Barbenheimer. It’s the viral, big-screen sensation that’s sweeping the nation – and it has the receipts to prove it. Barbie and Oppenheimer were collectively a box office hit during their opening weekend, as many flocked to cinemas to see both as a double feature. After those first few days, Christopher Nolan’s historical drama raked in over $174 million worldwide, while Greta Gerwig’s doll-centric romp scored over $330 million. And the numbers are only climbing. I was one of the many who had the privilege of seeing both movies in theaters on the same day, and it was a great outing. However, one honestly makes for a slightly better moviegoing experience.
So I want to be perfectly clear about something off the bat. Both movies are very good and definitely worth seeing in a theater. The filmmakers behind them are at the top of their respective crafts, delivering compelling productions that should be seen on the big screen. With all that said, Oppenheimer does narrowly edge out Barbie as a better moviegoing excursion, and there are a few reasons why. Let’s talk about some of the positives they have in common, though, before nailing down what makes the Cillian Murphy-led film stand apart.
