‘Barbenheimer’ Double Features Wouldn’t Have Happened If Not For Margot Robbie

Topline

Two of the highest-grossing films of the year can thank the foresight of Margot Robbie for their parallel success after the actress shared she denied a request from “Oppenheimer” producer Charles Roven to move the release date of her smash hit “Barbie” — thus creating room for the viral phenomenon “Barbenheimer.”

Margot Robbie attends the World Premiere of “Barbie” at Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on July 9, … [+] 2023 in Los Angeles.

FilmMagic

Key Facts

In an interview with Variety released Tuesday, Robbie told “Oppenheimer” star Cillian Murphy that she denied Roven’s request to split the movie’s premieres to two separate dates, reportedly responding “If you’re scared to be up against us, then you move your date.”

Roven, who worked with Robbie on “Suicide Squad,” responded “We’re not moving our date. I just think it’d be better for you to move,’” Robbie said.

“Oppenheimer” was the first to claim the July 21, 2023, release date, according to Variety, and Warner Bros’ announcement of the same date for “Barbie” reportedly generated some buzz in the industry, as it would go head-to-head against the first non-Warner Bros. film directed by Nolan in two decades.

Robbie apparently saw the two movies as a “really great pairing” early on, and the juxtaposition of the two films ultimately led to the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, which pushed movie buffs to see Christopher Nolan’s dark and dramatic film on the same day as Greta Gerwig’s all-pink “Barbie.”

A publicist for Roven did not immediately respond to Forbes’ request for comment Tuesday.

Crucial Quote

“It’s a perfect double billing…Clearly the world agreed. Thank God,” Robbie said. “People were itching for the next Chris Nolan film and itching for the next Greta Gerwig film. To get them at the same time was exciting.”

Big Number

$2.39 billion. That’s how much “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” grossed together at the worldwide box office, according to Box Office Mojo. “Barbie” is the year’s highest-grossing domestic film with a $636 million draw and “Oppenheimer” is in the No. 5 position with $325.4 million.

Key Background

“Barbenheimer” hit theaters at a dark time for the entertainment industry and was largely credited with spurring a box office rebound that reinvigorated the movie business for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic pulled moviegoers away from theaters. “Barbie” went on to become Warner Bros.’ highest-grossing movie of all time and broke a plethora of records, including the biggest opening weekend for a female director and the biggest domestic opening ever for a non-superhero film. “Oppenheimer,” which has an impressive 93% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, is the highest-grossing biopic of all time and the only R-rated entry in the world’s top 10 highest-grossing films this year. “Barbie” will make its streaming debut on Max on Dec. 15. “Oppenheimer” can be purchased online but has not yet hit a streaming service.

Surprising Fact

Barbie has been named to the shortlist of candidates for TIME’s Person of the Year. The publication called “Barbie” the “most highly-anticipated film of the year” and said the movie “made clear the possibility for theatrical success remains even in a streaming world.”