"Barbie and 'Oppenheimer' Dominate Box Office, Defying Audience Demand for Originality"

Warner Bros.' "Barbie" and Universal's "Oppenheimer" are expected to be the highlight of the year for movie theaters as the box office continues to lag behind pre-pandemic levels. The strong preview sales for "Barbie" suggest a three-day weekend total between $140 million and $175 million, surpassing expectations. Despite some summer movie disappointments, the "Barbenheimer" weekend, along with an August loaded with six new wide releases, is expected to give the box office a late summer boost. However, the future of the box office is uncertain due to ongoing strikes in Hollywood, which could impact cinema operators and media companies.