The cinema blockbuster “Oppenheimer” by Christopher Nolan and Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie”, which couldn’t be more different, start in German cinemas on the same day. A veritable meme war has erupted online. Film fans combine the opposing works – and call the phenomenon “Barbenheimer” or “Oppenbarbie”.
Blonde icon against inventor of the atomic bomb
A competition in which the opponents could not be more unequal: A blonde icon against the inventor of the atomic bomb. The showdown? It should take place at the box office.
Greta Gerwig’s film “Barbie” opens in German cinemas on July 20th. The launch day coincides with that of Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer”.
Film criticism: Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” is criticism, declaration of love and marketing tool all in one
“Oppenheimer” is dark and historical
Director Christopher Nolan, the creator of “Inception”, is known for visually stunning cinema and spectacular action scenes.
In “Oppenheimer” Cillian Murphy embodies the eponymous Robert Oppenheimer. The Filmmaker’s Promise: a dark historical drama about the co-inventor of the atomic bomb.
Margot Robbie is armed with high heels
Director Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” universe, on the other hand, looks as if at least one unicorn and one seven-year-old were involved in the storyboard. Pink, pink and pink are the colors of the cult doll from Mattel.
On screen, Margot Robbie embodies Barbie. At most, she is armed with high heels, which Ken gives to her at the side of Hollywood handsome Ryan Gosling.
Malibu Beach House vs. Manhattan Project, two worlds so diametrically opposed that it’s impossible to bring them together – right?
Barbenheimer merges two worlds
No way: “Barbenheimer” is the name of the creation under which the antagonists of the blockbuster battle melt together. “Barbenheimer” is an internet phenomenon in which fans combine the different aesthetics of the films.
Social media platforms are full of “Barbenheimer” memes, with users posting collages with images borrowed from the film previews.
Barbie in pastel pink in front of a mushroom cloud. Oppenheimer star Murphy scowls in Barbie’s glittery cowboy hat. The high-contrast combinations make you smile.
Which movie to watch first?
In the case of “Barbenheimer”, however, the question of film fans is not “Barbie or Oppenheimer”, but rather “Which film first”?
There is also an alternative to “Barbenheimer” – first “Barbie”, then “Oppenheimer”: Looked at the other way round it is called “Oppenbarbie”.
Twitter users declared July “Barbenheimer” month. TikTok has outfit-of-the-day videos with inspiration for the right “Barbenheimer” look, stylishly combining pink and black.
The memes are a marketing boon
Film fans assemble a new “Barbenheimer” trailer from the previews of the Gerwig-Nolan works.
“Barbenheimer” is playing into the pockets of the film production companies, because the online clash of cineastes is really boosting the marketing machinery. The fact that two blockbusters with different target groups are released in cinemas on the same day is not all that unusual.
This distribution strategy is called counter-programming. How the “Barbenheimer” hype will affect the sales figures of the first cinema weekend is difficult to predict.
Score Snacks Podcast Episode on Barbie and Oppenheimer:
Audio downloaderladen (9.1 MB | MP3)
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