Barbenheimer blows up, brands rush in

Greta Gerwig's Barbie and Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer have spawned a cultural phenomenon that refuses to die down, and brands want in on it

by exchange4media Staff
Published: Jul 24, 2023 10:02 AM | 3 min read

Two blockbuster movies, with two diametrically different themes, brought together by fate and a joint release date. We are talking about perhaps the biggest head-to-head collisions in the history of cinema -- Barbie vs Oppenheimer, which has spawned a cultural chimera called the "Barbenheimer."

Greta Gerwig's Barbie and Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer are as different as night and day, which makes Barbenheimer all the more diverting for netizens. Barbie is more light-hearted while Oppenheimer is more sombre centred on the eponymous American theoretical physicist named the country's "father of the atomic bomb." Even the colour schemes of both movies are contrasting with candy shades dominating Barbie's colour palette and a sea of blue, grey and brown in Oppenheimer.

The whole idea started out as a joke initially with the internet spawning memes centred on the differences between the two. Today, it has into such a big cultural phenomenon that even brands are vying to be a part of it.

Here's how brands like Swiggy, Zomato and Uber tried to hitch their wagon to the Barbenheimer train.

Ajio

2 tickets for the Barbie and Oppenheimer movie please pic.twitter.com/JtZo7ypxMG

— AJIO (@AJIOLife) July 21, 2023

Blinkit

1 ticket for 1 ticket for
Barbie Oppenheimer
please please pic.twitter.com/pMXcgdWZkf
— Blinkit (@letsblinkit) July 19, 2023

Bumble India

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A post shared by Bumble India (@bumble_india)

Coca Cola

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A post shared by Coca-Cola India (@cocacola_india)

Durex

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A post shared by Durex India (@durex.india)

eTukTuk

Lights, Camera, #Barbenheimer! ??

Can't decide which blockbuster to catch?

Join the fun and choose your side - Are you Team Barbie ? or Team Oppenheimer ?? pic.twitter.com/1jkalasmaM
— eTukTuk (@eTukTukio) July 22, 2023

McDowells

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A post shared by McDowell's No1 (@mcdowellsno1)

Tinder

y'all might wanna take notes ?? pic.twitter.com/c9149bUjsr
— Tinder India (@Tinder_India) July 20, 2023

Swiggy

which side are you on? ? pic.twitter.com/Q71DeZLoOj
— Swiggy (@Swiggy) July 21, 2023

Uber

Petition to declare 21st July a holiday for celebrating #Barbenheimer ?#BarbieTheMovie #Barbie #OppenheimerFilm #Oppenheimer pic.twitter.com/a6xZ5YFtjA
— Uber India (@Uber_India) July 20, 2023

Times Prime

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McCain

Happy #Barbenheimer weekend! ??

Satisfy your hunger pangs with McCain French Fries & get ready to watch the films! ?#McCain #Barbie #Oppenheimer #Fries #MovieSnacks #FrenchFries #McCainFries #Marketing #MovieTime pic.twitter.com/BFjFa2Q2gC
— McCain Foods India (@McCainFoodsInd) July 22, 2023

PLE Computers

The Barbie and Oppenheimer movies are launching today! ?

Which movie are you going to see first?#Barbenheimer pic.twitter.com/N5blPDxZhZ
— PLE Computers (@PLEComputers) July 20, 2023

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