via Twitter
Barbie and Oppenheimer are two highly anticipated movies with contrasting tones that are coincidentally releasing on the same day later this month. Movie enthusiasts from around the world are now generating memes that blend the worlds of these two very different films.
For those who aren’t aware, Barbie is a film adaptation of the beloved Mattel toy line, combining elements from movies like The Lego Movie and Elf. The main protagonist, portrayed by Margot Robbie, exists in her own fantasy realm and embarks on an adventure in the real world through a Matrix-esque plot device involving a choice between a high heel and a Birkenstock. On the other hand, Oppenheimer could not be more different; it is a rated-R biopic about physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his pivotal role in the development of America’s first atomic bomb, featuring Cillian Murphy in a long-awaited leading role in a Christopher Nolan film.
The first instance of combining the two titles that came to my attention was a T-shirt shared on Twitter about a month ago, which was a bizarre fusion of the two intellectual properties, resulting in the creation of the term “Barbenheimer,” which, to the best of my knowledge, has never been used before and would have made Mary Shelley herself shudder.
Since then, this T-shirt, with its striking contrast between pink and black, has remained etched in my mind. Weeks later, I decided to check if “Barbenheimer” was a phrase trending on Twitter, and to my dismay, it had become a niche meme. As unsettling as this development was, I must commend the talented individual who created an animated mashup depicting Oppenheimer transforming into everyone’s favorite blonde bombshell, wearing a maniacal grin as a pink blast engulfs the landscape behind her.
Another Twitter account proclaimed July as Barbenheimer Month, accompanied by a collage featuring the two titular characters, which would likely receive a failing grade in an art class.
Various popular Twitter accounts dedicated to movie updates further propagated the meme over the weekend.
Sometimes, a simple trailer mashup is enough to convince us that combining the two movies might result in hilarious antics.
Swapping iconic lines between the two characters makes us wish for a Barbenheimer cinematic universe.
Moreover, the drip choices showcased in the memes provide us with great ideas on what to wear during the inevitable double-feature experience, much like Tom Cruise recently enjoyed.
It appears that the term Barbenheimer has also become a shorthand for discussing which film to watch first in a double-feature scenario.
The Barbenheimer craze has gained so much traction that even the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), a non-governmental nonprofit organization focused on global nuclear disarmament, felt compelled to issue an official statement on the matter. Yes, you read that right. It was the real NTI Twitter account, complete with a blue checkmark.
Specifically, when it comes to the double feature, NTI recommends watching Oppenheimer first, taking an intermission to fully “recover physically and emotionally,” and then proceeding to watch Barbie.
“This will allow the viewer ample time to deeply contemplate the message of the film and the existential threats that nuclear weapons still pose to our world. Only then can Barbie be fully appreciated in all her fluorescent glory,” stated the nonprofit.
The organization also emphasized their commitment to creating a safer world for all beings, regardless of whether they are made of plastic or not, including Barbie and Ken.
The Barbenheimer global event will kick off when both Oppenheimer and Barbie hit theaters on July 21.
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