Exclusive: Tom Cruise Finally Answers: Who's His First Choice - Barbie or Oppenheimer?

Hollywood legend Tom Cruise has disclosed his decision on which movie he will watch first between Barbie and Oppenheimer. These highly anticipated films are scheduled to hit theaters on July 21 and are expected to have a monumental box office showdown. Barbie, directed by Greta Gerwig and featuring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, will compete head-to-head with Christopher Nolan's gripping biographical thriller about J. Robert Oppenheimer and his creation of the atomic bomb. The clash between the two films has gained attention on social media, with fans playfully referring to it as "Barbenheimer."

During his visit to Sydney to celebrate his 61st birthday and attend the Australian premiere of Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One, Cruise spoke with The Sydney Morning Herald about the upcoming releases of Barbie and Oppenheimer. Despite the release of the highly-anticipated seventh installment of his iconic action spy franchise, Cruise expressed his excitement for both movies and his continued love for the cinema experience. He shared that he plans to watch both films, stating, "I love seeing movies on the big screen."

“I want to see both Barbie and Oppenheimer. I’ll see them opening weekend. Friday I’ll see Oppenheimer first and then Barbie on Saturday.”

How Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One Could Fare Against Barbie & Oppenheimer

Cruise's career in the film industry has been exceptionally successful and enduring. This summer, his Mission: Impossible franchise will face competition from Barbie and Oppenheimer, as Dead Reckoning is set to be released on July 12. Cruise has been vocal about his concern that the IMAX screens being occupied by other movies might impact the box office success of Dead Reckoning. After the immense success of Top Gun: Maverick, which grossed $1.496 billion at the box office in 2022, there is a lot of anticipation surrounding the performance of Mission: Impossible 7.

Although Cruise's concerns may have some validity, it appears that Mission: Impossible 7 is on track to perform well, considering the previous installment's success in surpassing the $800 million milestone. It is even plausible for Dead Reckoning to achieve the highly coveted $1 billion mark, which would enable it to outperform both Barbie and Oppenheimer, despite facing challenges such as the loss of IMAX screens and competition from Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. The projected success of Mission: Impossible 7 is evident, as early box office predictions indicate Barbie will open ahead of Oppenheimer. It should be noted that despite reports of Cruise's dissatisfaction with Dead Reckoning losing IMAX screens, he has shown great support for both Barbie and Oppenheimer, urging audiences to watch a diverse range of films in theaters this summer. The competition between Barbie and Oppenheimer may ignite a resurgence of the traditional battle for the summer blockbuster, reminiscent of Hollywood's glory days.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald