Barbenheimer: How the DS team will be watching
Team Barbie, Team Oppenheimer or planning to do the Barbenheimer double feature?
This Friday's upcoming box office battle (July 21) has dominated headlines and ended decade-long friendships as cinema-goers pledge their allegiance to one over the other.
Oppenheimer reviews have slightly trumped Barbie reviews so far, but the latter's popularity isn't to be underestimated thanks to a killer PR campaign of viral Barbie posters and those on-brand pink Barbie premiere looks.
Some may still be deliberating which movie takes priority, but the Digital Spy team have shared their verdicts and there really is only one winner...
Related: Barbie v Oppenheimer: Which movie has the highest Rotten Tomatoes rating?
Ian Sandwell, Movies Editor
"Having been fortunate enough to see both already (although on separate days), it's actually surprising how both Barbie and Oppenheimer will make you think about death. Oppenheimer lingers like a dark cloud when the credits roll, so I'd worry that you wouldn't be in the right frame of mind to enjoy Barbie to its fullest, like it deserves, meaning I'd go Barbie and then Oppenheimer.
"Whichever order you watch it though, you've got five hours of pure cinematic gold right there."
Mireia Mullor, Deputy Movies Editor
"Even if doing the Barbenheimer double-bill on the same day would be an interesting experience, I'm splitting them for my own sake.
"On Friday, I will have a fun night with Barbie, dinner and some dancing, while on Saturday I'll get serious with a three-hour matinee screening of Oppenheimer, followed by some soul-cleansing, a marathon of BBC's Pride and Prejudice."
Related: Barbie v Oppenheimer: What do the cast say about the Barbenheimer double-bill?
Laura Jane Turner, TV Editor
"It simply HAS to be Barbie. Pink might usually be reserved for Wednesdays, but this weekend I'll be kitted out – lipstick and heels included – with my bestie for an hour and 50 minutes of pure endorphins. We'll also be honouring this cultural moment with some cocktails afterwards, because Barbies just want to have fun.
"Yes Oppenheimer will be on the billing at some point too, but I want my life in plastic first."
Rebecca Cook, Deputy TV Editor
"Although Oppenheimer looks like it could be the 'better' of the two films, I'll be seeing Barbie first this weekend. The algorithm has taken plastic fantastic to its AI heart and I'm scared that when I go on Instagram/Twitter/TikTok – all the sources of my confused joy – I'll be hit with a tsunami of spoilers.
"So this Barbie is ready to be Kenough. I'll catch Oppenheimer when the Cerberus heat wave hits us and I need three hours of air conditioning."
Related: Barbie v Oppenheimer: How do the casts match up?
Janet Leigh, TV writer
"I can't wait for Barbie. With certain films, I like to go in with very little prior knowledge so that I can be surprised by the narrative.
"Growing up, I had countless Barbies and they would all go on the wildest adventures but the 90s wasn't big on diverse representation and sadly I would never have even thought to want a Black Barbie. It was so outside of the realm of possibility for me so I'm excited about the shift in our cultural understanding and the steps towards inclusivity and I want to celebrate that.
"Thirdly, nostalgia. I'm dying to see how they bring Barbie into the 21st century."
Ali Griffiths, Social Editor
"I'm seeing Barbie first because a big group of friends are all excited about it. The visuals and the cast and the idea of a Barbie movie have made it this big pop cultural moment that all my mates are excited for.
"I think it'll be much more fun seeing this kind of film with friends (in costume) than a very dense, and probably great, three-hour historical biopic."
Related: Barbie's Greta Gerwig didn't want to ignore doll's controversial legacy
Emma Tinson, Acting Deputy News Editor
"I'm doing the Barbenheimer double bill on opening weekend and can't wait. Going in with Barbie first and then following it up with Oppenheimer. I feel like Barbie first is the only way to go as surely we'll all need too much emotional recovery time after watching Christopher Nolan's atomic bomb movie.
"I'll have to do a quick outfit change in between of course as I cover up my pink Greta Gerwig t-shirt with a black jacket for Oppenheimer."
Kate Goodacre, Managing Editor
"This Barbie has foolishly double-booked themselves to be in the middle of a field, nowhere near a cinema, on the day both movies come out. However, an indicative poll of my local cinema-going WhatsApp group suggests a trip to BarbieLand on Monday, when we can all attend together for an optimum communal experience. Oppenheimer is a yes, too, but exact date/time TBC."
Barbie and Oppenheimer will be released in cinemas on July 21.
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