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© 2023 AFP'Barbenheimer' frenzy hits North American cinemas
By Beiyi SEOW and Diane DESOBEAU WASHINGTON/NEW YORK©2023 GPlusMedia Inc.
28 Comments
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Ass
I was wondering if Oppenheimer was going to play in Japan. I think they're worried it might be a big bomb.
Blacklabel
We look pretty dumb to pair such a vapid movie with a movie about such a serious and world changing event.
u_s__reamer
Oppenheimer is not the most sympathetic character in the eyes of many Japanese (unjustifiable in my reckoning) so there may be a number of obstacles to a release from business and political circles. Still, after some initial dithering, I expect Japanese will be able to watch this major production whose quality I have no reason to doubt.
WA4TKG
This is part of what’s wrong with the world today
David Brent
Imagine paying good money to see Barbie over Oppenheimer.
Mocheake
We may be doomed much earlier than we think. A movie about a doll. The dumbing down is on overdrive.
wallace
People are free to spend their money in whatever way they want. I don't be watching the pink movie.
Jimizo
Talking about overdrive, I once watched the first 30 minutes of one of the Fast and Furious films.
Not exactly Citizen Kane.
I don’t think Barbie is a sign of the end of times. We’ve had plenty of silliness before.
Some people sneer at my fascination with people kicking a bag of air around a pitch.
Each to their own
opheliajadefeldt
My dog, so much stupid fuss over a doll. I think it must be as dumb as those who go and see this pointless film..........ps. I am now selling all of my Barbie dolls from when I was little, I have about 20, one without the head....do not ask?
lostrune2
Both movies are vastly outperforming expectations - Barbie and Oppenheimer are getting good critic and audience scores:
90% - https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/barbie
94% - https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/oppenheimer_2023
CinemaScores - both A's!
https://www.cinemascore.com/
In the US, Barbie did $70 million on Friday alone and is expected to do over $150 million weekend, while Oppenheimer did $33 million on Friday and over $80 million weekend
Worldwide, Barbie is heading towards $300 million weekend, while Oppenheimer $166 million weekend
https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/oppenheimer-starts-overseas-rollout-christopher-173104862.html
It's become a cultural event
Jimizo
Iostrune2
Great post. Thanks for the info.
Both Barbie and Oppenheimer killing it at the box office and with critics and audiences.
There is room for all kinds of films it seems.
Not a bad thing.
commanteer
Toy Story was all about dolls, as I recall. A well-written story can be about anything. No reason to judge Barbie, Oppenheimer, or any movie until you've seen it.
Paustovsky
I imagine most people in the world are not at all interested in a movie about a man who develops the worst weapon in humanity.
In fact, that same majority of people would be looking for the polar opposite.
Jimizo
Yep.
Pinocchio is wonderful story that has captured the minds of people for generations. I haven’t seen the latest adaptation but I heard it’s very good.
The old Disney one is a masterpiece.
餓死鬼
Imagine paying good money to see a film you want to see.
Marr Bourdein
Barbie and their affiliates are so in-groomed with Hollywood that a warning is in order. Don't fall for the fake over rated news. It is actually not a frenzy at all other than a small part of Hollywood. My family is from Seattle and San Bernardino, they say it's not all that.
Harry_Gatto
Why would anyone do this?
Bob Fosse
There have been movies about dolls since the silent era, one of the very first talkies was about a doll.
Was Pinnochio ‘woke’ because it had feelings and stuff?
Blacklabel
Nope not woke because of that.
woke because nearly the entire movie was “adjusted” to push a woke narrations and a woke culture littered with victimization.
lostrune2
So, a woke movie made a lot of money?
Blacklabel
No it didn’t. Award winning film though!
garypen
Yeah. That rule where you're only allowed to see one of them really sucks. Oh wait. There's no such rule, and people don't have to pick one over the other.
Blacklabel
“A well-known Box office analyst has estimated that the Walt Disney Co. has lost over $890 million on their last eight studio releases.”
that’s your woke movie impact.
garypen
The loss of humor and the ability to appreciate satire and irony appears to be on an even faster overdrive.
garypen
For fun? (Just a wild guess)
You should definitely avoid comic cons. No doubt you'd find it very confusing.
Redemption
I have no interest in either of these films. When is Nicholas Cage's next movie?
Mocheake
Good points but I was commenting on the fact that they are really hyping this "competition" as if comparing the person (Oppenheimer) to a doll. The 'woke' part you wrote about never entered my mind.
餓死鬼
Well, I just maxed out a Cinema Sunshine stamp card, and I can only use it on one film. Will it be "Oppenheimer"? Will it be "Barbie"? Or will it be that darkest of horses, "The Sound of Freedom"??