This summer was a great summer for movies. Large titles such as Insidious: The Red Door and My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 were released this summer. Family movies and movies geared towards children were also exceedingly popular this summer. Films like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Haunted Mansion, and PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie were also released this summer. However, no movies made waves like Barbie and Oppenheimer being released on the same day. 

Barbie follows different celebrities playing Barbie and Ken. The main Barbie and Ken pairing that the film follows is Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. Barbie and Ken enter the real world and experience things for themselves that they take back to Barbieland. Oppenheimer follows the later life story of J. Robert Oppenheimer and his involvement in the development of the atomic bomb. Cillian Murphy portrays Oppenhneimer and beautifully tells his life story. 

The term “Barbieheimer” was coined by people on Tik Tok when it was announced that the films would be released on the same day. People had started this trend where they were saying they were going to watch both movies on the same day. This had evolved into people saying they had completed “Barbenheimer”. There was also a trend of people saying they were picking one movie over the other, and getting into discourse online joking about the “Barbenheimer” fight. 

I had the pleasure of watching Barbie and Oppenheimer on the same day. While it was not the release date, I had still completed the trend. I saw Oppenheimer first at 10:30 am at AMC: Marketfair in Princeton. I had walked into the movie expecting to fall asleep within the first 15 minutes and take a nice nap. However, I was pleasantly surprised. From the first scene, I was engrossed in the film and taken back in time. I was entranced by the use of sound and color, especially how sounds would come back and have a more significant role later on in the film. I was impressed with the costuming and accuracy of events and their visuals. I was disinterested in the way time skipped. The film jumped around in years and months, leaving me confused and bored at times. 

Barbie was a completely different film. Barbie had me hooked from the first scene, similarly to Oppenheimer. What impressed me the most was the use of costumes that were real Barbie outfits as well as the use of songs. The Barbie Soundtrack was filled with iconic artists and music. The use of costuming was beautiful as well. I laughed, cried, and enjoyed the film along with everyone else in the theater. 

My viewing experience at both theaters was similar while also being vastly different. Both theaters were packed with eager watchers ready to consume new media. My viewing of Oppenheimer was very serious and silent while my Barbie watch through was filled with giggles and sniffles. One shocking experience I had in both theaters was the similarity in ages watching the movies. Both films had people of all ages coming to see the show. Barbie was filled with people dressed in pink and fun outfits to show their appreciation for the pink motif. However, both movies allowed them to think about what they just consumed and how it made them feel. Both films sparked feelings of interest and self reflection. 

I would recommend both of these movies to anyone who wants a great film. Oppenheimer would be for the history buffs and Barbie is for people who are looking for a great comedy. The only question I ask you to consider would be: What movie do you watch first?