Barbenheimer Meaning and Origin: How Was The Meme Born?

By: Olena

Posted: July 20, 2023

Updated: July 20, 2023

July 21 is here, so it’s time for Barbenheimer!
Are you team Barbie or team Oppenheimer?
If you don't understand what's going on, just scroll down!

July 21 is here, meaning it’s time for Barbenheimer! Even if you are far from being a movie fan, you should have heard about this term because it was everywhere on the internet. This online phenomenon emerged in 2022 and invaded social media in the summer of 2023, but what is it about? Here’s an explanation of the Barbenheimer meaning and origin for those who just happened to learn about this unusual string of letters.

Barbenheimer Meaning and Origin

So, what is Barbenheimer? It is a blend of titles of two upcoming Hollywood movies, Barbie and Oppenheimer. Both films premiere on the same day July 21, 2023, and come from completely different genres. While Greta Gerwig’s Barbie is a sweet fantasy comedy based on the famous doll of the same name, Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer is a long biographical movie about physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, who helped to develop the first nuclear bomb during World War II. Besides the premiere date, the two films have nothing in common. Why did the Barbenheimer meaning and origin become a big deal for internet users? The answer is simple. An extreme difference between both films’ genres and visuals (Barbie takes place in a plastic pinky world; Oppenheimer is made in dark & realistic tones) and the same release day made Barbenheimer the biggest movie meme in recent history. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA6l2d_Z2v8 It caused a massive response from people, including the emergence of various memes, merchandise, and video compilations that jokingly compared Nolan’s thriller about the most dangerous weapon in the world with the bubbly universe, created by Gerwig. As a result, Barbie and Oppenheimer became some of the most-awaited movies of the year. Even online sportsbooks in Australia offer many markets, so you can bet on these two competitors. For example, odds on both movies’ box office predictions are available at 22Bet.

Barbenheimer Impact on Popular Culture

Without a doubt, Barbenheimer is the biggest event in recent movie history. Not only it became a hilarious internet meme and made everyone talk about Barbie and Oppenheimer. It caused the emergence of crossover videos and dark-humor posters, for example, where the main Barbie character poses with the nuclear explosion at the background. Also, it helped small businesses, like printing shops and clothing brands. You can now buy a Barbenheimer T-shirt in online stores, while your Google page will turn pink if you search for a Barbie movie, its cast members Margot Robbie & Ryan Gosling, or director Greta Gerwig. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvW9gI3tqAs Moreover, the meme helped both movies to gain people's attention. Thus, Barbie is now predicted to gross almost twice more during the first weekend than it was predicted. Oppenheimer falls a bit behind, but its odds at online gambling sites in Australia to do well in the opening weekend are still fine. It is worth adding to the Barbenheimer meaning and origin that Barbie can be the first mainstream female-centered movie in years to become actually successful, both critically and financially.

How to Watch Barbie and Oppenheimer?

As we have mentioned, both Barbie and Oppenheimer premiere on the same day - Friday, July 21. If you want to start with a summer cotton candy comedy, you are in the Barbieheimer team, meaning you’re seeing Gerwig’s movie first. Don’t forget to check our Barbie movie betting markets too! Alternatively, you can choose team Oppenbarbie if you’re coming to the cinema to support Nolan’s biopic in the first place. No matter what you prefer, watching both movies on the same day matters, as it was exactly the Barbenheimer meaning and origin! Note that the film starring Margot Robbie lasts 114 min, while Oppenheimer’s running time is 180 min. However, some theaters even schedule both movies next to each other, so you can watch them one after the other and join the Barbenheimer party this July.