Barbie vs Oppenheimer: Frontrunner emerges in battle for box office supremacy
Hollywood feels more like the centre of the universe than ever this week as the arrival of the two biggest films of the year coincides with a historic actors’ strike.
Excitement for Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer has reached a fever pitch as their simultaneous release has finally arrived.
While Oppenheimer’s critical ratings have blown past Barbie with a near-perfect Rotten Tomato score, it’s expected that the latter will, in fact, take over the former in ticket sales.
Barbie is estimated to earn $110m at the US box office during opening weekend, while Oppenheimer is set to take in $50m.
Warner Bros announced Friday (21 July) that Barbie had earned $22.3m (£17.3m) in box office previews – the highest figure of any film this year. Universal, meanwhile, said Oppenheimer collected $10.5m (£8.2m) in preview earnings.
Oppenheimer’s London premiere was cut short, however, as the cast left early in preparation for the SAG-AFTRA strike order, which was initiated hours after the event.
Key points
‘Life in plastic, it’s fantastic!’: Barbie gets five stars from The Independent
Read The Independent’s four-star review of Oppenheimer
Is Barbie child-friendly?
The horrifying true story behind Oppenheimer
Oppenheimer star Matt Damon says kissing We Bought a Zoo co-star Scarlett Johansson was ‘hell’
Will ‘Oppenheimer’ be released in Japan?
01:22 , Tom Murray
For obvious reasons, some fans are wondering whether Oppenheimer will have a theatrical release in Japan.
The Independent understands that plans for the film’s release have not yet been finalised in all markets. Japan also tends to release later than other markets with Barbie coming out 11 August there.
Read more here:
Will Oppenheimer be released in Japanese movie theatres?
Greta Gerwig on track to break record for the biggest domestic opening for a female director
Friday 21 July 2023 23:58 , Tom Murray
Barbie is reportedly on track to earn over $150m dollars in its opening weekend. If it achieves this feat, Gerwig will break the record for the biggest domestic opening for a female director in Hollywood history.
Emily Blunt says she was distracted by Cillian Murphy’s ‘ocean eyes’
Friday 21 July 2023 22:35 , Tom Murray
Matt Damon and Emily Blunt have admitted to finding co-star Cillian Murphy’s blue eyes to be a “real problem” on the set of Oppenheimer.
“It’s a real problem when you’re doing scene work with Cillian,” Damon said. “Sometimes you find yourself just swimming in his eyes.”
Blunt compared Murphy’s eyes to Billie Eilish’s 2016 hit “Ocean Eyes”. “We just hum it all day,” she said.
Read more:
Emily Blunt says Cillian Murphy’s ‘ocean eyes’ were distracting on Oppenheimer set
Video: Brian Cox says AI is 'real scare' at SAG-AFTRA and WGA rally
Friday 21 July 2023 22:04 , Tom Murray
‘Are You there God It’s Me Margaret’ director calls ‘Barbie’ ‘truly a thing of genius'
Friday 21 July 2023 20:54 , Tom Murray
BARBIE is truly a thing of genius! I haven’t laughed that hard in a theater in so long. It explodes with brilliance from start to finish, and is just a PURE DELIGHT. It also might have the best last line ever uttered in a movie. Bravo, bravo, bravo!!!
— Kelly Fremon Craig (@KFremonCraig) July 21, 2023
Barbenheimer fans warn others not to watch Barbie after Oppenheimer
Friday 21 July 2023 19:37 , Tom Murray
There has been much discussion about the proper order to watch the Barbenheimer double feature. The actors themselves have even weighed in on the discourse.
But take it from fans who appear to have made the mistake of watching Oppenheimer before Barbie. The former is heavy, and while some have argued that that’s exactly why you would want to end on the joyful Barbie – as a palette cleanser – “I can’t imagine wanting to do anything after Oppenheimer,” one viewer tweeted.
“Oppenheimer completely emotionally devastated me and then I watched the movie about a Toy,” they added.
WARNING: do NOT watch Oppenheimer before Barbie pic.twitter.com/5BrKWbrIm7
— josh tenet (@joshtenet) July 21, 2023
Barbie doubles Oppenheimer’s earnings in box office previews
Friday 21 July 2023 19:13 , Tom Murray
Warner Bros and Universal Pictures have announced the box office preview earnings for Barbie and Oppenheimer, respectively, and there’s a clear winner.
Barbie earned $22.3m (£17.3m) in the US across 3,900 cinemas while Universal says Oppenheimer collected $10.5m (£8.2m); though, it was previewed in fewer theatres than Barbie (3,150).
Read more:
Barbie doubles Oppenheimer’s earnings in box office previews
Margot Robbie says she faked her own death because she hated her babysitter
Friday 21 July 2023 18:01 , Tom Murray
Margot Robbie has admitted that she once faked her own death to play a trick on a babysitter.
The Australian actor stars as Barbie in Greta Gerwig’s highly anticipated film about the popular Mattel doll line. One trailer for the film sees Barbie ask her other doll friends about death.
Appearing on Zoe Ball’s BBC Radio 2 show on Thursday (20 July), Robbie, 33, recalled how she had once pretended to be dead as part of an elaborate prank she played on her adult babysitter.
