Barbie fever hit the UK today as hundreds of superfans awoke at dawn to race across the country to catch a glimpse of the first screenings of the highly anticipated films in the capital.
Greta Gerwig’s satire will compete at the global box office against Christopher Nolan’s intense drama “Oppenheimer,” about the scientist who first created the atomic bomb.
The two big titles were released simultaneously today and thousands of fans decided to buy tickets for both shows, leading to a phenomenon called Barbenheimer.
Film buffs gathered in Leicester Square to watch their film marathon begin at the Vue Cinema. One couple watched Oppenheimer at 4.10am, still in their pyjamas, while others saw Barbie in pink outfits and reminisced about their childhood.
Among them was 22-year-old filmmaker Mitch Corrigan, who left his Somerset home just after midnight today to watch the serious Oppenheimer and then enjoy some relief with Barbie.
18-year-old Emily, dressed in Barbie merch, went to the Vue Cinema in Leicester Square this morning to see the first screening. She grew up with Barbie and for her Margot Robbie was the perfect choice to star in the film
Devoted fans gathered at the Vue in Leicester Square this morning to see Oppenheimer and Barbie. Among them was Mitch Corrigan, 22, who woke up just after midnight to travel from Somerset to visit
Margot Robbie fan Aaliyah Valentine, 17, was among the superfans waiting to see Barbie
Greta Gerwig’s satire will take on Christopher Nolan’s intense drama Oppenheimer at the global box office
He told Web: “I’m inspired to see Barbie after Oppenheimer, it finished about half an hour ago.”
“I’m not sure it’ll get better but it might be what I need right now.” “I’m in London to see some life but thought I’d come and see some films. I hope to see Mission Impossible and maybe another one.”
Mr Corrigan admitted he’s “never been this freaked out” about watching movies.
Aaliyah Valentine, 17, is primarily watching Barbie before catching Oppenheimer later today.
She said, “I’ve really been looking forward to this since I heard about the Barbie movie, I was really excited because I played with Barbies when I was younger, so it’s like I grew up with her.”
“I really like Margot Robbie, I’ve seen her in ‘Suicide Squad’ and her other films, so I like her as an actress.”
Simon Humphrey, 42, who works in a bookshop and is on holiday in London, said: ‘I watch a lot of films and I’ve never seen a film sell out so many screenings.’ I checked here (vue), Cineworld, one on Tottenham Court Road, just to have a good time watching.’
Both films have each spent $100 million in production costs, but are expected to gross millions. Pictured: The Vue cinema in Leicester Square
A cinema worker – dressed in pink – opens the doors at the Vue Cinema Leicester Square this morning
Fans across the country ran to buy tickets for one of the first performances of Gerwig’s Barbie
Emily, 18, said: “I’ve always loved Barbies, grew up with them and Margot Robbie is just Barbie to me.” The soundtrack – from what I’ve heard – is really good.
“I really like the Barbieheimer hype.” Instead of pitting the two against each other, they all come together and embrace it — both cast members too. “Hopefully I can catch Oppenheimer on Sunday.”
For many Barbie fans, the film evokes feelings of nostalgia and brings back memories of how they spent their childhood playing with the well-loved dolls.
Send macarons from Edinburgh to Margot Robbie in the Barbie set!
They’re the delicate sweet treats popular with fans of the traditional afternoon tea.
But an Edinburgh macaron maker was stunned when it received a huge order to be served to the stars of the new Barbie movie.
Rachel Hanretty, the founder of Mademoiselle Macaron, said her staff “let out a little cry” when the order arrived from Warner Brothers Studios in Hertfordshire.
The email requested the delivery of 300 macarons to the set of the film starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling.
The French meringue confections were flavored with rose, raspberry, orange blossom and lemon to match the film’s doll-like color scheme.
Ms Hanretty, who trained at the Alain Ducasse culinary school in Paris, said she sworn staff to secrecy last year but was able to go public when Barbie hits theaters today.
Speaking on BBC Scotland’s Lunchtime Live show, she said: “The delivery address was simple: Building One, Barbie Set, Warner Bros Studios.” It just seems so far from our Edinburgh kitchen.
