New Delhi: This week, Hollywood fans in India are in for a treat as two highly anticipated films of completely different genres are set to clash at the box office. Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer,' featuring Cillian Murphy in the lead role, and Greta Gerwig's 'Barbie', starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, are both vying for audience attention as they gear up for their theatrical releases. As the battle of the blockbusters heats up, early advance booking numbers have given Oppenheimer an impressive lead, with 90,000 tickets already sold for its opening day while Barbie has sold 16,000 tickets for its opening day.
As per figures posted by a trade analyst, Oppenheimer, which started its advance booking ten days ago, has sold 90,000 tickets across three multiple-screen chains of PVR, INOX and Cinepolis for the opening day while Barbie, which opened advance bookings recently, has sold 16,000 tickets for its first day.
‘Oppenheimer’ is a biographical drama based on the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the renowned theoretical physicist widely known as the "father of the atomic bomb." Drawing inspiration from the Pulitzer Prize-winning book "American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer" by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, the film boasts an all-star ensemble cast, including Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, and Florence Pugh.
One intriguing aspect that has caught the attention of fans and critics alike is the preparation Cillian Murphy put into portraying J. Robert Oppenheimer. During an interview with Sucharita Tyagi, the actor revealed that he read the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred Hindu scripture, in preparation for the role. Oppenheimer himself was a student of Sanskrit and famously quoted the Gita upon witnessing the success of the first atomic bomb test, saying, "Now I have become Death, the destroyer of worlds."
Meanwhile, 'Barbie' promises a delightful adventure, taking audiences on a journey of self-discovery with Margot Robbie as the iconic doll and Ryan Gosling as her companion Ken. The film features a star-studded cast, including America Ferrera, Simu Liu, Dua Lipa, Emerald Fennell, Issa Rae, Kate McKinnon, Michael Cera, and Will Ferrell.
Despite its charm and marketing, 'Barbie' has some ground to cover in the race for audience attention in India.
As the battle between Oppenheimer and Barbie intensifies, early box office predictions for "Oppenheimer" also look promising. According to a report in 123Telugu.com, the film is estimated to gross between ₹10-15 crore on its opening day in India.
With Oppenheimer's advance bookings off to a flying start and Barbie's allure promising a heartwarming adventure, Hollywood enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the clash of these cinematic powerhouses on the silver screen.