Week Two: 'Barbenheimer' boom defies box office norms with $1 billion global success

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Barbie" and Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer," these films continue to dominate the box office with astonishing results. Contrary to the typical week-two drops, both movies showcased remarkable staying power, with «Barbie» raking in an impressive $93 million and «Oppenheimer» securing a robust $46.2 million in their second weekend. The unexpected phenomenon of "Barbenheimer" has now solidified itself as an ongoing box-office sensation, collectively surpassing $1 billion in worldwide ticket sales.

Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for data firm Comscore, described it as a «touchstone moment for movies, moviegoers, and movie theatres» with no precedent in the annals of box-office history. «Barbie» swiftly accumulated $351.4 million in the US and Canadian theatres, outpacing even the iconic «The Dark Knight» and becoming Warner Bros.' highest-grossing film in its first 11 days. Each day «Barbie» played, it consistently earned over $20 million, showcasing unparalleled sustained business.

The movie's success extended beyond North America, with an additional $122.2 million from international markets, contributing to its astounding global tally of $775 million. What astounded industry veterans was the significant number of repeat moviegoers flocking to see «Barbie» again. Approximately 12% of sales were attributed to people returning with friends or family to experience the pink-infused pop sensation repeatedly.

Meanwhile, «Oppenheimer» from Universal Pictures displayed superhero-movie-like performance, achieving $174.1 million domestically and surpassing $400 million worldwide. The film's showings in IMAX were consistently sold out, leading the large-format exhibitor to extend its run. The week's new release, Walt