July 21, 2023, marked arguably one of the most iconic days for modern entertainment thus far being the release date of two of the most highly anticipated movies of the summer. Sparking grand excitement from the moment each respective movie’s release date was announced, Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer were immediately paired together despite their oxymoronic nature. Nolan’s Oppenheimer was anticipated as a serious, dark, and gritty biopic “business,” while Gerwig’s Barbie could be seen as the fun, preppy, glittery light-hearted comedy “pleasure.” Despite the two films’ drastic differences in genre, aesthetic, and targeted audience, the internet agreed that Barbenheimer would be the unexpected double-feature bombshell that would take box offices by surprise.
Unexpectedly, the two films having the same release date hardly sparked any sort of rivalry. In fact, the cast and creative teams of each respective film endorsed each other frequently, fueling the internet’s fascination with the Barbenheimer campaign. Despite a sparse number of cinemas genuinely promoting Barbenheimer as a legitimate double-feature, crowds rushed to buy their tickets for both films independently. AMC shared that 20,000 of AMC Stubs List members had snatched up tickets to both films, almost as if audiences felt they couldn’t see one without the other. This viral internet meme resulted in promoting both films, causing their box office sales to skyrocket further than predicted with combined sales of roughly $1,500,000,000.
Starring Margot Robbie as iconic doll Barbie alongside Ryan Gosling as her companion Ken, Greta Gerwig’s Barbie was an incredibly anticipated movie on its own. Taking on the story of arguably one of the most well-loved toys of all time, Gerwig had a large legacy to fulfill through her film. Considering Gerwig’s experience with directing some of the most beloved coming-of-age films depicting womanhood (such as Little Women and Lady Bird), it was rare to see someone doubting that she would do Barbie justice. With a delightfully playful plot with its own heart-wrenching twist, Barbie lived up to all its expectations and more. The film was praised for its visuals, writing, marketing, and outstanding soundtrack (which features stars such as Nicki Minaj, Charli XCX, Aqua, Billie Elish, and Dua Lipa), making it no surprise that it is currently the highest-grossing film of the year.
However, many criticized the film due to its satirical lens on the characters of Barbie and Ken and the reversal of gender roles presented within the aforementioned figures. While all the Barbies in Barbieland were “everything” (ranging from Nobel Peace Prize winners, politicians, doctors, journalists, etc.), all the Kens were “just Ken,” serving no purpose but to be an accessory to Barbie (to reflect their doll counterparts) and provide comedic relief with their thoughtlessness. Nonetheless, despite the arguably demeaning characterization of the men in this movie, one of the biggest highlights for many audience members was, ironically, Ken. Gosling was praised for his Kenergy, perfectly embodying the big dumb hunk everyone expected Ken to be. Simultaneously, Robbie was praised for her interpretation of a stereotypical Barbie;
depicted in the film all had occupations, Robbie’s lacked one (which may have been a contributing factor to the spiraling existential crisis she endures throughout the film). Nonetheless, the lack of a proper title didn’t take away from Robbie’s ability to make Barbie a multifaceted character navigating the real world while restoring peace in her own (all while experiencing her first feelings of impending doom).
“But yeah, I don’t know that anyone totally knew what the tone of this was going to be until it was all done,” Greta Gerwig said, in regard to the unexpected themes of existentialism in the film. “I mean, within the group of people who were deeply making it, we knew, but it was truly an act of faith for everyone else.”
All in all, it’s safe to say that Robbie and Gosling’s performances were both sublime, their characters balancing each other out as 2023’s favorite “Girlboss/Malewife” duo. Cleverly delivering feminist commentary and a touching message wrapped in an extravagant pink bow, Barbie is considered the “Movie of the Summer” for many.
“Some people say it was just Feminism 101, and I get that because there is not much intersectionality,” points out ILS ‘23 alum Sky Felfle, concerning the idea that the feminist commentary was very surface-level. “But I think it was needed. Many women really related and it gave men some insight that they really need to be more understanding and compassionate.”
Depicting the life of American physicist and Manhattan Project pioneer J. Robert Oppenheimer (played by Cillian Murphy), Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer provides a stark contrast to the sunshine and rainbows of Barbie. Nolan is renowned for his darker films (such as The Dark Knight Rises and Inception), lauded for his compelling and nuanced storytelling, leading to sparked interest in Oppenheimer as his first biopic. To tell the story of such a complex and controversial man would prove to be a challenge, but Nolan handled the story with extraordinary care. While Oppenheimer only earned around half of the sales Barbie had made in twice the amount of time, that doesn’t take away from the excellence of this film. Despite the whopping three hours that this film ran , it keeps viewers on the edge of their seats as they learn the story behind the “father of the atomic bomb” across decades in a fast-paced, fervidly morbid method of storytelling. This dense film is feverishly haunting and deservingly well-acclaimed for the fact.
Most criticisms toward the movie revolved around pacing and overall message– many audience members found it to be hard to follow due to a combination of nuanced conversations that may take a little extra focus to understand if you’re not entirely familiar with the history behind Oppenheimer. Furthermore, many critics were under the impression that the film was created with the intention of getting audiences to sympathize with a rather controversial historical figure, despite the fact that wasn’t even close to the film’s intention. As a biopic, the film revolved less around the bombs and their long-lasting effects on victims and more around the becoming and perspective of the man behind it all.
“We know so much more than [Oppenheimer] did at the time,” Christopher Nolan explained. “He learned about the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on the radio, the same as the rest of the world.”
On the other hand, the aspects that the film got criticized for are the same aspects that made the film deserving of high praise from many viewers. While some struggled to keep up with the story, others commended Nolan’s work in making the three-hour runtime feel like a breeze through his event-filled storytelling (accompanied by a breathtaking soundtrack, composed by Ludwig Göransson). Furthermore, Oppenheimer was also revered for providing such a heavy and moving account of J. Robert Oppenheimer’s experiences during the creation of the atomic bomb, concentrating on the psychological consequences that such a destructive invention could have on its creator.
“I thought it was really well paced for how long it was and the sound design and score really stood out to me,” said sophomore Ernesto Losada. “I like how the visuals were used to show Oppenheimer’s emotions.”
Generally, despite respective criticisms, both films were well-celebrated and successful upon release. Even now, a month after the double-features’ debut, Barbenheimer is still a hot topic of discussion… which is remarkably impressive, considering how many of this year’s trends have been so short-lived. Even when the films aren’t explicitly the topic being discussed, Barbenheimer has become an adjective of sorts to describe any two contrasting pieces of media. Considering both films are still selling out in cinemas, it’s safe to assume that Barbenheimer will go down in history as one of the most iconic movie releases of the 21st century.
