'Barbenheimer' set UK-Ireland Box Office double debut record
- By Reuters -
- Jul 25, 2023
‘Barbie’ grossed an estimated 18.5 million pounds ($23.7 million) and ‘Oppenheimer’ 10.9 million pounds at the UK-Ireland box office at the weekend, Screen International said on Monday – the first time two films opened to over 10 million pounds each.
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In a battle dubbed ‘Barbenheimer’ on social media, both movies enjoyed sold-out screenings across the country, with many fans flocking to the big screens dressed in pink to emulate the plastic doll.
The two films have given a much-needed lift to movie theatres after many earlier releases fell flat this year.
Greta Gerwig, who helmed ‘Barbie’, beat the record for the biggest opening for a film directed by a woman.
‘Oppenheimer’, starring Irish actor Cillian Murphy as the American scientist who developed the atomic bomb, also secured director Christopher Nolan’s second-biggest UK opening weekend.
Cinema operator Vue International said it had enjoyed its biggest weekend since ‘Avengers: Endgame’ opened in 2019, with ‘Barbie’ on track to become the biggest film of 2023.
‘Barbie’, which stars Margot Robbie, also ruled in US and Canadian theatres, taking an estimated $155 million to set the record for the biggest domestic opening of 2023.
The British Film Institute’s weekend box office figures will be released on Wednesday.