Read more:
Margot Robbie says she faked her own death because she hated her babysitter
‘Barbie’ star told Zoe Ball about the incident in a new interview
Oppenheimer star Matt Damon makes surprising revelation about kissing Scarlett Johansson
Friday 21 July 2023 17:35 , Tom Murray
During the promotional trail for Oppenheimer, Damon (who plays Lt Leslie Groves Jr in the movie) played a game for LadBible, where he and co-star Emily Blunt had to say whether they agreed or disagreed with a statement.
The topic of kissing co-stars came up when the actors were posed with the statement, “You should tell someone if they have bad breath.”
Damon then went on to tell the story about kissing Johansson while shooting the 2011 drama We Bought a Zoo, joking that it was “hell” having to kiss her.
“Can you image how horrible that was for me?” he said.
“We went to lunch and she and I both thought it was over. She ate an onion sandwich for lunch and she came in and Cameron Crowe had set the camera up and it was a tight shot of the kiss, and she goes, ‘Oh shit, I literally just had an onion sandwich!’”
Read more:
Matt Damon says kissing co-star Scarlett Johansson was ‘hell’
Friday 21 July 2023 17:30 , Inga Parkel
Margot Robbie’s stylist reveals six barely-seen outfits for Barbie press tour
Margot Robbie gave show-stopping performances on every hot pink carpet of the Barbie press tour, but a few of her planned Mattel-inspired outfits weren’t officially unveiled due to the SAG-AFTRA strikes cutting the world-wide event schedule short.
To give the missed looks the recognition they deserve, Robbie’s stylist Andrew Mukamal debuted six never seen photos in an 18 July Instagram post.
Read more:
Margot Robbie’s stylist reveals six barely-seen outfits for Barbie press tour
Robbie wore vintage Versace, Chanel, Vivienne Westwood, and Valentino
Is Barbenheimer actually good?
Friday 21 July 2023 17:00 , Inga Parkel
Ahead of Barbie and Oppenheimer’s respective releases in cinemas on Friday (21 July), both films have received rapturous praise from critics.
But now that they have officially opened to a majority of general audiences, you may be wondering if the films are living up to the initial hype or if it has all just been one big marketing campaign.
And wouldn’t that be an absolute shame?
Luckily, we’ve been saved from living that reality. Barbie has debuted with an audience score of 90 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes, while Oppenheimer currently sits at an astounding 94 per cent audience score.
“I just watched the Barbie movie and HOLY S***,” one fan tweeted. “That was one of the best movies I’ve ever seen like what the hell.”
“#Oppenheimer is arguably Nolan’s magnum-opus, a terrifying look at one of the most daunting aspects of our history. It’s suspenseful, anxiety-inducing and told in a way that’s absolutely breathtaking. Murphy is flawless and RDJ stuns along with a masterful score. I’m astounded!”
#Oppenheimer is arguably Nolan’s magnum-opus, a terrifying look at one of the most daunting aspect of our history. It’s suspenseful, anxiety inducing and told in a way that’s absolutely breathtaking. Murphy is flawless and RDJ stuns along with a masterful score. I’m astounded! 💥 pic.twitter.com/ik2NcmsIJo
— George Clark (@GeorgeAlexClark) July 21, 2023
Margot Robbie ‘really flattered’ by internet’s obsession with her feet
Friday 21 July 2023 16:30 , Inga Parkel
Margot Robbie has said she is “really flattered” by the attention her feet have received in Greta Gerwig’s highly anticipated Barbie movie.
In the film, which was released in the UK on Friday (21 July), several closeup shots reveal Robbie’s perfectly arched feet. In one scene that went viral after the official trailer released in April, Robbie slips out of a pair of fluffy pink heels. However, instead of standing normally, Robbie’s Barbie stays on her tiptoes in a nod to how the toy doll appears.
While fans have praised Gerwig for the film’s attention to detail, it appears that others have become obsessed with Robbie’s feet.
Read more:
Margot Robbie ‘really flattered’ by internet’s obsession with her feet
The Australian actor has been praised for her perfectly arched feet in Greta Gerwig’s highly anticipated ‘Barbie’ movie
Barbie earns astounding $22.3m in Thursday previews
Friday 21 July 2023 16:00 , Inga Parkel
Barbie’s’ box office reign has officially begun. On Thursday (20 July), the movie quickly outshined all other summer blockbusters in previews, making $22.3m (£17.3m).
Oppenheimer earned $10.5m (£8m) in Thursday previews.
What order should you watch Barbie and Oppenheimer in?
Friday 21 July 2023 15:30 , Roisin O'Connor
Some have argued that the lighter tone of Barbie would make it a good pallette cleanser after the intensity of Oppenheimer, while others have claimed that the heavy content of Nolan’s film would overshadow the levity of Barbie, should you watch it in that order.
Many people, including actors and critics, have weighed in on the best order to watch “Barbenheimer”.
What order should you watch Barbie and Oppenheimer in?
