‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’ Fans Are Ready for Their Double Feature

One film is bursting with life-size doll homes and blowout events and so, a lot pink. The different tells the origin story of the deadliest weapon in human historical past.

On July 21, with the opening of two of probably the most anticipated movies of the yr, “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” 1000’s of followers will head to theaters to observe each films on the identical day — relishing the irony of seeing two star-studded movies with such incongruous themes.

“It’s a juxtaposition to show the brightest and darkest sides of the human imagination,” stated Eden Schumer, a paralegal in Manhattan, who plans to put on a T-shirt that includes each “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” designs to the theater. “You’re creating worlds and also destroying worlds.”

This double characteristic — branded “Barbenheimer” by the web — guarantees to be a cultural occasion, a film buff’s dream and a magnet drawing individuals again to theaters even because the film business struggles to compete in opposition to streaming providers and get well prepandemic engagement.

More than 20,000 individuals have already bought tickets to see “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” on the identical day, in accordance with Elizabeth Frank, the chief vice chairman of worldwide programming and chief content material officer for AMC Theaters. From July 7 to July 10, AMC noticed a 33 p.c enhance within the variety of visitors shopping for tickets for the double characteristic.

Even one specific celeb along with his personal high-profile film is getting in on the motion.

Kevin Sabellico, a political marketing consultant from Carlsbad, Calif., stated he used to see films a number of instances a month, however stopped going in the course of the pandemic. He hasn’t been to a theater in additional than a yr.

“This is the event that will bring me back,” Sabellico stated. “I don’t know why, but the duality of these films happening on the same day just has me captivated and wanting to see both on the big screen.”

Like Sabellico, Jackson Kennedy, a graduate pupil at Stanford University, is ending a theatrical hiatus for the double characteristic.

“I haven’t been to the theater this entire year, and now I’m going to spend all day in one,” he stated.

In which order ought to the films be seen? The consensus appears to be “Oppenheimer” first: Take within the sturdy stuff, then finish the evening with a celebration.

“My friends and I in Chicago are spending our day at the Alamo Drafthouse and seeing the films the way the Lord herself intended: ‘Oppenheimer’ at 10 a.m. with a black coffee / ‘Barbie’ at 4:20 p.m. with a big Diet Coke,” Andrea Ledesma, a advertising operations supervisor, wrote in an electronic mail.

Rita Wenxin Wang of Brooklyn, who can also be beginning with “Oppenheimer,” determined to buy tickets for the double characteristic after seeing dozens of memes and jokes juxtaposing the 2 films on-line.

“It feels more fun to end the night on a fun light movie than a serious movie where someone builds an atomic bomb,” Wang stated.

Many different double-feature moviegoers are placing their outfits collectively accordingly. Thomas Cuda, from Jacksonville, Fla., stated he plans to decorate with a subdued type for “Oppenheimer” within the morning, maybe carrying a go well with. For the afternoon “Barbie” displaying, he has one thing flashy deliberate. For the previous yr, he has had a pair of pink denims — a present from his spouse — sitting in his closet.

“I haven’t ever had the courage to give them a try, but I will be busting them out for ‘Barbie,’” he stated.

Cuda couldn’t consider it when he discovered the films have been each opening on July 21, per week and a half after his birthday. He determined to postpone his birthday celebration till subsequent week.

“We’re not going to spend any money. We’re going to save it all. We’re going big on release day,” he stated. “For me this is probably the third most important day of the year behind my anniversary and Halloween.”