Barbenheimer: The Double-Feature of the Decade

By now, you’ve most likely heard of, or seen, the latest phenomenon in cinema: “Barbenheimer.” What started as two films (“Barbie” & “Oppenheimer”) opening on the same day in July has become a well-recognized international meme. However, the two movies shouldn’t be reduced to only that.  

“Barbie,” directed by Greta Gerwig, is a film that rejects toxic masculinity and attacks pseudo-feminism. Its strongest moments come from its understanding of the female experience. For a movie based on a plastic doll, it has a lot to say. “Barbie” also has one of the most hilariously iconic endings I’ve seen in a long time. An all-star soundtrack with songs from Dua Lipa, Tame Impala and Billie Eilish backs the film. I saw “Barbie” in theaters at the beginning of August, and I do not think I have seen a theater so packed since I was a young child. This is a massive win for Warner Bros. Pictures and the film industry as a whole. This film will make you laugh, cry, and make you think “what was I made for?”  

“Oppenheimer,” directed by Christopher Nolan, deals with a man’s morality and mortality. The true story of one of the most important physicists in history is a three-hour-long masterpiece. The film essentially puts you in Robert Oppenheimer’s head, where you understand his thoughts, concerns, intentions, and anxiety. This is a career-defining moment for many of the actors involved (most notably, in my opinion, Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr. and Emily Blunt). One thing I liked about the film is that it does not try to sway you to sympathize with Oppenheimer or detest him. It acknowledges that he is a controversial figure. The film simply wants you to understand him and the world around him. I will say that it leaves you with more questions than it answers in a very thought-provoking Nolan way. Like “Barbie,” “Oppenheimer’s” soundtrack is memorable and powerful. Ludwig Göransson is a musical genius.  

So, how have two films that are so inherently different become so tied to each other? I like to think of it as “opposites attract.” A psychological principle that believes complementary relationships work out better than similar relationships. You could potentially think of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” as a complementary relationship. They are different in terms of production and subject matter, but they both work towards a common goal: to be great films. Being so unalike has allowed them both to exist without being box office enemies. Instead, thanks to all of the memes, it encourages viewers to see both! Like it or not, “Barbenheimer’s” impact on the film industry has shown a return to the box office and caused men and women to better understand themselves and each other.