‘Barbenheimer’: Why the ‘Barbie’ vs ‘Oppenhemier’ phenomenon is a movie event for the ages

The Internet phenomenon surrounding the release of Greta Gerwig’s ‘Barbie’ and Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’ has surged interest; the release is now a cultural event of epic proportions with many opting to make it a double-feature Friday

(Originally published in The Hindu on July 19, 2023)

The Queen of Dreams meets the Lord of Death this Friday. Visit a theatre this weekend and if you manage to get tickets, then chances are you would find moviegoers dolled up in pink and black and celebrating cinema. For, Greta Gerwig and Christopher Nolan are bringing to cinema halls Barbie and Oppenheimer, two films with polar sensibilities. There’s frenzy, thanks to an Internet meme-generated phenomenon: ‘Barbenheimer’

But first, what’s the big deal with Barbie and Oppenheimer?

Barbie,’ a fashion icon and the queen of dreams

Gerwig’s Barbie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling among others, is based on one of the most influential cultural icons, the Barbie fashion doll, that shaped the dreams of millions of children. Chennai-based content marketer Anandhi Moorthy has picked her favourite pink outfit to catch the premiere. The release is a celebration of what Barbie meant to her as a child, she says. “I come from a conservative family where you are told what to do and what not to. In the Barbie animation movies, she can do anything she puts her heart into. She’s also independent, something most girls aspire to be. And her story wasn’t always about finding love; sometimes it was about defeating evil or solving problems.”

Barbie will catch eyeballs for another major reason; she has always been the unparalleled queen of fashion and the release has brought back nostalgia-fuelled fashion trends. Film stylist Amritha Ram…..

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