Unless you’ve been living in a nuclear bunker for the past year, it’s highly likely that you have some consciousness of the Barbie movie. With over 100 brand collaborations, a raft of self-perpetuating memes, and even an Airbnb, Warner Brothers’ marketing machine has managed to put pink into the population’s collective consciousness, creating anticipation for a cinematic event, unlike anything we’ve seen in recent years.
The timing of Barbie’s release (and that of its less hyped but also eagerly awaited opening weekend ‘rival’, Oppenheimer) comes at a fascinating inflexion point for the movie and TV industry. Writers and actors are on strike in the US, at odds with streamers and studios about the future of film. Meanwhile, cinemas, large and small, are struggling financially to stay afloat.
