It seems like there might be a gender divide on the blockbuster movies to see this weekend. The top two anticipated movies pit Universal and Warner Brothers against each other for who will make the most on opening weekend. Universal has Oppenheimer, a movie about a bomb. The atomic bomb, that is. Warner Bros has Barbie, a movie about a bomb. The bombshell revelation Barbie has about her very existence, that is. OK saying they’re both about bombs is a bit of a stretch but neither will bomb at the box office, that’s pretty clear.
The clash is catching on nationwide in what’s being called Barbenheimer.
The A-listers in both of these films include (Barbie) Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Will Ferrell, Michael Cera, Kate McKinnon, America Ferrera, and Issa Rae, John Cena, and more… and (Oppenheimer) Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, and more.
Guys vs. Girls. Barbie is obviously everything pink and girly. Oppenheimer is bombs and war, things usually associated with guys. I’ve already seen a few playful references from movie-goers (guys) joking about which film they’ll be watching this weekend. It’s almost as if it’s taboo for a guy to admit he’s going to see Barbie. Of course, why would a guy go see Barbie unless it’s a dad with his daughters, or a guy on a date? Cinematically, both films will be pretty extraordinary so that’s a valid reason to see either, whether you’re a dude or a dudette.
Always Tie Things Back to Taylor. This is very much aligned with my thoughts on Taylor Swift concerts, not to totally change the subject or anything. My nieces (7 in total) have all seen Taylor live on her Eras Tour, so I’ve wondered… besides dads and boyfriends, how many guys are going to a Taylor Swift concert for the singular reason of enjoying her music? There are definitely gay guys who’ll go to a show for their love of all things Taylor, but straight men with no daughter and no date? Those guys are not buying tickets to Taylor.
They’re also not buying tickets to see Barbie this weekend. They’ll suppress any inkling of a desire to see it until it’s streaming so they can watch it in the comfort of their own home… in private, as to not embarrass themselves in front of their rough and tough homies.
And if they do have tickets to Barbie and someone catches them in the theater, asking what they’re about to see… 99 times out of 100 they’ll say, “Oppenheimer.”
-Out of the Wilderness
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