The big day is finally here, with 2 of the biggest movie releases of the year (aka last few years…) both premiering in Aussie cinemas today. And after the bright-pink fever dream that was the Barbie PR campaign, Christopher Nolan’s star-studded Oppenheimer was always going to be the underdog, with the biopic projected to make a respectable US$50 million in its opening weekend, compared to Barbie’s $100 million. The so-called ‘Barbenheimer’ dual premiere is proving to be a boon for the box office, with US cinemas reporting a surge in ticket sales for double feature screenings of the films. And analysts say the phenomenon could even boost the fortunes of other new releases as moviegoers rediscover their love of the big screen post-pandemic. As long as films start getting made again, given the writers’/actors’ strike. And as long as Barbie’s PR team leaves the popcorn alone…