Barbie review: A near-miraculous achievement from Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie
Friday 21 July 2023 15:00 , Roisin O'Connor
Greta Gerwig’s Barbie gets the five-star treatment from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey:
Barbie is a near-miraculous achievement – movie review
Oppenheimer review: Clever, imaginative and Christopher Nolan at his best
Friday 21 July 2023 14:30 , Roisin O'Connor
Oppenheimer is clever, imaginative and Christopher Nolan at his best – review
Barbie: The Album review – Billie Eilish leads a soundtrack that’s as erratic as the movie that inspired it
Friday 21 July 2023 14:00 , Roisin O'Connor
“Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, the inescapable Margot Robbie movie inspired by the Mattel doll, which arrives in cinemas this week, ties itself in knots as it goes along – parodying itself, critiquing itself, and eagerly attempting to justify its very existence just in case anyone asks. It’s the cinematic equivalent of a child’s toybox – there’s colour, joy and imagination, yet it’s a total mess. Its soundtrack – which features everyone from Sam Smith and Nicki Minaj to Ryan Gosling doing an impression of Freddie Mercury by way of one of the lesser *Nsyncs – appropriately follows suit.”
Read Adam White’s review:
The Barbie soundtrack is as erratic as the movie that inspired it – review
Are Christopher Nolan’s films right-wing? Oppenheimer finally suggests otherwise
Friday 21 July 2023 13:30 , Roisin O'Connor
The 52-year-old filmmaker’s work has long prompted speculation over his political views, from the supposedly pro-conservative ‘Dark Knight’ to the anti-war messaging of ‘Tenet’. Does his nuclear biopic ‘Oppenheimer’ hold any answers, asks Louis Chilton
Are Christopher Nolan’s films right-wing? Oppenheimer finally suggests otherwise
What order should you watch Barbie and Oppenheimer in?
Friday 21 July 2023 13:00 , Roisin O'Connor
With the two films out on the same day, many people have committed to seeing them one after the other, as part of a self-curated double bill.
The radically different tones of the two films has, however, provoked some debate regarding the optimal order in which to view the films.
My colleague Louis Chilton has sought out some expert commentary, from actors to critics:
What order should you watch Barbie and Oppenheimer in?
ICYMI: Oppenheimer star Cillian Murphy reacts to Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later sequel update
Friday 21 July 2023 12:30 , Peony Hirwani
Oppenheimer star Cillian Murphy has reacted to the news that a new 28 Days Later sequel appears to be happening.
In June, the film’s director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland revealed plans to make a follow-up to their hit 2000 horror film 28 Days Later, in which Murphy played the lead role of Jim.
During a conversation with The Independent’s Jacob Stolworthy, the actor said news of the sequel was “great to hear”, and responded to a question of whether he’d like to be involved.
Full story below:
Cillian Murphy addresses Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later sequel update
The true story behind Christopher Nolan’s biopic about ‘the father of the atomic bomb’
Friday 21 July 2023 12:00 , Peony Hirwani
Ahead of Oppenheimer’s release, Tom Murray has investigate the life of the man at the centre of the film.
Robert J Oppenheimer, played by Cillian Murphy in Christopher Nolan’s movie, was an American scientist who played a crucial role in the invention of the atomic bomb.
Read more below.
The horrifying true story behind Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer
Don’t be late to Oppenheimer 70mm IMAX screenings!
Friday 21 July 2023 11:30 , Peony Hirwani
There’s been a lot of talk about seeing Oppenheimer in 70mm IMAX, which refers to viewing screen size. But it’s important to note that you should expect there to be no advertisements or prior trailers before the movie. Therefore, the movie will begin promptly at your listed showtime.
This is apparently due to the size of the film print: 70mm is much larger than the standard size.
For people who are seeing Oppenheimer in 70mm IMAX, don’t be late. pic.twitter.com/dHaVyGHahC
— Lindsay (@Steele131) July 20, 2023
Barbie’s impressive Rotten Tomatoes score revealed
Friday 21 July 2023 11:00 , Peony Hirwani
Greta Gerwig’s Barbie has scored an impressive 89 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film which debuted on the review-aggregation website on Wednesday (19 July) stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken.
Read more:
Barbie’s impressive Rotten Tomatoes score revealed
Barbie filmmaker Greta Gerwig on art, commerce and embracing the mess
Friday 21 July 2023 10:30 , Peony Hirwani
Q&A: ‘Barbie’ filmmaker Greta Gerwig on art, commerce and embracing the mess
Barbie movie merchandise: From Barbie dolls to a Zara collaboration
Friday 21 July 2023 10:00 , Peony Hirwani
Outside of buying a ticket to watch the movie, there are plenty of ways for us real-life folk to be a part of the Barbie fun.
From branded shoes, t-shirts and, of course, the dolls themselves, here is a guide to the merchandise on-sale to join in the Barbie (and Ken) party.
Barbie movie merchandise: From Barbie dolls to a Zara collaboration
Comment: Oppenheimer finally puts speculation about Christopher Nolan’s politics to bed
Friday 21 July 2023 09:30 , Peony Hirwani
The 52-year-old filmmaker’s work has long prompted speculation over his political views, from the supposedly pro-conservative Dark Knight to the anti-war messaging of Tenet. Does his nuclear biopic Oppenheimer hold any answers, asks The Independent’s, Louis Chilton.
