Barbie smashing Oppenheimer on their mutual opening weekend is the easiest box-office bet ever

We’ve known for a while now that Barbie and Oppenheimer, two film titans, would open on the same weekend. And given both films’ inherent contrast in styles — Barbie is colorful and whimsical, Oppenheimer is the latest dark delivery from Christopher Nolan about the creation of the atomic bomb — movie fans have been comparing the two for weeks.

From a box office perspective, at least, there should be no comparison.

Barbie is an impeccably safe bet to smash Oppenheimer on their mutual opening weekend. In fact, that’s how the consensus betting market is already approaching the movies’ unofficial battle — giving Barbie comfortable -280 odds to make over $99.5 million while setting expectations for Oppenheimer at over $44.5 million with just -195 odds.

#Barbenheimer weekend is almost upon us…#Barbie #Oppenheimer pic.twitter.com/AuRKKddKPU

— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) July 18, 2023

I can’t say I disagree with this projection.

On the one hand, you have a fun and bright movie with notes like Ryan Gosling delivering the supposed performance of a lifetime as a Ken doll. On the other, you have a drab, dark, and unoriginal story (at least in premise) about man’s hubris creating an ultimate weapon that could destroy civilization at any moment. Yawn. Been there, done that.

Barbie is a no-brainer, popularity-wise.

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