Barbenheimer: The Double Feature No One Saw Coming

The box office matchup between Oppenheimer and Barbie on Friday July 21 has been tantalising the internet for months, so much so that this double release of the highly anticipated films has donned the name Barbenheimer – also commonly referred to as Boppenheimer – we can’t decide which we prefer.

This sporadic fan-driven social media marketing is something a studio could never foresee – or buy. Retailers on Etsy have been designing their own T-shirts showcasing the glowing pink of the “Barbie” logo juxtaposed with the sinister smoke of Oppenheimer.

As the release date looms – the hysteria heightens and the meme sphere is loving it. Social media cannot get enough of the irony that these completely contrasting films – one featuring Barbie and Ken and the other being a feature documentary about the man who designed the atomic bomb – share a release date. The public is quite seriously debating which one to see or better yet – rescheduling their days to plan their Barbie and Oppenheimer double feature. The big question is, which one should you see first?

The craze has everyone in its grips – including Tom Cruise who plans on embracing the double feature. He tweeted “I love a double feature, and it doesn’t get more explosive (or more pink) than one with Oppenheimer and Barbie.”

For those interested… Cruise stated in an interview he will see Oppenheimer first, followed by Barbie.

We have to admit, we are struggling with the decision. How do we want our day to shape up – start with the star studded cast featuring Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon and Emily Blunt of Christopher Nolan’s enthralling Oppenheimer and finish with Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in Greta Gerwig’s comical but reflective Barbie, or the other way around?

We should probably go to work… but any recommendations appreciated.

See the timetables at:
Movies @ Dundrum www.movies-at.ie
Stella Rathmines www.stellacinemas.eu
Odeon Stillorgan www.odeoncinemas.ie