Barbie vs Oppenheimer: Box office to online marketplaces, Barbenheimer phenomenon rules

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

AMC has revealed that 40,000 of its movie club members have already secured tickets to experience both «Barbie» and «Oppenheimer» on the same day. The inception of the «Barbenheimer» meme occurred early last year when Warner Bros. announced that «Barbie» would coincide with Universal Pictures' release of «Oppenheimer.» Twitter users swiftly seized on the contrasting themes of the two movies, generating humorous quips about their lighthearted versus dark nature and engaging in a tongue-in-cheek battle for America's essence. Remarkably, this internet inside joke has transcended the virtual realm and become a real-life sensation in recent weeks. Online marketplaces like Etsy and Redbubble have been inundated with hundreds of handmade 'Barbenheimer' T-shirts. Social media platforms witness a constant stream of fan-made posters, receiving hundreds of thousands of «likes» for their captivating mashups. Opening-day screenings for both films have already sold out at major theater chains like AMC and Alamo Drafthouse, while independent cinemas across the country are embracing the trend by offering movie-inspired menus and hosting «Barbenheimer» costume parties.

According to industry analysts who employ sophisticated methodologies to project box office performance based on audience interest, Greta Gerwig's visually appealing «Barbie» has the potential to generate around $100 million in ticket sales in the United States and Canada by the end of the weekend. The production budget for the film, excluding marketing expenses, is estimated to be $145 million. On the other hand, Christopher Nolan's weighty and thought-provoking «Oppenheimer,» which cost a minimum of $100 million before accounting for marketing