nypost.com
24.07.2023 / 21:17
The success of ‘Barbenheimer’ means nothing for the movies
the social media nickname given to the one-two punch of Warner Bros’ “Barbie” and Universal’s “Oppenheimer” — did boffo business at the domestic box office, grossing a combined $235 million. “Barbie,” at $155 million alone, had the biggest three-day opening of the year so far. And right on cue, the usual pronouncements are being made:Audiences love originality! (Everyone has seemingly forgotten that Barbie is a super-famous doll and not from director Greta Gerwig’s imagination.) Stories about women sell! (Just as with men’s stories, like floperoo “Indiana Jones,” sometimes they do and sometimes they don’t. “Oppenheimer,” which many online are calling sexist toward women, sold tremendously well at $80 million.) It’s quality, stupid! (Tell that to “The Banshees of Inisherin,” “Women Talking,” “The Fabelmans” and most of the other Best Picture Oscar nominees released last year.) However, the real takeaway of #Barbenheimer — a cinematic Brigadoon that will soon disappear into the fog — is one that is becoming increasingly obvious in the entertainment world at large: Ticket-buyers want Events. It’s not enough for consumers to regularly attend good movies or nice Broadway shows or average concerts and then head home and go to bed.