[ad_1]
Barbie fever hit the UK today with hundreds of super fans waking up at the crack of dawn to race across the country to catch a glimpse of the first viewings of the much-anticipated films in the capital.
Greta Gerwig’s satire will go head-to-head in the global box office against Christopher Nolan’s intense drama Oppenheimer, which is about the scientist who first created the atomic bomb.
The two major titles were released simultaneously today with thousands of fans deciding to buy tickets for both shows leading to a spawning phenomenon known as Barbenheimer.
At Leicester Square movie fans gathered to watch begin their movie-marathons at the Vue Cinema, with one couple watching Openheimer at 4.10am still dressed in their pyjamas.
Amongst them was film maker Mitch Corrigan, 22, who left his home in Somserset just after midnight today to watch the serious Openheimer followed by some light relief with Barbie.
Eager fans gathered this morning at the Vue in Leicester Square to watch Openheimer and Barbie. Amongst them was Mitch Corrigan (22) who woke up just after midnight to travel from Somerset for the viewing
Margot Robbie fan Aaliyah Valentine, 17, was amongst the super fans waiting to see Barbie
Greta Gerwig’s satire will go head-to-head in the global box office against Christopher Nolan’s intense drama Oppenheimer
He told MailOnline: ‘I’m inspired to see Barbie after Oppenheimer, it finished about half an hour ago.
‘I’m not confident it’s going to be better but it might be what I need right now. I’m in London see a little life but thought I’d come and see a few films, I’m hoping to catch Mission Impossible and another maybe.’
Mr Corrigan admitted he had ‘never gone this mental before’ with film viewings.
Aaliyah Valentine, 17, is watching Barbie as a priority before catching Openheimer later on today.
She said: ‘I’ve been really looking forward since I heard about the Barbie film, I was really exited because when I was younger I used to play with Barbie’s so it’s like I grew up with her.
‘I really like Margot Robbie, I’ve seen her in suicide squad and her other films so I like her as an actress.’
Simon Humphrey, 42, who works in a bookshop and is on holiday in London said: ‘I watch a lot of films and I have never seen a film be so sold out on so many screenings. I looked here (vue), Cineworld, one on Tottenham Court Road just to get a good viewing time.’
Both films spent $100 million each on production costs but are expected to rake in millions. Pictured: The Vue Cinema in Leicester Square
A cinema worker – dressed in pink – opening the doors at The Vue Cinema Leicester Square this morning
Fans up and down the country raced to buy their tickets to see one of the first showings of Gerwig’s Barbie
One man from Michigan in the United States said: ‘I’m a big movie guy. I went to the Cannes film festival this year and I see most decent films. Commercially I think Barbie will live up to the hype.’
Emily, 18, added: ‘I have always loved Barbie, grew up playing with them and Margot Robbie is just Barbie to me. The sound track -of what I’ve heard – is really good.
‘I really like the Barbieheimer hype. Rather than pitting the two against eachother, they are all coming together and embracing it – both casts as well. Hopefully I’ll catch Oppenheimer on Sunday.’
Both films are set to rake in millions after spending $100m each on production costs.
So far the Odeon has reported that more than 300 screenings have sold out for both films and predicts it will sell a million tickets in the next week alone.
Cineworld expects to enjoy its biggest weekend in terms of ticket sales for years, having already sold 200,000 in advance.
The chain has branded it the biggest opening since the record-breaking Avengers: Endgame in 2019, which brought in £276m over its first weekend alone.
Greta Gerwig’s Barbie sees Margot Robbie, 33, leading the cast as the eponymous Barbie doll alongside her boyfriend Ken, played by Ryan Gosling, 42.
The cast is a who’s who of Hollywood powerhouses, with Will Ferrell playing the CEO of Mattel, and Helen Mirren the narrator.
It follows Barbie who leaves her ‘perfect’ life as a doll and sets out to explore the complexities of being a woman in the real world.
Meanwhile Oppenheimer features an all-star cast and is led by Cillian Murphy, who plays the theoretical physicist who helped develop the atomic bomb, J. Robert Oppenheimer.
The movie also boasts a stellar cast including Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., and Matt Damon.
[ad_2]
Source link
