Is the pendulum finally on the way back? Is an era of good movies on the uptick? The movie landscape is bleak. Current films are just “okay” in terms of reviews, and make disappointing money. Who would have thought that the two films with the biggest tonal difference from the other are single-handedly blowing every other film out of the water? “Barbie” is about to usurp “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2” as Warner Bros. Pictures’ highest grossing film in history. It’s easily outpacing “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.”
It’s astounding some studios are baffled by this occurrence. Movies with originality are actually doing well?? Audiences don’t just want to be fed the same garbage wrapped up in a different package? Shocker! You’ll have to forgive our sarcasm, but most current films are mind-numbing. There are only so many CG-animated battles and explosions that you can watch before it all just starts feeling so much the same. “Barbie“‘s story is unique; wholly different from what you expect. People are drawn to it because it’s unusual. For the same reason that “Everything, Everywhere, All At Once” was so popular. “Barbie” has dared to be different.
WB’s other hit film “Oppenheimer” has grossed a phenomenal $777 million worldwide. It’s close to reaching $800 million very soon. (We’ll see how the premiere in China pans out.) It carries itself with an intense score, writing, and acting. Cillian Murphy‘s portrayal of J. Robert Oppenheimer is captivating. And many are curious about the man. Though knowing that the explosion of the atomic bomb is a practical effect more than likely had people flocking to the theaters. Even Sony’s “Gran Turismo” grossed a significant amount at the domestic box office. Who doesn’t love an underdog?
Barbenheimer’s astounding popularity is enough to turn all Hollywood heads. Amidst all the “go woke, go broke” nonsense, the highly positive, feminist film is breaking records like no one expected. It would be nice if this success wakes Hollywood up to the possibility that original films and stories might have greater lasting power than a dump truck full of remakes and “epic” battles.
