‘Barbie’ (70+M) Still Beating ‘Oppenheimer’ (40M) in Early Box-Office Projections

The “Barbeheimer” frenzy is inching closer and closer by the day. Even Tom Cruise ended up posting about it on social media.

As you might already know, Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” and Gerwig’s “Barbie” are being released on the same day, July 21. A rivalry between these two polar opposite films was created months ago online, with fans, of both movies, slugging it out on social media. Of course, quality is what matters here.

The latest numbers again have ‘Barbie’ edging ‘Opie.’ THR has Gerwig’s film at an opening of around $70 million to $80 million, if not more, according to sources. Warner Bros. have opted to stay conservative and tell THR it might be note like $60 million.

Meanwhile, Universal and Nolan’s film is tracking for a domestic debut in the $40 million range. Did you expect otherwise? The film is an R-rated, 3-hour drama with black and white sequences. It could most certainly have legs, that is, if it’s any good. Both films have budgets of around $100 million.

Nolan’s film is Rated R, Gerwig’s is a more audience-friendly PG-13. What will matter most for their box-office aspirations are the reviews. Critics will either make or break these two films.

Nolan is coming off the disappointing “Tenet,” which was the first major release of the pandemic, it opened with a tepid $20 million. “Tenet” ended up grossing $58 million domestically, but a very impressive $306 million worldwide. However, Warner Bros. calculated losses at around $50 million.

If anything, the biggie of the summer will be released the week prior to ‘Barbenheimer’, on July 12th. That’s when Tom Cruise’s “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One’ will storm into theaters. It will easily clear an opening of $90-$100 million.

A potential twist to this whole ‘Barbenheimer’ saga would have Cruise’s film keeping the number one spot in its second weekend, with Gerwig and Nolan ending up, respectively, #2 and #3 at the box-office.