Barbenheimer Is Here!
Barbie vs Oppenheimer Box Office Battle Royale Begins
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Good Morning and Happy Friday!
If your big plans this weekend involve an early dinner or movie, you’re not alone. Turns out, “America is becoming a nation of early birds.”
According to the Wall Street Journal, “more consumers of all ages are sliding activities back. Night owls wonder where the action is.” One reason: hybrid and remote work have Americans ready to leave the house as soon as their workday is done.
Plus, people are understanding the value of good night’s sleep.
See ya at 4:30pm dinner!
Mosheh, Jill, & Courtney
🎙The Mo News Podcast: Talking about the housing market, the Sound of Freedom controversy and the big weekend at the box office.
🗞 BARBIE + OPPENHEIMER BOX OFFICE BATTLE
via CNN
It’s going to be a battle royale at the box office this weekend: We’re talking Barbie vs Oppenheimer. It’s being called a “battle of the bombshells,” a “counter programming powerhouse” that’s capturing the pop culture zeitgeist, and of course, “Barbenheimer.”
On the one screen: Christopher Nolan's 3-hour ‘Oppenheimer’— about J. Robert Oppenheimer and his work on the Manhattan Project that created the atomic bomb.
On the other screen: Greta Gerwig’s ‘Barbie’— about the Barbie doll, as she ventures out of Barbie Land with Ken to experience the real world.
These movies couldn’t be more different, but they’re opening on the same weekend so they’re now synonymous. And instead of competing, some people say they’re complementary— and are seeing both.
“RISING TIDE”
For Barbie, Greta Gerwig could secure the record of largest opening weekend for a female-directed film. Gerwig told USA TODAY last month. “Please, go to both! A rising tide lifts all boats.”
The record currently belongs to Patty Jenkins 'Wonder Woman', which grossed more than $100 million in its opening weekend.
It could also be one of the biggest non-Batman domestic opening for Christopher Nolan.
“I think it’s the perfect double bill… It’s like having a steak dinner, then an ice cream sundae for dessert. I want both!”
Margot Robbie to USA Today
BY THE NUMBERS: DOUBLE HEADER
AMC says 40,000 members of its loyalty program have already bought advance tickets to see “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” as a double feature. Opening-day screenings of both films have already sold out at Alamo Drafthouse.
The movies combined could bring in a potential $200 million, which would make it one of the biggest moviegoing weekends since 2019.
It comes at an important time for the film industry, following a slew of much hyped movies that have underperformed at the box office. That includes— ‘Flash,’ ‘Indiana Jones’ and ‘Mission Impossible’.
THE STRIKE
The opening comes as all union writers and actors are on strike, which means none of the films’ stars will be doing press around them.
BARBIE = BIG MONEY
There have been Barbie pop-ups for weeks leading up to the movie.
Barbie parent company Mattel has put on a marketing full court press with more than 100 brands plastering pink everywhere.
Microsoft’s XBox has come up with a Barbie console series; HGTV is hosting a four-part Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge.
Mattel has also teamed up with Ruggable, Pinkberry, and Bloomingdale’s.
Marie Claire reported that sales of scrunchies have jumped by 1,099%. Blond hair dye is up 47%; leotards are up 12%.
AND THEN THERE’S THE SLEEPER HIT…SOUND OF FREEDOM
Sound of Freedom crossed the $100 million mark at the domestic box office this week after only two weekends. It’s doing particularly well in the Midwest and the South.
The movie is a faith-based thriller about Tim Ballard (played by Jim Caviezel), who worked as a Department of Homeland Security agent before embarking on his own quest to bring child traffickers to justice. But, the movie has become very politicized and controversial.
Mo News did a deep-dive on the film, the real-life story and the discussion around the film over on the Mo News Premium Instagram Page.
✔︎Mo News Reality Check: These films are coming at a critical time for the movie industry, which is still down about 20% in revenue from 2019. Plus, it’s still not clear how long the writers and actors will be on strike— and the long term impact that will have on the box office.
As for Barbie, there’s a ton of hype, in part because of Mattel’s marketing onslaught. But TIME points out, we might be ignoring the real reason Barbie is expected to dominate the box office: “Very few movies manage to cater to women without condescending to them.”
The Barbie movie is feminine— “with a wink,” and is already being compared to cult films like Clueless and Legally Blonde.
⏳ SPEED READ
🚨NATION
📌 Gender pay gap now the narrowest on record (AXIOS)
📌 A House hearing featuring Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. brought the complicated debate about balancing free speech with fighting misinformation to center stage (THE HILL)
📌 New Details: Tupac Shakur warrant was for house of gang member who says he witnessed 1996 murder (NBC NEWS)
📌 The boyfriend of Carlee Russell — the Alabama woman who claimed to be missing — deletes all trace of her from his social media (NEW YORK POST)
🌎 AROUND THE WORLD
📌 For Europe’s older population, heat is the new COVID (NY TIMES)
📌 Protesters set fire to Swedish embassy in Baghdad (BBC)
📌 6 dead as Kenya rocked by tax-hike protests (ABC)
📌 Why do some people never get symptoms from Covid-19? Researchers may have finally figured it out (CBS)
📱BUSINESS & TECH
📌 June home sales drop to the slowest pace in 14 years as short supply chokes the market. (CNBC)
📌 ChatGPT can now remember who you are and what you want (THE VERGE)
📌 Global wheat prices soar as Russia-Ukraine tensions flare (CNN)
📌 Powerball player wins $1.08 billion jackpot — the third-highest ever after 39 drawings in last 3 months (NEW YORK POST)
🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
📌 $2 Billion Disneyland-sized theme park planned for Oklahoma along Route 66 (FOX BUSINESS)
📌 5 storylines to watch as Women’s World Cup begins (NPR) (US Women play first game at 9pmET tonight)
📌 2023 British Open Leaderboard (CBS SPORTS)
📌 Kim Kardashian is unrecognizable in first look at ‘American Horror Story: Delicate’ (US WEEKLY)
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🎉 CHEERS TO THE FREAKIN’ WEEKEND
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING: Jill: Stephen Curry: Underrated on Apple TV; Mosheh: Women’s World Cup
WHAT WE’RE READING: Jill: The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict; Mosheh: The Daily Dad by Ryan Holiday
WHAT WE’RE EATING: Jill: Homemade yogurt popsicles; Mosheh: Garrett’s Caramel Corn
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