Oppenheimer finally puts speculation about Christopher Nolan’s politics to bed
Barbie: The Album review – Billie Eilish leads a soundtrack that’s as erratic as the movie that inspired it
Friday 21 July 2023 09:00 , Peony Hirwani
“Unusually, the bigger names here – including Dua Lipa and Sam Smith – are the most underwhelming,” writes The Independent’s Adam White.
The Barbie soundtrack is as erratic as the movie that inspired it – review
Ted Cruz keeps attacking the Barbie movie as ‘Chinese communist propaganda’ even though he hasn’t seen it
Friday 21 July 2023 08:30 , Peony Hirwani
Ted Cruz once again accused the upcoming Barbie movie of pushing “Chinese communist propaganda” – even though he hasn’t seen it.
For weeks, the Texas senator has zeroed in on a scene from a trailer showing a world map of a contested area in the South China Sea.
Read more:
Ted Cruz keeps attacking the Barbie movie as ‘Chinese communist propaganda’
Inside the Barbie-inspired dream houses in the UK
Friday 21 July 2023 08:00 , Peony Hirwani
Unicorns, disco balls and vanity mirrors: Inside the real-life Barbie dream houses
Google delights fans with sparkly special effect for Barbie movie: ‘This is so cute’
Friday 21 July 2023 07:30 , Peony Hirwani
The devil works hard, but the Barbie movie’s marketing team works harder. Now, search engine Google has got on board ahead of the live-action film’s hotly anticipated release on Friday 21 July.
This week, fans noticed that if they typed in the term “Barbie” into the search engine, they were treated to a visual feast of pink sparkles. The screen will also change into a pink hue and some of the text and icons on the search page will turn pink.
The same effect happens when users search for the terms “Margot Robbie” and “Ryan Gosling”, who both star in the film, and “Greta Gerwig”, the director of Barbie.
Read more:
Google delights fans with sparkly special effect for Barbie movie
Barbie: The Album review – Billie Eilish leads a soundtrack that’s as erratic as the movie that inspired it
Friday 21 July 2023 07:15 , Peony Hirwani
“Unusually, the bigger names here – including Dua Lipa and Sam Smith – are the most underwhelming,” writes The Independent’s Adam White.
The Barbie soundtrack is as erratic as the movie that inspired it – review
Oppenheimer yet to receive theatrical release date in Japan
Friday 21 July 2023 07:00 , Peony Hirwani
As the release date for Christopher Nolan’s new epic Oppenheimer approaches, rumours have begun circulating that the film is banned in Japan.
Read more:
Will Oppenheimer be released in Japanese movie theatres?
Oppenheimer review: Clever, imaginative and Christopher Nolan at his best
Friday 21 July 2023 06:30 , Peony Hirwani
“Cillian Murphy allows the light to dim from his eyes in every subsequent scene, but it is Robert Downey Jr who is titanic here,” writes The Independent’s Clarisse Loughrey.
Oppenheimer is clever, imaginative and Christopher Nolan at his best – review
Margot Robbie’s stylist reveals six barely-seen outfits for Barbie press tour
Friday 21 July 2023 06:00 , Peony Hirwani
Margot Robbie gave show-stopping performances on every hot pink carpet of the Barbie press tour, but a few of her planned Mattel-inspired outfits weren’t officially unveiled due to the SAG-AFTRA strikes cutting the world-wide event schedule short.
To give the missed looks the recognition they deserve, Robbie’s stylist Andrew Mukamal debuted six never seen photos in an 18 July Instagram post.
Read more:
Margot Robbie’s stylist reveals six barely-seen outfits for Barbie press tour
In a nod to Oppenheimer’s legacy, US officials vow to prioritise cleanup at nuclear lab
Friday 21 July 2023 05:30 , Peony Hirwani
The price tag for cleaning up waste from the once top-secret Manhattan Project and subsequent Cold War-era nuclear research at Los Alamos National Laboratory has more than doubled in the last seven years, and independent federal investigators say federal officials will have to do better to track costs and progress.
Read more:
In a nod to Oppenheimer's legacy, US officials vow to prioritize cleanup at nuclear lab
VOICES: The real reason behind the Barbie movie backlash
Friday 21 July 2023 05:00 , Inga Parkel
In the days leading up to the release of the Barbie movie, directed by Greta Gerwig, the film has endured various attacks by right-wing figures, whose issue with the movie lies in what they say is a “woke” and “feminist” agenda. In a time of unprecedented attacks on women by conservatives, it’s not surprising that they’d also go after the things that simply bring us joy, like this movie.
Read more:
The real reason behind the Barbie movie backlash
None of these people are brave enough to admit why they hate this movie, writes Nylah Burton
Barbie movie merchandise: From Barbie dolls to a Zara collaboration
Friday 21 July 2023 04:30 , Inga Parkel
Outside of buying a ticket to watch the movie, there are plenty of ways for us real-life folk to be a part of the Barbie fun.
From branded shoes, t-shirts and, of course, the dolls themselves, here is a guide to the merchandise on-sale to join in the Barbie (and Ken) party.
Barbie movie merchandise: From Barbie dolls to a Zara collaboration
From Barbie dolls to pink trainers, bags, make up and more, there’s lots of pink-themed merchandise to pick up ahead of the movie release.
