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- Why Did Barbenheimer Work?
- Barbenheimer’s Knockoffs and Cheap Imitations
As a seasoned movie critic with over two decades of experience under my belt, I’ve seen countless films that have come and gone, but none quite like the extraordinary duo that graced our screens last year – Barbie and Oppenheimer, or as I fondly remember them, “Barpenheimer”. Having grown up in the golden age of cinema, I can say with confidence that this was a once-in-a-lifetime event.
2023 posed challenges for the entertainment sector, as it seemed to be regaining its footing post-COVID closures, only to encounter dual writers’ and actors’ strikes. For half a year, production essentially stalled, and actors found themselves unable to publicize their forthcoming projects. However, amidst the hardships, there was a ray of hope: that summer brought about an unprecedented theatrical phenomenon – none other than Barbenheimer.
On July 21, 2023, both “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” made their debut. This was a week into the actors’ strike, preventing any promotion by the stars of the summer’s biggest movies. Despite this, Barbenheimer skyrocketed to pop culture fame. The contrasting release date, distinct storylines, and debut following prolonged production halts contributed to an ideal recipe for success. “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” accumulated a collective box office revenue of $2.3 billion, with “Barbie” cracking the top 15 highest-grossing films ever made. It’s no wonder that other studios are trying to emulate the Barbenheimer craze. The upcoming competitor is “Glicked,” with “Gladiator II” and “Wicked” scheduled for release on November 22. While matching the success of “Barbenheimer” may be difficult, both these films are predicted to be blockbuster hits at the box office.
Why Did Barbenheimer Work?
Barbenheimer produced films with stories as different from each other as night and day. One was a vibrant tale celebrating female power in a matriarchal setting, while the other was a hard-hitting drama about the creator of the deadliest weapon known in warfare. Initially, these two narratives might appear to have no common ground whatsoever. However, it was precisely this stark contrast that contributed to their immense popularity.
In the year 2023, Barbie and Oppenheimer were jointly spotlighted, highlighting their stark contrast. The memes, abundant as ever, were reminiscent of a reverse Morbius scenario, where the Barbenheimer memes surprisingly boosted both films’ popularity. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until a week before the premiere of both movies. SAG-AFTRA called a strike, forcing all promotional activities to cease. Despite the halt in production since May due to the WGA strike, it didn’t impact Barbie and Oppenheimer as both films had already been completed.
Concerns about Barbie not performing well financially were put to rest when it outperformed expectations and ruled the box office, breaking several records. It achieved the best opening weekend for a non-sequel, remake, or superhero movie, making it the highest-grossing film directed by a single woman, as well as the top-earning live-action comedy movie. Oppenheimer became the second highest-grossing R-rated film (now third after Deadpool and Wolverine), and it also set the record for the highest-grossing biographical film ever made.
Instead of vying against each other, Barbie and Oppenheimer collaborated to achieve remarkable box office successes. Despite the scarcity of blockbuster movies due to theater closures during the pandemic, Barbenheimer was hailed as a triumphant reopening of cinemas. The unprecedented Barbenheimer stunt set a unique standard, yet it hasn’t deterred other production studios from attempting similar feats.
Barbenheimer’s Knockoffs and Cheap Imitations
The initial imitation of Barbenheimer arrived only a few months afterwards, coinciding with the simultaneous release of both Saw X and Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie in late September. Unfortunately, Saw Patrol didn’t resonate as strongly because the colorful, chatty puppies film and gruesome exploitation flick seemed too dissimilar in theme. There was also a potential release of “ExorSwift” that October, as the concert movie for Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour was initially set to premiere on the same day as The Exorcist: Believer. However, instead of competing with the world’s biggest superstar, The Exorcist: Believer was pushed forward by a week.
Even though previous follow-ups didn’t perform well, this autumn’s Glicked could prove to be something special. Both Gladiator II and Wicked are highly anticipated films this year, and their unique styles can be compared to Barbie and Oppenheimer. This positive buzz has been generated by the film’s cast members, with Gladiator‘s Paul Mescal introducing the term “Glicked”. Jeff Goldblum from Wicked has also hinted at the possibility of both films supporting each other rather than competing. Gladiator II is expected to earn between $40 and $80 million during its opening weekend, while Wicked aims for slightly more, between $70 and $150 million. If both achieve their highest projections, they will come close to matching the debut earnings of Barbie and Oppenheimer ($162 million and $82.5 million respectively).
Is it possible that Glicked will capture the same magic and cultural influence as Barbenheimer did? That’s unlikely, given the unique circumstances surrounding its predecessor. However, both have potential to thrive independently, with Wicked being one of the most anticipated fall releases. Although Barbenheimer may have reached its end, let’s hope that future blockbusters like Glicked can keep movie theaters vibrant for the coming generations. On November 22, you can catch Wicked and Gladiator II in theaters.
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2024-11-16 23:31