Barbie v Oppenheimer: What do the cast say about the Barbenheimer double-bill?
July 21 will prove to be a historic battle at the box office, as two of 2023's most anticipated movies arrive in UK cinemas on the same day.
Christopher Nolan's dark war drama Oppenheimer collides with Greta Gerwig's fun and frothy Barbie movie on the fateful day, with new hybrid term 'Barbenheimer' being coined to signify the occasion.
It's not just fans and reporters jumping on the trend though, with stars of the movies themselves weighing in on the cinema competition.
"I think it's great. I mean, I'll be going to see Barbie. I can't wait to see it,” Oppenheimer star Cillian Murphy told IGN in an interview.
"I think it's just great for the industry and for audiences that we have two amazing films by amazing filmmakers coming out the same day. Could spend a whole day in the cinema, what's better than that?"
Related: Oppenheimer's first reactions land ahead of cinema release
Barbie's leading lady Margot Robbie also seemed delighted with the movie mash-up, with the actress sharing her own Barbenheimer mission.
"I saw an amazing mock up of a poster today online and I want to get it made into a T-shirt and somehow get Cillian Murphy to sign it," she told Virgin Radio UK. "That's my new goal. I'm going to see what I can do."
As for what film fans should prioritise seeing first, there was only one order that Robbie approves of.
"I think actually start the day with Barbie, then go straight to Oppenheimer and then Barbie chaser," she told Associated Press on the pink carpet of Barbie's European Premiere, which took place in London's Leicester Square yesterday (July 13).
Co-star Ryan Gosling gave the same verdict, whilst actor Will Ferrell's response was a little less diplomatic. "I think the world maybe wants to see Barbie a little bit more right now," he told the camera. "I'm just saying."
Related: Barbie's first reactions have finally arrived ahead of cinema release
Barbie director Greta Gerwig was thrilled to learn that Oppenheimer's leading star was planning a trip to the cinema to see her film.
"Somebody showed me a video of Cillian Murphy saying he'd see Barbie and I was like 'aghhhhh'," she said, doing an impression of her overjoyed response.
Meanwhile Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan felt there was an inevitably that the two films would have a similar release date. "Summer, in a healthy marketplace, is always crowded, and we've been doing this a long time,” the filmmaker told IGN.
"I think for those of us who care about movies, we've been really waiting to have a crowded marketplace again, and now it's here and that's terrific."
It's no surprise that the Oppenheimer cast, had an alternative order to see the films come release day.
"Maybe Oppenheimer on the Saturday? Friday night? I don't know," said Emily Blunt, who plays Murphy's on-screen wife in the Nolan film.
Fellow Oppenheimer star Matt Damon gave a more assertive response. "I'd knock out Oppenheimer," he said to IGN.
For those still agonising which film to see first, Cillian Murphy shared a fair approach. "Just flip a coin," he said.
Barbie is released in cinemas on July 21.
Oppenheimer, which is based on the book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J Robert Oppenheimer, is set for release on July 21, 2023.
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