Incredible debut: "Barbie" movie starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling makes a smashing box office opening!

Barbie and Oppenheimer films set for successful box office weekend.

In the midst of the Hollywood turmoil caused by the recent strikes from the WGA and SAG-AFTRA regarding Barbie Box Office 1st Day Collection, the film industry is gearing up for a massive weekend at the box office. Warner Bros/Mattel's highly anticipated adaptation of the beloved toy, Barbie, and Christopher Nolan's three-hour World War II-era drama, Oppenheimer, are projected to earn a combined global start of over $260 million.

Barbie has already surpassed the presales of Disney's The Little Mermaid ($95.5M) and has a wide range of projections for its domestic opening, ranging from $90M to $125M. Warner Bros. is cautiously predicting $75M from its release in 4,200 theaters, but competitors believe that this comedy, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, will have impressive box office receipts. Internationally, Barbie is expected to earn around $165M, with $60M-$65M coming from 69 offshore markets. Major releases in France and Korea took place on Wednesday, followed by Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia, and all of Latin America on Thursday. The film will then premiere in the U.K. and China on Friday.

Barbie Box Office 1st Day Collection has generated significant buzz internationally, thanks to positive social reactions and its focus on music and fashion. The film has already made waves in Australia, Korea, Mexico, and London (with the exception of Berlin due to the strike). The soundtrack, curated by Mark Ronson and featuring hit singles like "Dance the Night" by Barbie co-star Dua Lipa, has garnered nearly 50 million views on YouTube.

Oppenheimer, on the other hand, will have an exclusive three-week run in IMAX theaters. Christopher Nolan has utilized a combination of 65mm and 65mm film photography for the film, with certain sections being shot in IMAX black and white. The film's domestic screenings will begin at 5 p.m.

Universal's original Nolan feature, released on the same weekend as Barbie, is projected to earn $40M-$50M domestically in 3,600 theaters, with an additional $45M from international markets. This would result in a global opening of nearly $100M for Oppenheimer, a remarkable achievement for a talky three-hour adult film.

Neither film has received Rotten Tomatoes scores yet, but early reviews from key press screenings suggest that Oppenheimer is riveting and has strong potential for awards season recognition.

Many moviegoers are already planning double features, with Barbie Box Office 1st Day Collection being paired with Oppenheimer, with dinner scheduled in between. AMC Stubs members at No. 1 Hawser AMC have shown great enthusiasm, with over 40,000 advance tickets already sold for both films on the same day. Prominent stars like Tom Cruise have taken to social media to express their excitement for this weekend's releases, showcasing the mutual support among rival studios' talent.

It's an exciting time for the film industry, with intense competition at the box office and a resurgence in ticket sales. As of now, 2023 is 13% ahead of last year, with box office earnings surpassing $5 billion. The hope is that the ongoing negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP will reach a resolution, ensuring that the post-pandemic box office remains on track and doesn't disrupt the theatrical release calendar or the fall film festival premieres.

Oppenheimer, which features an ensemble cast led by Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., and Florence Pugh, will premiere on Thursday. Murphy portrays J. Robert Oppenheimer, the architect of the atomic bomb, while Blunt plays his wife, biologist and botanist Katherine "Kitty" Oppenheimer. Damon portrays Gen. Leslie Groves Jr., the director of the Manhattan Project, and Downey portrays Lewis Strauss, a founding officer of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.

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