Barbenheimer

Where it started

Barbenheimer ( BAR-bən-hy-mər) was a cultural phenomenon that preceded and surrounded the simultaneous theatrical release of two major studio films—Barbie by Warner Bros. Pictures and Oppenheimer by Universal Pictures—on July 21, 2023. The dichotomy between Barbie, a fantasy comedy directed by Greta Gerwig based on the fashion doll Barbie, and Oppenheimer, a biographical thriller directed by Christopher Nolan based on the life of theoretical physicist and creator of the atomic bomb, J. Robert Oppenheimer, sparked widespread online engagement. This included the creation of memes, merchandise, and themed content across social media. The simultaneous release was an instance of counterprogramming. As the release date approached, instead of generating a rivalry, discussion centered on the appositeness of watching the films as a double feature, as well as in which order to watch them. While the initial reaction was driven by humor about the films' contrasting styles, some commentators highlighted shared themes such as existentialism. Both Barbie and Oppenheimer received widespread critical acclaim and exceeded box-office expectations. Their joint opening weekend was the fourth-largest ever at the American box office, and both films rank among the highest-grossing films of 2023, with Barbie at the number 1 spot. Barbenheimer continued into awards season, where both films were major contenders in a wide assortment of categories. Together, they received 21 nominations at the 96th Academy Awards, including Best Picture (for which each film received a nomination), and won eight, seven of which went to Oppenheimer, also winning the top prize. Additionally, at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, the two films received a collective amount of 15 nominations and won four trophies, three of them for Barbie, including Song of the Year for Billie Eilish's "What Was I Made For?" (which marked the first time that a song from a film had won in that category since "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic in 1997).