“While we sell macarons across the UK, the fact that they may have been around Ryan Gosling gives food for thought.”
By Krissy Storrar
“Every Christmas and every birthday there was a Barbie, and one year I got really lucky, my dad gave me the Barbie dream house,” added Emily.
Vacationer Hazel, 15, from Texas said, “I was really stressed to find out I wasn’t going to be in the US when Barbie came out, but I’m here.”
“I love Margot Robbie and I’m really obsessed with Dua Lipa and her song in it – loved it when she wore the mermaid wig.”
“When I was younger I had a Barbie Rapunzel, once I tried to wash her hair – don’t do that.”
Both films are expected to gross millions after spending $100 million in production on each.
So far, the Odeon has reported that more than 300 screenings for both films have sold out and forecast that one million tickets will be sold in the next week alone.
Cineworld is anticipating the biggest ticket sales weekend in years and has already sold 200,000 tickets in advance.
The chain described it as the biggest opening since the record-breaking Avengers: Endgame in 2019, which grossed £276million in its first weekend alone.
In Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, Margot Robbie, 33, stars as the eponymous Barbie doll alongside her boyfriend Ken, played by Ryan Gosling, 42.
The cast is a who’s who of Hollywood stars: Will Ferrell plays the CEO of Mattel and Helen Mirren the narrator.
It follows Barbie as she leaves her “perfect” life as a doll and sets out to explore the complexities of being a woman in the real world.
Oppenheimer, meanwhile, boasts an all-star cast and is led by Cillian Murphy, who plays theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, who helped develop the atomic bomb.
The film also features an outstanding cast including Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr. and Matt Damon.
The Barbenheimer phenomenon means that the films that are very different from each other don’t compete with each other but help each other to sell more tickets.
David A Gross, founder of Franchise Entertainment Research, added, “The two films will help each other, not compete, by creating the kind of excitement that we see for cinema admissions in general.”
Today, moviegoers are taking to social media to share their excitement at seeing both movies on the same day.
Barbie World: The Barbie Movie hits theaters on July 21st. Margot, 33, plays the Barbie doll of the same name alongside her boyfriend Ken, played by Ryan Gosling, 42
Matt Damon (left) is Leslie Groves and Cillian Murphy (right) is J. Robert Oppenheimer in the latest Christopher Nolan film Oppenheimer
Tens of thousands are expected to take part in the film marathon, which will give a much-needed boost to the industry, which has suffered a £5billion loss in the wake of the Covid pandemic.
In recent weeks, there has been an ongoing debate on social media about which film to watch first – with many sharing their dates for the much-anticipated day online.
Sander Wagner, a 40-year-old researcher from Oxford University, said Barbie was a “dessert” after observing the more intense Oppenheimer.
He said, “Oppenheimer is probably the harder film that I’m having to digest a little from what I’ve heard.”
“I think Barbie is a fun movie to watch after a drink, and it feels a lot more like a palate cleanser or a dessert.”
The moviegoer shares their “schedule” for Barbenheimer, with only a 15-minute break between each film
Mr Wagner and his girlfriend are going to see Oppenheimer with friends in Oxford.
“After that we’ll probably have a drink or two and dinner at a bar and then go back to the movies and see the Barbie show at 9 p.m.,” he said.
Fellow cinematographer Matt Durrant, a 29-year-old HR manager from south-east London, shared the view that the Barbie film should be a second-watch.
“I’d rather finish off with something light-hearted because the idea is I think we’re going to the pub,” he said.
Outlining his Barbenheimer plans, he said: “I work for one of those very lucky companies where we have Friday afternoons off in the summer, so the idea is that a group of co-workers go to the movies.”
“We’re trying to do it one at a time.” I’m not sure it’s really settled, but we’re hoping with the timing of the ads and everything, it’ll work out.
“I think it’s quite funny that they’re both out at the same time, and I think that’s part of the appeal of why we’re going to be seeing them at the same time.”
“The hype is huge and I think a lot of people just haven’t gone to the movies since the pandemic.”
“It’s good to support the arts but the only thing I’ve seen in cinemas since the pandemic has been the Bond film so it feels a bit like a homecoming for cinema.”