Christopher Nolan’s extraordinary biographical thriller, Oppenheimer, and Greta Gerwig’s imaginative comedy film, Barbie, achieved remarkable success on their opening days in India, grossing over Rs 22 crore in domestic box office collections.
Oppenheimer, with a production cost of $100 million, outperformed Barbie, which had a budget of $150 million, in terms of domestic collections on the first day. According to Warner Bros. Discovery, the distributor of both films in India, Oppenheimer earned Rs 17.5 crore on its opening day, while Barbie’s collection was Rs 5.3 crore.
Both films were released on July 21 (Friday) amid high anticipation from the film industry that they would draw audiences back to theaters. Unfortunately, the gross domestic box office collection for the first half of 2023 decreased by 15% YoY to Rs 4,868 crore, as reported by Ormax Media.
Globally, Universal Pictures, owned by Comcast-owned NBCUniversal, distributes Oppenheimer, while Warner Bros. handles the distribution for Barbie. In India, Warner Bros. distributes both films since Universal Pictures closed its operations in the country in 2020.
“We have received an overwhelming response to the initial weekend bookings of Oppenheimer and Barbie, as both films cater to unique audiences,” said Gautam Dutta, Co-CEO of PVR Inox.
Dutta also mentioned that all IMAX shows for Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer at PVR Inox cinemas are sold out. “We have scheduled screenings as early as 3.45 am to accommodate numerous IMAX shows, ensuring that Nolan fans don’t miss out on the immersive experience of this movie shot in IMAX format,” Dutta stated.
The Co-CEO of PVR Inox further explained that their premium screen formats like P[XL] and BIGPIX have recorded above-average occupancies of over 55%. “Considering Oppenheimer is also available in Hindi, we are witnessing a wider viewership beyond the metropolitan cities.”
In addition, Dutta revealed that Barbie, falling into a different genre, has attracted family audiences spanning generations with occupancy rates exceeding 45%. He added that the movie has been well-received in the ICE Immersive format, featuring LED panels on each side of the auditorium.
Both films are generating substantial word-of-mouth reviews, and what’s particularly encouraging is that audiences are choosing not just one but both movies, resulting in occupancy rates surpassing 60%,” he concluded.
Producer and film business analyst Girish Johar predicted that both films would achieve combined collections of close to Rs 70 crore by the end of the opening weekend. He estimated that Oppenheimer’s opening weekend collection would be around Rs 50 crore, while Barbie’s would reach Rs 17 crore.
Karan Taurani, SVP at Elara Capital, predicted that Oppenheimer and Barbie would ultimately achieve domestic box office collections of approximately Rs 70–80 crore and Rs 40–50 crore respectively.
Although Oppenheimer has outperformed Barbie in India, the global scenario is the opposite. According to Deadline, Barbie earned $41.4 million across 51 regions worldwide, while Oppenheimer earned $15.7 million across 57 markets.
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Basant Kasayap is an entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to Bollywood to regional cinema, she offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
