Warner Bros.’ highly-anticipated comedy film centered around the beloved girl toy, Barbie, is generating significant buzz in the industry. Starring Margot Robbie as the iconic character and Ryan Gosling as Ken, the film is poised to make a splash at the box office during its opening weekend from July 21 to July 23. While Warner Bros. conservatively predicts a $60 million debut, early tracking suggests that Barbie could surpass expectations. In fact, the film has already outperformed last month’s release of The Little Mermaid in terms of attracting general audiences and young women under 25. Industry insiders are projecting a minimum opening of $80 million, with the potential for an even more impressive start of $100 million. The target demographic for Barbie is primarily women under 35, followed by individuals aged 35 to 49. Additionally, Barbie’s presales are currently outpacing those of The Little Mermaid, indicating strong audience interest in the upcoming release.
Oppenheimer: The Male Counterpart
In contrast to Barbie’s female-oriented appeal, Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film, Oppenheimer, draws a predominantly male and older audience. However, it would be a mistake to overlook the potential female viewership for this historical drama centered around the architect of the atomic bomb. The ensemble cast, which includes Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, and Robert Downey Jr., is likely to attract a wide range of moviegoers. Both younger and older individuals, spanning across the under 25 and over 25 age groups, are showing strong interest in Oppenheimer. Industry insiders are projecting an opening weekend gross of $40 million to a possible $50 million for the Universal film. Additionally, Oppenheimer has secured full control of Imax theaters for three weeks, further amplifying its potential for success. Nolan’s previous film, Dunkirk, opened to $50.5 million in 2017 and went on to earn $189.7 million, indicating the director’s track record for box office success.
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One: Sustained Momentum
Rounding out the near-$200 million weekend is the second weekend of Paramount’s Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. With an expected gross of approximately $35 million, the film is poised to achieve a franchise-best opening. In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising if Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One surpasses the $100 million mark within its first five days from July 12 to July 16. Paramount has strategically decided to hand over Imax and PLFs (premium large formats) to Oppenheimer during its second weekend, further illustrating the studio’s confidence in the film’s sustained momentum.
The upcoming weekend at the box office is set to be a lucrative one, with multiple highly-anticipated films vying for audience attention. Barbie is expected to make a significant impact, appealing to a younger female demographic, while Oppenheimer aims to captivate a more mature audience. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is also poised for success, with its second weekend likely to contribute to the overall robust box office performance. Movie enthusiasts can look forward to an exciting weekend filled with diverse cinematic offerings.