This weekend is arguably the most important of the year when it comes to cinemas. After much anticipation, two of the most highly anticipated movies of the season are being released: Barbie and Oppenheimer. The first is Greta Gerwig’s latest gem, which has been generating buzz for months thanks to its impressive marketing and its two lead actors, Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. And the second is the epic new story from Christopher Nolan, one of the directors known for consistently bringing in good box office numbers.
To celebrate this double event, many theaters have prepared double features that offer the opportunity to watch both movies back-to-back. And of course, social media has been flooded with memes, dubbing this phenomenon as “Barbenheimer.” However, this is not the first time something similar has happened. Over the past few decades, there have been other major movies that were released on the same weekend. As compiled by Screen Rant, here are a few examples.
Jumanji and Heat
On December 15, 1995, audiences had a double date with two magical movies of the time: Jumanji and Heat. While Robin Williams embarked on the family comedy that grossed $262 million, Al Pacino and Robert De Niro starred in this gripping action film that earned $87 million. Despite being very different, both movies managed to connect with their respective audiences.
Batman and Honey, I’ve shrunk the kids
On June 23, 1989, two highly significant movies were released in the United States. Tim Burton‘s Batman, the new interpretation of the DC Comics hero in the best possible hands, conquered the world and grossed over $411 million at the box office. But on the same day, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, a comedy directed by Joe Johnston, also debuted and achieved an impressive $222 million.
Spaceballs and Full Metal Jacket
In this case, we have two releases that went somewhat unnoticed at the time but later became cult classics. Spaceballs, Mel Brooks’ parody of Star Wars, premiered on June 26, 1987, in the United States. On the same day, Stanley Kubrick released one of his most memorable films: Full Metal Jacket. Their target audiences were not even similar, but their releases generated buzz at the time. Spaceballs grossed $38 million, while Full Metal Jacket earned $46 million.
Toy Story and Casino
They say that 1995 was one of the greatest years in cinema, and this double feature clearly shows why. Toy Story, Pixar’s first major film, premiered on November 22, 1995, on the same day as Martin Scorsese’s Casino. Toy Story undoubtedly came out on top, grossing $394 million. Meanwhile, Scorsese’s film earned $116 million, which is quite impressive for a film of its kind.
Matrix and 10 reasons to hate you
The Matrix phenomenon was a major surprise in the late 20th century, and perhaps due to this factor, it coincided with another major release when it hit theaters on March 31, 1999. 10 Things I Hate About You, a teen comedy directed by Gil Junger, also premiered on the same day but only managed to gross $53 million compared to The Matrix’s $467 million from the Wachowski Sisters’ film.
Blade Runner and The Thing
On June 25, 1982, two films were released that actually share many similarities as cult classics in the science fiction genre. Blade Runner, Ridley Scott’s masterpiece that left a lasting impact, premiered on the same day as The Thing, one of the most highly regarded horror films in history directed by John Carpenter. Blade Runner emerged as the box office victor, earning over $41 million compared to The Thing’s $19 million.
Elf and Love Actually
On November 3, 2003, two beloved Christmas classics were released that we will never forget: Love Actually and Elf. Once again, these were two different films targeting different audiences, but they achieved very similar results. While Elf grossed $227 million, Love Actually reached $247 million at the box office.
Django Unchained and Les Miserables
Competing against a Quentin Tarantino film always means losing the battle, but that was not the case for Les Misérables. The musical starring Hugh Jackman, released on December 25, 2012, was an incredible success, grossing $442 million. On the other hand, Django Unchained achieved $425 million, slightly less but still proving that Tarantino is always synonymous with triumph.
The Dark Knight and Mamma Mia!
Perhaps the most memorable battle on the list took place on July 18, 2008. Christopher Nolan once again clashed with fantasy in his sequel to Batman Begins, while Phyllida Lloyd’s Mamma Mia! captivated audiences of multiple generations. Batman emerged victorious with over $1 billion in box office revenue, but Mamma Mia! was not far behind, raking in $694 million.
Ghostbusters and Gremlins
One of the fiercest battles on this list took place between Ghostbusters and Gremlins, two timeless gems from the 1980s, on June 8, 1984. Both films debuted with just a one-million-dollar difference, but soon the ghosts triumphed over the creatures; Ghostbusters grossed $296 million, while Gremlins reached $153 million.
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