What happens when the unstoppable force meets the immovable object? We’re about to find out, as the destructive nuclear fury of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer is going toe-to-toe at the box office with Greta Gerwig’s upbeat, pink and glossy Barbie. And the unlikely child of this union: “Barbenheimer.”
The two movies are tonal polar opposites: one a three-hour meditation on a historical figure who found himself caught between science and morality amidst the backdrop of World War II, and the other about the world’s most famous doll escaping Barbieland.
Now it’s been revealed that there’s a surprising number of brave souls (who’re clearly not concerned about whiplash) doing “Barbenheimer” back-to-back. AMC has confirmed (via The Hollywood Reporter) that around 20,000 people have booked tickets to both. AMC’s chief content officer Elizabeth Frank said:
“That more than 20,000 moviegoers have already made plans and purchased tickets to see Barbie and Oppenheimer on the same day is a great sign that the growing online conversation around seeing both of these incredible films is turning into ticket sales.”
Barbie‘s Gerwig has welcomed the competition, telling reporters on Sunday:
“It’s all love — double up, double up twice!”
The notoriously straight-laced and serious Christopher Nolan has yet to give his opinion on Barbie, though Oppenheimer star Cillian Murphy has echoed Gerwig’s comments:
“I can’t wait to see Barbie. I love Margot Robbie, I love Ryan Gosling. … My advice would be for people to go see both [Barbie and Oppenheimer], on the same day.”
Now only one question remains. Do you go Barbie/Oppenheimer or Oppenheimer/Barbie? We’d suggest the latter, as what better way to clean the palette after three gripping hours of atomic drama than a refreshing dose of hot pink cheer?
Barbie and Oppenheimer both arrive on July 21.