Vue CEO says 22 per cent of people who booked tickets to ‘Oppenheimer’ also booked tickets for ‘Barbie’
Friday 21 July 2023 04:00 , Inga Parkel
In a statement sent to The Independent, Tim Richards, founder and CEO of Vue International said: “We’re seeing incredible demand in the UK for both Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, part of this summer’s wave of blockbusters, and 22 per cent of people who booked tickets to Oppenheimer also booked tickets for Barbie.
“Barbie pre-sales to date are higher than any other blockbuster released this year and we expect this strong demand to continue, putting Barbie on track to become the biggest movie of 2023 in the UK so far.”
Vue added that any Barbie fans who bring a real-life Ken along with them to the cinema chain during the Barbie opening weekend (21 – 23 July) will receive either a free regular Tango Ice Blast or popcorn.
Barbie expected to blow roof off box office, with Oppenheimer trailing behind
Friday 21 July 2023 03:30 , Inga Parkel
Barbie’s finally here, and with all the buzz leading up to its debut, the box office estimates are all over the place.
It’s expected to make between $95m (£72m) to $110m (£84m) from its opening weekend in 4,200 North American theatres, according to Variety.
However, Warner Bros is playing it safe and estimating a $75m (£57m) start. Meanwhile, there are some estimates out there that are projecting it could make as much as $140m (£107m).
Although, whatever its weekend takings are, they’re still expected to be higher than Oppenheimer’s, which is hoping to earn $50m (£38m) from its opening weekend in 3,600 cinemas.
WATCH: Oppenheimer trailer
Friday 21 July 2023 03:00 , Inga Parkel
What’s your favourite song from the ‘Barbie’ soundtrack?
Friday 21 July 2023 02:30 , Inga Parkel
Barbie is the movie that just keeps on giving. Not only has the film brought the nostalgia of the popular Mattel doll to life, but it’s also arrived with an all-star soundtrack, featuring some of the biggest current names in music including Dua Lipa, Ice Spice and Haim.
My personal favourite is its lead single “Dance the Night Away”. What’s yours?
1. “Pink” – Lizzo
2. “Dance the Night” – Dua Lipa
3. “Barbie World” – Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice with Aqua
4. “Speed Drive” – Charli XCX
5. “Watati” – Karol G feat Aldo Ranks
6. “Man I Am” – Sam Smith
7. “Journey to the Real World” – Tame Impala
8. “I’m Just Ken” – Ryan Gosling
9. “Hey Blondie” – Dominic Fike
10. “Home” – Haim
11. “What Was I Made For?” – Billie Eilish
12. “Forever & Again” – The Kid Laroi
13. “Silver Platter” – Khalid
14. “Angel” – PinkPantheress
15. “Butterflies” – Gayle
16. “Choose Your Fighter” – Ava Max
17. “Barbie Dreams” – Fifty Fifty feat Kaliii
Should you see Barbie or Oppenheimer first?
Friday 21 July 2023 02:00 , Inga Parkel
Now that Barbenheimer is officially upon us, have you purchased your tickets? If you haven’t and are still debating whether you should see Barbie or Oppenheimer first, here are a few things to consider.
Barbie’s runtime is 1 hour 54 minutes, and Oppenheimer is a whopping 3 hours. I’m not sure about your theatres, but I had a difficult time finding a place that offered a long enough time gap in between if I were to begin with Oppenheimer.
So, I opted for Barbie first, that way I would only have to sit around the cinema for an hour tops, before finishing with Christopher Nolan’s drama.
Although, if time is not an issue, I’ve heard a lot of people argue for why you should see Oppenheimer first – so you can end your day on a happy note with Barbie.
Oppenheimer branded ‘most important film of this century’ by Taxi Driver’s Paul Schrader
Friday 21 July 2023 01:30 , Inga Parkel
Writer and filmmaker Paul Schrader has described Oppenheimer as the “best” and “most important film of this century”.
Read more:
Oppenheimer branded ‘most important film of this century’ by Paul Schrader
‘I’m not a Nolan groupie but this one blows the door off the hinges,’ said the Oscar-nominated filmmaker
Is ‘Barbie’ child-friendly?
Friday 21 July 2023 01:00 , Inga Parkel
While it’d be easy to assume that Barbie is intended for children, considering its source material, some parents may need some more information about its PG-13 rating (equivalent to a 12A rating in the UK).
A PG-13 rating is generally given to titles that the Motion Pictures Association (MPA) feels include “some material that may be inappropriate for children under 13”.
Barbie was granted this rating for “suggestive references and brief language”.
Find out more about how appropriate the film is for children here:
Is the PG-13-rated Barbie movie child-friendly? Here’s what to know beforehand
Films rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association contain ‘some material that may be inappropriate for children under 13’
More F1 Barbie promo!
Friday 21 July 2023 00:30 , Inga Parkel
This ironically feels like a backhanded compliment promo: using Barbie marketing to instead promote the forthcoming Hungarian Grand Prix.
