Tom Cruise, the renowned Hollywood figure, has made a statement regarding his viewing preferences between the upcoming films Barbie and Oppenheimer. Both movies are highly anticipated releases scheduled to hit theaters on July 21 and have been thrust into significant box office competition, generating considerable buzz. The Greta Gerwig-directed Barbie, inspired by the popular Mattel toy, features Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in leading roles, while Christopher Nolan’s biographical thriller explores the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer’s creation of the nuclear bomb. This clash of films has been playfully referred to as “Barbenheimer” on various social media platforms.

During his visit to Sydney to mark his 61st birthday and attend the Australian premiere of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, Tom Cruise shared his thoughts on the simultaneous releases of Barbie and Oppenheimer, which are slated to hit theaters a week after his own film. In an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, the iconic actor expressed his intention to watch both movies. Cruise emphasized his continued enthusiasm for the cinematic experience, affirming, “I adore watching films on the grand scale of the big screen.”
How Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One Could Fare Against Barbie & Oppenheimer

Tom Cruise, who has achieved remarkable success and longevity in the film industry, is facing a significant challenge this summer as his Mission: Impossible franchise competes with both Barbie and Oppenheimer. The highly anticipated installment, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, is set to release on July 12. Reports suggest that Cruise has expressed concerns about the other films occupying IMAX screens, which could potentially impact the box office performance of his own movie. Given the massive success of Top Gun: Maverick, which grossed a staggering $1.496 billion in 2022, there is considerable attention on the performance of Mission: Impossible 7 and its ability to captivate audiences.
Despite Tom Cruise’s concerns about Mission: Impossible 7 losing IMAX screens to other releases like Barbie and Oppenheimer, early indicators suggest that the film is poised to perform well at the box office. The previous installment of the franchise surpassed the $800 million mark, and there are expectations that Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning could even reach the coveted $1 billion milestone. This could potentially place it ahead of both Barbie and Oppenheimer, despite the competition it faces from other films like Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
Projections for Mission: Impossible 7 are positive, while initial box office predictions indicate that Barbie may have a stronger opening compared to Oppenheimer. It’s worth noting that although the report mentions Cruise’s dissatisfaction with the loss of IMAX screens, he has been actively supportive of both Barbie and Oppenheimer. He has encouraged audiences to embrace the theatrical experience and watch a wide range of films this summer. The battle between Barbie and Oppenheimer could mark a resurgence of the classic summer blockbuster showdowns that were once a hallmark of Hollywood’s box office landscape.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald