BARBIE (2023): Margot Robbie’s Film Will Face Star-Studded OPPENHEIMER at the Box-Office

Barbie Set to Go Up Against Oppenheimer

Warner Bros. has set a 2023 release date for their highly anticipated Barbie movie on which it will face off against Christopher Nolan‘s tentpole, Oppenheimer.

Christopher Nolan used to crank out money makers for Warner Bros. consistently but now, following a series of unexpected events, Nolan (who is now making Oppenheimer for Universal) is up against his biggest foe ever at the box-office: Barbie. That’s right. Greta Gerwig (Little Women)’s Barbie is Warner Bros.’ counter-programming event film that is going to go face-to-face with Nolan’s latest at the box-office on July 21, 2023.

While it may be easy to predict which one will get more love from the Academy Awards (Oppenheimer will probably get more technical nominations than Barbie could ever get), it’s not so simple to decide which picture will come in first at the box-office on that summer weekend in 2023 where both films will open simultaneously.

Margot Robbie is set to play Barbie based on the popular Mattel doll and Ryan Gosling is cast alongside her as Ken. Also starring in the picture will be heavy hitters Michael Cera (Superbad), America Ferrera (“Ugly Betty”), Kate McKinnon (Yesterday), Issa Rae (Little) and Will Ferrell (Elf). While that’s some hefty star power, let’s look at Oppenheimer‘s cast–Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Cillian Murphy, Kenneth Branagh, Josh Hartnett…OK let’s stop because it’s easy to see which movie is bringing on the extra glitzy star power but Robbie playing Barbie may be worth Damon and Downey Jr. combined to some eager movie-goers especially females who grew up playing with Barbie dolls.

Recently, a picture of Robbie as Barbie from the film came into the public eye, and Nolan may have something to be afraid of. It’s a sweet natured blonde with a headband. One of these films may back down from the July 21, 2023 release date but it probably won’t be Barbie. Though it may sound like a sweeping generalization, Oppenheimer looks like the harder movie to make and if Nolan and the filmmakers want that Oscar love, they may decide to move the picture (Oscar tends to reward pictures released later in the year more than summer blockbusters) whereas Barbie will need that coveted summer spot to rake in the dough it needs to make to be considered a huge financial success. As of yet, Barbie doesn’t seem to have “Oscar” written all over it like Oppenheimer does. Though anything can happen given Greta Gerwig’s history with acclaimed films (like Lady Bird).

Let’s take note that Ryan Gosling is also an Oscar nominated performer just like Robbie and wouldn’t it be interesting to see Barbie steal Oppenheimer‘s sparkle on opening weekend in July 2023? Nolan probably will not disappoint, and Oppenheimer will be amazing but that darn blonde seems to have a lot working in her favor right now. I’ll venture Barbie will open at number 2 if both films go head-to-head at the box-office but that is pure speculation. All eyes are going to be on these films and their opening weekend box-office grosses as well as their potential for Oscar love.  Warner Bros. is definitely keeping it interesting.

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