Formula 1 stars Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez spoof iconic Barbie line
Friday 21 July 2023 00:00 , Inga Parkel
max: hi margot 🤭
the redbull barbie promo is going strong pic.twitter.com/ZCW71TOQcp— nini (@SCUDERIAFEMBOY) July 20, 2023
Ted Cruz keeps attacking the Barbie movie as ‘Chinese communist propaganda’ even though he hasn’t seen it
Thursday 20 July 2023 23:30 , Inga Parkel
Ted Cruz once again accused the upcoming Barbie movie of pushing “Chinese communist propaganda” – even though he hasn’t seen it.
For weeks, the Texas senator has zeroed in on a scene from a trailer showing a world map of a contested area in the South China Sea.
Read more:
Ted Cruz keeps attacking the Barbie movie as ‘Chinese communist propaganda’
Florida Republican Matt Gaetz’s wife also voiced concerns about the film
‘Oppenheimer’ blasts past ‘Barbie’ on Rotten Tomatoes
Thursday 20 July 2023 23:00 , Inga Parkel
Barbie debuted on Rotten Tomatoes yesterday (18 July) with an impressive critics’ score of 90 per cent.
However, Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer has taken the cherry with a near-perfect score of 94 per cent at the time of writing.
Read more:
Oppenheimer blows past Barbie with near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score
‘Barbie’ debuted with impressive Rotten Tomatoes score of 89 per cent
Barbie review: A near-miraculous achievement from Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie
Thursday 20 July 2023 22:30 , Inga Parkel
IYMI:” “While it’s impossible for any studio film to be truly subversive, this Mattel-approved comedy gets away with far more than you’d think was possible,” writes The Independent’s Clarrise Loughrey.
Read full review here:
Barbie is a near-miraculous achievement – review
While it’s impossible for any studio film to be truly subversive, this Mattel-approved comedy gets away with far more than you’d think was possible
‘Oppenheimer' review: Clever, imaginative and Christopher Nolan at his best
Thursday 20 July 2023 22:00 , Inga Parkel
IYMI: “Oppenheimer is Christopher Nolan’s best and most revealing work. It’s a profoundly unnerving story told with a traditionalist’s eye towards craftsmanship and muscular, cinematic imagination.”
Read The Independent’s four-star review here:
Oppenheimer is clever, imaginative and Christopher Nolan at his best – review
Cillian Murphy allows the light to dim from his eyes in every subsequent scene, but it is Robert Downey Jr who is titanic here
Thursday 20 July 2023 21:30 , Inga Parkel
When Barbie is released in cinemas tomorrow, eagle-eyed Love Island fans might notice a blink-and-you’d-miss-it cameo from one unexpected face.
Chris Taylor, who appeared on the dating show in 2019, has a one-line role in the new film – and it’s all thanks to Margot Robbie.
Tom Murray reports:
Love Island star landed role in Barbie movie thanks to superfan Margot Robbie
Australian actor is a self-confessed ‘Love Island’ fanatic
Every Barbie-inspired outfit Margot Robbie has worn so far
Thursday 20 July 2023 21:00 , Inga Parkel
Margot Robbie has been delivering some memorable fashion moments throughout the press tour for the highly-anticipated Barbie film, and the looks just keep coming.
Find the looks here:
Every Barbie-inspired outfit Margot Robbie has worn so far
The actor has kicked off the ‘Barbie’ press tour in plastic fantastic style
Are rumours correct? Has Oppenheimer been banned in Japan?
Thursday 20 July 2023 20:30 , Inga Parkel
As the release date for Christopher Nolan’s new epic Oppenheimer approaches, rumours have begun circulating that the film is banned in Japan.
Oppenheimer follows the life of theoretical physicist J Robert Oppenheimer who developed the first nuclear bomb for the top-secret Manhattan Project.
Nuclear weaponry was, of course, used to reap death and destruction on Japan during the Pacific War in 1945.
The USA detonated two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, respectively, killing approximately 200,000 people, most of whom were civilians. It remains the only use of nuclear weapons in an armed conflict.
Oppenheimer does not yet have a theatrical release date for Japan, leading some to speculate that the film has been banned in that territory.
However, this theory has been debunked.
Read more:
Oppenheimer yet to receive theatrical release date in Japan
Film depicts the 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which killed around 200,000 people
Margot Robbie admits to ‘pressure’ concerns over Barbie role
Thursday 20 July 2023 20:00 , Inga Parkel
Before Margot Robbie was cast in the lead role, she was attached as a producer and pitched the film to Warner Bros Pictures, who ultimately acquired it from Sony after some hustling from the Wolf of Wall Street actor.
She told Collider in a new interview: “I think I told them that it’d make a billion dollars, which maybe I was overselling, but we had a movie to make, OK?”
However, Robbie shared her one condition for producing the film before the role of Barbie had been cast.
“I didn’t want whoever our director was going to be – Greta [Gerwig] being the first choice, but if she had said no – I didn’t want our director to feel pressured to put me in the role.:
Read more:
Margot Robbie admits to ‘pressure’ concerns over Barbie role
‘I was just really upfront,’ the ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ actor said
Don’t be late to Oppenheimer 70mm IMAX screenings!
