reason.
Jacob Stolworthy23 July 2023 21:15
Box office update
The Barbie and Oppeheimer excitement has resulted in one of the most lucrative box office openings of all time.
Both films opened on Friday (21 July), with their opening weekend box office tally across the world looking set to top the $400m (£311m) mark, which is a rare occurrence reserved for cinematic events.
Barbie, directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, is storming ahead with the lion’s share of those takings.
The film is estimated to amass $300m (£233m) internationally, which will see it earn the most successful opening of an original non-superhero film ever.
Jacob Stolworthy23 July 2023 20:15
America Ferrera points out ‘revolutionary’ detail in Barbie Dreamhouse
In a an interview for the Harper’s Bazaar UK Summer issue, Barbie star America Ferrera, 39, discussed Barbie’s progressive but “inelegant” history since its creation in 1959.
Ferrera said that growing up, she was “never a Barbie girl” but there have been “revolutionary” moments in Barbie’s history when Mattel has made subversive statements about womanhood.
Ferrera pointed out that there was no kitchen in the first Barbie Dreamhouse, which freed the doll from expectations of domesticity.
Peony Hirwani23 July 2023 20:00
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