--- description: Barbie and Oppenheimer both releasing on July 21 has prompted an internet phenomenon. Here's what to know about 'Barbenheimer' title: Why Barbenheimer Mania Is Unstoppable image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfac22a7bec111ae9/698a3e9886f68e1a786f2978/1.png?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 --- * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [movies](/tag/movies/) ## movies Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Why 'Barbenheimer' Mania Is Unstoppable Jul 12, 2023 1:56 PM CUT  by [Mariah Espada](/author/mariah-espada/)  ## Mariah Espada Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jul 12, 2023 1:56 PM CUT What happens when two of the most anticipated films of 2023 debut in the same week? A fan-made movie crossover event known as Barbenheimer. _Barbie_, directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Dua Lipa, and Issa Rae, among several others, will release on July 21\. _Oppenheimer_, Christopher Nolan’s film on J. Robert Oppenheimer, who was integral to the development of the atomic bomb, comes out the same day. Summer movie-goers are relishing the chance to celebrate a one-day cinematic experience of watching two polar-opposite films back-to-back. > [](https://twitter.com/FilmUpdates/status/1675042853477822465) ## Hollywood is all about Barbenheimer Tom Cruise, star of this summer’s other blockbuster, _Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning_, will be taking part in the phenomenon. “​​I love a double feature, and it doesn’t get more explosive (or more pink) than one with Oppenheimer and Barbie,” he tweeted in late June. > [](https://twitter.com/TomCruise/status/1674062557517168643) Cruise told the [Sydney Morning Herald](https://www.smh.com.au/culture/movies/tom-cruise-celebrates-birthday-at-australian-premiere-of-mission-impossible-20230703-p5dlch.html "undefined") he plans to see _Oppenheimer_ first and then _Barbie_ opening weekend. **Read More:** [How _Barbie_ Came to Life](https://time.com/6289864/barbie-time-cover-story/ "undefined") --- ### More from TIME --- The filmmakers and actors from both films are in on the fun, playfully leaning into the crowded film lineup to encourage more people to the movies. Gerwig and Robbie joined in, buying tickets to _Oppenheimer_, as well as the new _Mission Impossible_ and _Indiana Jones_ movies. Both Nolan and leading-man Cillian Murphy of _Oppenheimer_ have addressed the frenzy, with Nolan telling [IGN](https://www.ign.com/articles/christopher-nolan-embraces-barbenheimer "undefined"), “I think for those of us who care about movies, we’ve been really waiting to have a crowded marketplace again, and now it’s here and that’s terrific.” > [](https://twitter.com/barbiethemovie/status/1674631283543244801) ## Planning the ideal Barbenheimer day ## Maria Carrillo, 22, will take part in Barbenheimer with her friends because it will be a theatrical release unlike any other since COVID-19 began in 2020, as movie-going is only now beginning to get back to [pre-pandemic levels](https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/05/box-office-almost-back-to-pre-covid-levels.html "undefined"). “I’ve always loved going to the movies and this is going to be fun,” she tells TIME. Carrillo and countless others online are excited about making the collaboration happen, creating special merchandise and self-made [trailers](https://twitter.com/KyleDodsonFunny/status/1675712445510213632 "undefined") and giving [advice](https://www.tiktok.com/@justmejas/video/7252526233395662123?q=barbenheimer&t=1688748421231 "undefined") on how to affordably watching both films in theaters or craft the perfect Barbenheimer viewing itinerary (which can include everything from [mimosas](https://twitter.com/ULTRAGLOSS/status/1673139352669495296 "undefined") to [showers and ice coffees](https://twitter.com/RealTomPetrini/status/1674462452522659845 "undefined") to [whiskey at Japanese listening bar and an outfit change](https://twitter.com/skinnyspice/status/1674664436789833729 "undefined")). > [](https://twitter.com/falconsnat/status/1674384904979640320) Businesses have gotten in on it—a Barnes & Nobles in Olympia, Washington posted a TikTok with over 30,000 likes of a “Barbeinheimer Starter Pack.” According to [Elizabeth Frank](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/barbenheimer-hit-amc-sells-over-174020963.html "undefined"), AMC’s CCO and executive VP of worldwide programming, over 20,000 tickets have been sold so far at AMC Theaters to see _Barbie_ and _Oppenheimer_ on the same day. One debate will continue until July 21: in what order should viewers see the movies? One [TikToker](https://www.tiktok.com/@robertdowneyweeniehutjr/video/7241619958608825643?q=barbenheimer&t=1688748421231 "undefined") says she will not be starting with _Barbie_. “I’m sorry do you also eat dessert first? Oppenheimer first, then _Barbie_ it’s science,” she captioned her video. Others disagree: “People seeing _Barbie_ first are wild,” one person tweeted, offering their preferred schedule. > [](https://twitter.com/ULTRAGLOSS/status/1673139352669495296) Carrillo plans to watch _Oppenheimer_ first on July 21\. “It makes more sense because it’s a really heavy movie,” she says. Following _Oppenheimer_, Carrillo and her friends will change outfits and have a debrief dinner before ending “the night with _Barbie_ as a treat, which will be beautiful and pink.” She anticipates both films will live up to their expectations. For now, she’s enjoying the once-in-a-lifetime blockbuster scenario and everything it has brought. “It’s all part of the fun.” ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/6293844/barbie-oppenheimer-internet-phenomenon/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/6293844/barbie-oppenheimer-internet-phenomenon/"},"headline":"Why 'Barbenheimer' Mania Is Unstoppable","datePublished":"2023-07-12T13:56:36.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-24T16:08:26.647Z","description":"Barbie and Oppenheimer both releasing on July 21 has prompted an internet phenomenon","url":"https://time.com/6293844/barbie-oppenheimer-internet-phenomenon/","keywords":["movies","culturepod"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Mariah Espada","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/mariah-espada/"}],"articleSection":"Entertainment","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/entertainment/","name":"Entertainment"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/movies/","name":"movies"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/6293844/barbie-oppenheimer-internet-phenomenon/","name":"Why 'Barbenheimer' Mania Is Unstoppable"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Stars of 'Barbie' Weigh In On 'Barbenheimer' Mania","description":"At the U.K. premiere of Greta Gerwig's satirical comedy \"Barbie,\" stars spoke about the phenomenon that has come to be known as \"Barbenheimer.\"","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/UokIzZGB/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2023-07-13T19:19:42.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/UokIzZGB.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/6293844/barbie-oppenheimer-internet-phenomenon/","duration":"PT2M37S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/6293844/barbie-oppenheimer-internet-phenomenon/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"'Oppenheimer' Stars, Director on Creating the \"Dramatic\" Story for Upcoming Film","description":"Christopher Nolan, Cillian Murphy, Florence Pugh, Emily Blunt and Matt Damon on creating the \"dramatic\" story for upcoming film.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/mJyCg4Cf/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2023-07-19T20:27:06.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/mJyCg4Cf.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/6293844/barbie-oppenheimer-internet-phenomenon/","duration":"PT1M38S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/6293844/barbie-oppenheimer-internet-phenomenon/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```