- By Parina Taneja
- Tue, 25 Jul 2023 10:18 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
'Oppenheimer' and 'Barbie' have been ruling the box office in India and worldwide since their release on July 21. While the films are from two very different worlds of filmmaking, an instant craze about both of them has led to their humungous success in the first weekend itself. Directed by Christopher Nolan, 'Oppenheimer' is based on the 2005 biography 'American Prometheus' by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin and tells the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer. On the other hand, 'Barbie', directed by Greta Gerwig, is a fantasy comedy film based on Barbie Fashion models. Touted as one of the biggest clashes of the year; the two films walked hand in hand to the road of success rather than undermining each other.
Even before this glorious clash, Tom Cruise's 'Mission Impossible 7' carved a victory for itself in India by bringing the box office to life.
'Oppenheimer', 'Barbie', and 'Mission Impossible 7' managed to revive the lagging exhibition business and evict the deafening silence at the ticket windows with its otherworldly storylines, visual appeal, and talented performances. The films proved that 'Content is King' and Hollywood can outrun Bollywood even after the language and cultural barrier. According to trade analyst Taran Adarsh, "released in a span of two weeks, the three Hollywood biggies have filled the vacuum for cinemas across India." He further claimed, "The fantastic response to these three films at the Box Office has proved a blessing for the exhibition sector that was craving for good content, HouseFull boards and packed auditoriums."
Interestingly, Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer' also managed to break the 32-year-old record of Shah Rukh Khan's 'Pathaan' by bringing back the 'Housefull' board to Kashmir's only theatre.
Also Read: 'Barbie' IMDb Rating Is Shocking, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling-Starrer Ranked This Out Of 10, But Why?
Box Office Report
Cillian Murphy starrer 'Oppenheimer' is winning by the day at the box office. The film recorded an exceptional opening weekend in India, collecting Rs 60 crore. On the other hand, Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling starrer 'Barbie' minted Rs 18.50 crore approximately in the first weekend. It also broke the first-weekend record for a film directed by a woman.
Talking about 'Mission Impossible 7', the Christopher McQuarrie directorial earned Rs 30 crore in the first three days even after releasing mid-week. Marking the biggest opening for a Hollywood movie in India for 2023, MI7 collected Rs 74 cr gross in the first five days i.e. its 5-day extended weekend.
Looking at this box office report, it is clear that moviegoers want to watch a Hollywood film on the big screen more than anything else. Hollywood delivering back-to-back three blockbusters in the Indian market is a testament that the audience has evolved and will show love only if the content is good.
Before Hollywood dominated the business, South Films came and ruled over the ticket windows, leaving Bollywood behind. With 'Pathaan' the only exception, it is high time Bollywood starts churning numbers with credible movies that have all the ingredients of a good film.