Thursday 20 July 2023 19:30 , Inga Parkel
There’s been a lot of talk about seeing Oppenheimer in 70mm IMAX, which refers to viewing screen size. But it’s important to note that you should expect there to be no advertisements or prior trailers before the movie. Therefore, the movie will begin promptly at your listed showtime.
This is apparently due to the size of the film print: 70mm is much larger than the standard size.
For people who are seeing Oppenheimer in 70mm IMAX, don’t be late. pic.twitter.com/dHaVyGHahC
— Lindsay (@Steele131) July 20, 2023
Thursday 20 July 2023 19:00 , Inga Parkel
Barbie’s outshining Nicole Kidman’s AMC ad, oh no...
barbie was so good that i forgot to tweet about the guy in the pink fedora who stood up during the nicole kidman movies monologue and recited it aloud with his hat over his heart. and then everyone applauded him. i love you philadelphia. pic.twitter.com/O62gqUtkvd
— faelor swift (@fifimcfae) July 20, 2023
Ryan Gosling concedes to BTS star Jimin: ‘You definitely wore it best’
Thursday 20 July 2023 18:30 , Inga Parkel
Had to give Jimin this 🎸 for his KEN-RGY! (*previously recorded*) pic.twitter.com/bxfFqkmpsn
— Barbie Movie (@barbiethemovie) July 19, 2023
The true story behind Christopher Nolan’s biopic about ‘the father of the atomic bomb’
Thursday 20 July 2023 18:00 , Inga Parkel
Ahead of Oppenheimer’s release, Tom Murray investigates the life of the man at the centre of the film.
Robert J Oppenheimer, played by Cillian Murphy in Christopher Nolan’s movie, was an American scientist who played a crucial role in the invention of the atomic bomb.
Read more below...
The horrifying true story behind Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer
Real-life scientist behind the atomic bomb has a complicated legacy in America
Unicorn statues, disco balls and vanity mirrors: Inside the Barbie-inspired dream houses in the UK
Thursday 20 July 2023 17:30 , Inga Parkel
Ever wanted to stay in your own Barbie Dream House? Turns out, there are a plethora of pink properties across the UK that you can rent for the ultimate pastel fix.
Unicorns, disco balls and vanity mirrors: Inside the real-life Barbie dream houses
As Greta Gerwig’s ‘Barbie’ movie is about to premiere, we take a closer look inside the pinkest properties
Christopher Nolan on why he cast his daughter as girl who gets blown up in nuclear explosion
Thursday 20 July 2023 17:00 , Inga Parkel
One could imagine that a parent would do anything not to have a visual image of their child in pain.
Yet, Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan has made the shocking decision to cast his eldest daughter, 22-year-old Flora, as a burn victim in the film.
Flora plays a nameless young woman whose flesh is flayed from her face in a nuclear explosion, in a sequence that happens within Oppenheimer’s (Cillian Murphy) mind.
Of his daughter’s involvement, Nolan said it was “wonderful to just have her sort of roll with it”.
Full story below:
Christopher Nolan on why he cast daughter in Oppenheimer as girl who gets blown up
Flora is credited as ‘Burn Victim’ in the new movie about the making of the atomic bomb
Barbie is expected to blow roof off US box office, with Oppenheimer trailing behind
Thursday 20 July 2023 16:00 , Inga Parkel
While Oppenheimer has already won over the hearts of critics with its near-perfect Rotten Tomato score, it appears Barbie has won the hearts of moviegoers with its expected US box office earnings of $110m (£84m) during opening weekend.
The latter’s distributor, Warner Bros, however, is estimating a more conservative figure of $75m (£58m) box office start.
Oppenheimer’s opening weekend ticket sales, on the other hand, is set to earn a modest $50m (£38m).
Is ‘Barbie’ child-friendly?
Thursday 20 July 2023 15:30 , Inga Parkel
While it’d be easy to assume that Barbie is intended for children, considering its source material, some parents may need some more information about its PG-13 rating (equivalent to a 12A rating in the UK).
A PG-13 rating is generally given to titles that the Motion Pictures Association (MPA) feels include “some material that may be inappropriate for children under 13”.
Barbie was granted this rating for “suggestive references and brief language”.
Find out more about how appropriate the film is for children here:
Is the PG-13-rated Barbie movie child-friendly? Here’s what to know beforehand
Films rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association contain ‘some material that may be inappropriate for children under 13’
Oppenheimer star Cillian Murphy reacts to Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later sequel update
Thursday 20 July 2023 15:00 , Inga Parkel
Oppenheimer star Cillian Murphy has reacted to the news that a new 28 Days Later sequel appears to be happening.
In June, the film’s director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland revealed plans to make a follow-up to their hit 2000 horror film 28 Days Later, in which Murphy played the lead role of Jim.
During a conversation with The Independent’s Jacob Stolworthy, the actor said news of the sequel was “great to hear”, and responded to a question of whether he’d like to be involved.
Full story below:
Cillian Murphy addresses Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later sequel update
‘I didn’t know that,’ the ‘Oppenheimer’ star said
Margot Robbie, an Australian, briefly forgets what ‘barbie’ means in Australia
Thursday 20 July 2023 14:30 , Inga Parkel
Oops, it looks like Margot Robbie has spent too much time away from her native Australia.
