‘The Barbenheimer effect’: Barbie and Oppenheimer smash Australian box office records

Both blockbusters broke a variety of opening weekend records, in a double feature that's enticing film lovers back to cinemas

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The Barbenheimer" effect has taken its hold over the Australian box office, with the release of blockbuster movies Barbie and Oppenheimer breaking a slew of local cinema records across their first weekend.

The Greta Gerwig-directed Barbie movie has made $21.5m at the box office since the film opened on Wednesday night. It was the biggest opening weekend for a movie released in Australia in 2023, more than double the nearest rival, The Super Mario Bros Movie, which collected $10.5m in ticket sales.

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