While Christopher Nolan is not planning to see Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, Nolan did praise the Barbenheimer movement, which is all about the fact that Barbie and Oppenheimer are opening on the same day (next week). Nolan praised the fact that the Barbenheimer buzz has led to audiences returning to movie theaters, saying: “I think for those of us who care about movies, we’ve been really waiting to have a crowded marketplace again, and now it’s here and that’s terrific.” Meanwhile, Cillian Murphy has been much more engaged with the Barbenheimer phenomenon. Several days ago, he spoke to a Spanish outlet about how he “loves” Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling and he “can’t wait to see Barbie.” Well, the Oppenheimer junket has started and Cillian is still fielding questions about Barbie. YES!
Cillian Murphy isn’t letting a little competition put him off seeing the new Barbie film. The 47-year-old actor said he is “100%” going to see Barbie — which will be battling it out against his film Oppenheimer over opening weekend later this month — and thinks “it’s great” that the movies are being released on the same day.
“I mean, I’ll be going to see Barbie 100% — I can’t wait to see it,” Murphy said in an interview with IGN published Tuesday. “I think it’s just great for the industry and for audiences that we have two amazing films by amazing filmmakers coming out on the same day.” He added, “Yeah, you can spend the whole day in the cinema — what’s better than that?”
Murphy’s excitement over the two films has mirrored that of fans, as there has been a mass number of bookings to see Oppenheimer and Barbie as a double feature in theaters. It was revealed earlier this week that more than 20,000 tickets have been sold at AMC Theaters for viewers to not only see both films over opening weekend, but on the same day, after they both open on July 21.
In a statement shared with Variety on Monday, the movie-theater chain’s CCO and executive VP of worldwide programming, 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.”
It’s gotten to the point where there’s an ongoing debate on social media about which order you should see your Barbenheimer double-feature. I understand the idea behind seeing Barbie second, to end your day with some lightness and positivity, but I also feel like people seeing Oppenheimer first might be too depressed to go to watch Barbie on the same day? Like, I’ll need to process both films. Anyway, I enjoy the fact that the Barbie and Oppenheimer casts are getting involved and openly discussing both movies. Originally, this double-booked premiere date was meant as a screw-you to Nolan from Warner Bros, but it’s ended up working out in everyone’s favor. I don’t remember the last time that happened.
Photos courtesy of Cover Images.
- Oppenheimer Premiere held at Grand Rex in Paris, France. Featuring: Cillian Murphy When: 11 Jul 2023 Credit: Abaca Press/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
- Oppenheimer Premiere held at Grand Rex in Paris, France. Featuring: Cillian Murphy When: 11 Jul 2023 Credit: Abaca Press/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
- Oppenheimer Premiere held at Grand Rex in Paris, France. Featuring: Cillian Murphy When: 11 Jul 2023 Credit: Abaca Press/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
- Oppenheimer Premiere held at Grand Rex in Paris, France. Featuring: Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr, Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt and Christopher Nolan When: 11 Jul 2023 Credit: Abaca Press/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
