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- The Barbie and Oppenheimer debut was the biggest opening weekend for Ster-Kinekor since the Covid pandemic.
- Both films have enjoyed global financial success.
- Ticket sales for both films continue to perform well for Ster-Kinekor.
Barbie and Oppenheimer have enjoyed global financial success and continue to perform well at the box-office. Barbie recently broke the $1 billion mark, breaking multiple records, including highest grossing film for a women director. Oppenheimer has crossed the $600 million line and has become one of the highest-grossing R-rated films ever made.
Due to their shared release date, the films became subject to the Barbenheimer online trend.
The two have seen world-wide popularity and South Africa is no different – all the proof is in their opening weekend.
READ MORE | Removed from plasticity and infused with existential dread, Barbie is for both lovers and haters
"The 21 July weekend was Ster-Kinekor’s biggest opening weekend by far, in the post-Covid environment," said Lynne Wylie, chief marketing officer for Ster-Kinekor.
The two film's ticket performances initially exceeded expectations - and they still are.
"Ticket sales for both films continue to perform extremely well for Ster-Kinekor, three weeks after release," Wylie shared.
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Oppenheimer was especially a hit with IMAX audiences. "[Oppenheimer had] sold-out shows for the opening and following weekend in all our IMAX cinemas" Wylie shared.
With the success of Barbie, Ster-Kinekor sold Barbie merchandise at limited cinemas that proved to be popular among fans.
"Two big titles both opening on the same day is great for cinema as people want to see them first and in the way they were made to be viewed: on the big screen," Wylie stated.
ALSO READ | Ster-Kinekor bets on drive-in cinema under the stars
Big film titles with tons of marketing like Barbie and Oppenheimer are effective in driving more traffic into cinemas. Super Mario Bros Movie, Fast & Furious 10, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One and The Little Mermaid are all other examples from this year as well.
This year is especially ripe with big titles, since the release date for many films were held back during the pandemic.
However, the Hollywood strikes of actors and writers are still causing titles to be delayed. With entertainment workers demanding more fair pay and better terms with regards to their work, films cannot receive their usual promotion.
ALSO READ | Hollywood 'double strike': what it means
Cinema is very much alive, despite incessant talk of its demise in the face of technological advancement, according to Wylie.
For Ster-Kinekor, they believe that cinemas can co-exist with streaming services.
"Cinema plays a different role to streaming services; we see them more as complementary, rather than competition, as we all navigate this post-Covid world," she said.
"Both are entertainment options, and both have, and will always have, their place."
With Covid initially proving to be a major challenge for cinemas, they are starting to see significant recovery. "We do believe that we are on track to get back to pre-Covid attendances," she said.
However, loadshedding still presents another challenge for cinemas.
"Loadshedding has impacted our cinemas and affected some of the screening times, the fact that we have already installed generators at 34 out of our total 44 cinema complexes around the country, ensures that people can always come and watch a movie."
According to Wylie, the cinema will always offer a unique experience for consumers.
"One of the major benefits of cinema is that you get to see the big blockbusters first as they were made to be seen, on the big screen, which is something no streaming platform can offer."
Wylie continues:
