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In
a battle dubbed "Barbenheimer" on social media, both movies
enjoyed sold-out screenings across the country, with many fans
flocking to the big screens dressed in pink to emulate the
plastic doll.
The two films have given a much-needed lift to movie theatres
after many earlier releases fell flat this year.
Greta Gerwig, who helmed "Barbie", beat the record for the
biggest opening for a film directed by a woman.
"Oppenheimer", starring Irish actor Cillian Murphy as the
American scientist who developed the atomic bomb, also secured
director Christopher Nolan's second-biggest UK opening weekend.
Cinema operator Vue International said it had enjoyed its
biggest weekend since "Avengers: Endgame" opened in 2019, with
"Barbie" on track to become the biggest film of 2023.
"Barbie", which stars Margot Robbie, also ruled in U.S. and
Canadian theatres, taking an estimated $155 million to set the
record for the biggest domestic opening of 2023.
The British Film Institute's weekend box office figures will be
released on Wednesday.
($1 = 0.7793 pounds)
(Reporting by Farouq Suleiman, Editing by Paul Sandle)
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