Cineplex says the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon is taking hold in Canada and nearly 345,000 pre-sale tickets have been purchased for two of the biggest Hollywood film releases of the year.
Canada’s largest cinema chain says it’s no surprise that moviegoers are eager to see Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and Greta Gerwig’s Barbie – two very different but equally anticipated films that hit theaters on Friday.
According to Cineplex, more than 60,000 pre-sale tickets were bought by moviegoers who saw both films, and 65 percent of those ticket buyers will see “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie” on the same day.
The excitement over the double film has been dubbed “Barbenheimer” as both films and their showdown at the box office are trending online.
A media analyst recently told The Associated Press that “Barbenheimer” is a “social media marketing gift” and the hype benefits both the films and the studios behind it.
Cineplex states that “Barbie” had 200,000 tickets in advance two days before opening in Canada, matching last year’s box office hit “Avatar: The Way of the Water” which had more than 215,000 tickets in advance.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on July 20, 2023.
The Canadian Press
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