The movies "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" had an impressive opening weekend in North America, making a combined total of $235.5 million. Warner Bros' "Barbie," directed by Greta Gerwig, earned $155 million in ticket sales, surpassing "The Super Mario Bros Movie" as the biggest opening of 2023. Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer," a biographical drama about J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb, brought in $80.5 million, exceeding expectations and becoming one of the strongest debuts for a biographical film.

The term "Barbenheimer," which emerged on social media to describe the simultaneous release of both films, is expected to bring in more than $300 million by the end of the weekend, making it the fourth-largest box office opening of all time.

The back-to-back release of these highly anticipated blockbusters motivated many filmgoers to enjoy an unusual double feature on the same day.

Both movies received positive reviews from critics, earning 90 percent and 94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, respectively. Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros' president of domestic distribution, expressed his excitement, stating, "The Barbenheimer thing was a real boost for both movies. It is a crowning achievement for all of us."