Why Are 'Barbie' And 'Oppenheimer,' Two Wildly Different Movies, Memed Together So Frequently?

As blockbuster films Barbie and Oppenheimer make their final marketing push before their summer debuts, chances are you've seen plenty of memes that pair them together in bizarre ways. The two films make unexpected meme bedfellows, as Oppenheimer is about J. Robert Oppenheimer, the man who famously constructed the atomic bomb in World War II, and Barbie is about Barbie.

Why Are Barbie and Oppenheimer Memed Together?

There are several factors that have made the two films a bizarre pair but somewhat fitting pair in memes. For starters, they coincidentally share a release date of July 21st, 2023. Additionally, the films are both directed by esteemed auteurs in Greta Gerwig (Barbie) and Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer).

Many are anticipating that they'll both be good movies, despite their wildly disparate subject matters. Thus, a meme-centric rivalry between the two films was born, as it seems clear there will be Barbie people and Oppenheimer people.

What Are Barbie vs. Oppenheimer Memes?

While the films themselves are certainly competing with each other for opening weekend box office numbers, memes pitting the two against each other are usually playful and made in good humor, heightening the stark tonal difference between them.

Though there are naturally some users who express they'll see one over another, the vast majority of memes imagine seeing the two films one after another, suggesting that despite being in competition, the films may actually boost each others' attendance numbers.

Some have suggested, perhaps insincerely, that the two films collaborate on their marketing, which admittedly could have disastrous results for humanity but would be very funny.

For more information, check out 'Barbie' vs. 'Oppenheimer' on Know Your Meme.