During an appearance on Australian network Channel 10’s The Project talk show, co-host Sam Taunton mentioned to Greta Gerwig that the word “barbie” does not refer to the iconic doll in the country.
He said: “It means so much to so many people. I’m not sure if Margot told you, but the word ‘barbie’ means something else in Australia. Did you brief Greta about it?”
But Robbie, who was born in the rural town of Dalby in Queensland, Australia, appeared confused and asked: “What does it mean here?”
Read more:
Margot Robbie, an Australian, briefly forgets what ‘barbie’ means in Australia
The ‘Barbie’ star appeared embarrassed by her blunder
Ted Cruz keeps attacking the Barbie movie as ‘Chinese communist propaganda’ even though he hasn’t seen it
Thursday 20 July 2023 11:20 , Isobel Lewis
He might not have seen Barbie, but Ted Cruz won’t stop talking about the film and branding it “propaganda”.
Kelly Rissman reports:
Ted Cruz keeps attacking the Barbie movie as ‘Chinese communist propaganda’
Unicorn statues, disco balls and vanity mirrors: Inside the Barbie-inspired dream houses in the UK
Thursday 20 July 2023 10:58 , Isobel Lewis
Ever wanted to stay in your own Barbie Dream House? Turns out, there are a plethora of pink properties across the UK that you can rent for the ultimate pastel fix.
Unicorns, disco balls and vanity mirrors: Inside the real-life Barbie dream houses
The true story behind Christopher Nolan’s biopic about ‘the father of the atomic bomb’
Thursday 20 July 2023 10:28 , Isobel Lewis
Ahead of Oppenheimer’s release, Tom Murray has investigate the life of the man at the centre of the film.
Robert J Oppenheimer, played by Cillian Murphy in Christopher Nolan’s movie, was an American scientist who played a crucial role in the invention of the atomic bomb.
Read more below...
The horrifying true story behind Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer
Google features all-pink Barbie Easter egg for film’s release
Thursday 20 July 2023 09:48 , Isobel Lewis
Just as it begins to feel like the whole world has been Barbie-fied, Google has now been taken over with all things pink.
Typing “Barbie”, “Margot Robbie”, “Ryan Gosling” or “Greta Gerwig” into the search engine will yield a visual feast.
Kate Ng reports:
Google delights fans with sparkly special effect for Barbie movie
Oppenheimer yet to receive theatrical release date in Japan
Thursday 20 July 2023 09:15 , Isobel Lewis
Oppenheimer will be released across the world on Friday (21 July), but there’s still no word as to when the historical epic will arrive in Japan.
Christopher Nolan’s film depicts the 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which killed around 200,000 people.
However, while the film does not currently have a Japan release date, theories the film will not get a release in the country have been debunked.
Tom Murray reports:
Will Oppenheimer be released in Japanese movie theatres?
Thursday 20 July 2023 08:55 , Isobel Lewis
Oppenheimer may be critically acclaimed before it’s even been released, but even directors like Christopher Nolan can make flops too.
The Independent’s Louis Chilton has compiled his list of 13 of the worst films made by excellent directors. And yes, there’s a Nolan film among them...
13 awful movies by great filmmakers, from Steven Spielberg to Christopher Nolan
Thursday 20 July 2023 08:35 , Isobel Lewis
When Barbie is released in cinemas tomorrow, eagle-eyed Love Island fans might notice a blink-and-you’d-miss-it cameo from one unexpected face.
Chris Taylor, who appeared on the dating show in 2019, has a one-line role in the new film – and it’s all thanks to Margot Robbie.
Tom Murray reports:
Love Island star landed role in Barbie movie thanks to superfan Margot Robbie
Barbie: The Album unveils full tracklist
Thursday 20 July 2023 08:17 , Isobel Lewis
As Barbie arrives in cinemas on Friday (21 July), the long-awaited soundtrack will drop too.
While songs from Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, and Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice have already been released, fans are eagerly awaiting tracks from the likes of Lizzo and Ava Max.
You can find the full tracklist below:
1. “Pink” – Lizzo
2. “Dance the Night” – Dua Lipa
3. “Barbie World” – Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice with Aqua
4. “Speed Drive” – Charli XCX
5. “Watati” – Karol G feat Aldo Ranks
6. “Man I Am” – Sam Smith
7. “Journey to the Real World” – Tame Impala
8. “I’m Just Ken” – Ryan Gosling
9. “Hey Blondie” – Dominic Fike
10. “Home” – Haim
11. “What Was I Made For?” – Billie Eilish
12. “Forever & Again” – The Kid Laroi
13. “Silver Platter” – Khalid
14. “Angel” – PinkPantheress
15. “Butterflies” – Gayle
16. “Choose Your Fighter” – Ava Max
17. “Barbie Dreams” – Fifty Fifty feat Kaliii
‘Oppenheimer’ blasts past ‘Barbie’ on Rotten Tomatoes
Thursday 20 July 2023 06:39 , Tom Murray
Barbie debuted on Rotten Tomatoes yesterday (18 July) with an impressive critics’ score of 90 per cent.
However, Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer has taken the cherry with a near-perfect score of 94 per cent at the time of writing.
Read more:
Oppenheimer blows past Barbie with near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score