Updated figures this AM show Warner Bros.’ new franchise based on the Mattel doll had a better Sunday than expected, helping it hit $162 million. It's the biggest debut of any film in 2023.
Barbie also earned a place in the history books for its release on the same weekend as its dark-toned opposite number, Oppenheimer. Helped by the "Barbenheimer" phenomenon and also by stellar reviews and word of mouth, Christopher Nolan's nuclear bomb epic took in an astounding $82 million, per Universal, which was also a higher tally than the initial Sunday projection.
As we spotted on Thursday night, Oppenheimer looked like it was going to emulate the box office trajectory of the R-rated X-Men title, Logan. That pic’s first day/previews was also $33M. However, it had a $31.3M Saturday for what turned out to be an $88.4M opening. Point is, audiences are approaching this Nolan movie like a comic-book movie, not the adult drama that it is. In fact, both movies’ fervent fans are owning it in their cinema attire, dressing up like the characters in Barbie and Oppenheimer.
Behold the march on theaters: box office analytics firm EntTelligence says that “Barbenheimer is going to pull in approximately 18.5M patrons this weekend. Other than Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021 (20M patrons), this is the most foot traffic EntTelligence has monitored, for a three-day new opening film or combination of films, since our formation during the dark period of the pandemic.” >>>'Barbie' More Than 50% Of All Admissions
More B.O. News:
‘Barbie’ & ‘Oppenheimer’: A Rundown Of All The Box Office Records Broken
Greta Gerwig On Why She Rejected Idea Of Cutting ‘Barbie’ Scene
Quentin Tarantino Spotted At Cinema Seeing ‘Barbie’ & ‘Oppenheimer’ |
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| Deadline Exclusives & Originals |
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Agency Angst - A3 on Friday laid off 10 people, seven assistants and three coordinators. It is the first major round of layoffs in the talent representation business since the start of the SAG-AFTRA strike but won’t be the last. With Hollywood production grinding to a halt as actors joined writers in walking out after talks with studios fell through, talent agencies and management companies have been mulling new staff cuts, especially those companies that rely heavily on film and scripted TV revenue. >>> Flurry Of Rumors
TIFF Lineup Glitters Despite Strikes - The Toronto International Film Festival has announced an estimable roster of films for its 48th edition in September despite the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes. The fest is expected to total more than 200 films, which is in the range of last year's 260 or so. CEO Cameron Bailey has promised a "bumper crop" of acquisition titles, with stars attached like Scarlett Johansson, Kate Winslet, Michael Keaton and Viggo Mortensen. Awards contenders include Dumb Money, The Holdovers and Rustin. >>> See The Full Lineup
Huw & Cry - The BBC has defended the high volume of coverage it dedicated to the scandal involving Huw Edwards, the British broadcaster’s highest-paid news presenter. BBC News extensively covered the story after Edwards was accused in reports by The Sun newspaper of paying a young person for sexually explicit images. >>>Statement
Breaking Baz: 'The Crown's' Prince Philip On Strike - Tobias Menzies won an Emmy for his portrayal of Prince Philip in Seasons 3 and 4 of The Crown, bur on Friday he was speaking in the voice of solidarity “to support SAG-AFTRA and the strike they’re on. Menzies has stopped working on Joseph Kosinski’s Formula One movie Apex, which until last week he’d been filming with the picture’s star, Brad Pitt. “They’re not shooting with any SAG actors, so I’m stood down,” he said. “Brad is on strike too." >>>Baz Bamigboye's Column |
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Director Eva Longoria, in Flaming Hot, tells the real life story of Richard Montañez whose drive and dedication saw him rise up the ranks at Frito-Lay as he helped establish Flamin’ Hot Cheetos – the snack that disrupted the food industry and became a global pop-culture phenomenon. Here, Longoria discusses why stories about culture are important, the collaboration process and how a film like Flaming Hot comes together. >>> Scene 2 Scene Podcast |
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More News
🚨 Shaka Hislop, an ESPN analyst and former soccer player, fainted and collapsed during pre-match coverage on the sports network on Sunday. Hislop made an appearance on-air at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA before a friendly between Real Madrid and AC Milan. After joining co-host Dan Thomas during the live segment, Hislop started wobbling and lost his balance, falling forward and collapsing to the ground. He soon regained consciousness and was alert and able to speak, but doctors are continuing to evaluate him. Heat may have been a factor, as temperatures in Pasadena reached 91 degrees on Sunday.
❄️ The Venice Film Festival will close with the world premiere of J. A. Bayona’s Netflix survival thriller La Sociedad De La Nieve (Society Of The Snow). The film charts the iconic true story of a 1970s rugby team whose plane crashes on a glacier in the Andes. The few passengers who survived the crash find themselves in one of the world’s toughest environments. The story was told by Frank Marshall in 1993 pic Alive. The Out Of Competition screening will take place September 9.
🌈 Matty Healy, the 1975 frontman, went viral after making an appearance at the Good Vibes Festival in Malaysia. The singer took a moment from the band’s performance to protest the local anti-LGBTQ laws and kissed a male bandmate on stage. Following the protest, organizers of the music festival released a statement announcing the event had been canceled. |
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BY THE NUMBERS
$250 - The fine levied on Universal by the City of Los Angeles for cutting a row of ficus trees that provided shade to picketers |
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Trending  The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team started off on the good foot at the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Team USA thumped Vietnam, 3-0, and Fox Sports said the Group E opening match scored almost 5.3 million total viewers, peaking at 6.5 million. It was the second-most watched Group Stage telecast on English language television.
🔻 The fallout for Danny Masterson continues. The actor, who co-starred in the Fox sitcom That '70s Show is not included in the 25th anniversary activation around the series at San Diego Comic-Con. He is conspicuously missing from a shot of the main ensemble cast at the activation behind the Omni hotel. Masterson was found guilty of two counts of forcible rape in his retrial in May and faces up to 30 years behind bars at his sentencing next month. |
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OBITUARIES
🕯 Vince Hill, a frequent UK radio and television star best known for his 1967 hit, “Edelweiss,” has died at age 89. Born in Holbrooks, Coventry, Hill worked with big bands and vocal groups before his first solo success in 1962. During a career spanning six decades, he released 25 studio albums, recorded movie theme songs, and performed internationally at venues including the Sydney Opera House. 🕯 Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2023: Photo Gallery & Obituaries |
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On the Radar
Tue - Spotify, Snap and Alphabet earnings; CNBC and Boardroom's Game Plan conference in LA
Wed - Mattel and Meta earnings
Thu - Comcast and Roku earnings; Pete Davidson arraigned in reckless driving case |
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