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☆ Barbie is everywhere this summer. Here are the stocks that can benefit from the highly anticipated film
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

But can the same be said for Mattel shares? Mattel stock is up more about 19% on a year to date basis after a mixed start to the year. Into the Barbie release, the stock reflects the growing buzz. Mattel shares moved from $17.59 on June 1 to breaking into the $20 range for the first time since February. Though Barbie is not a typical film in the space given its adult audience, Jefferies analyst Andrew Uerkwitz said, it can still help Mattel sales incrementally.

Persons: Gordon Haskett, Don Bilson, Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Bilson, Goldman Sachs, Stephen Laszczyk, Davidson, Linda Bolton Weiser, Bolton Weiser, Barbie, Brett Feldman, Jefferies, Andrew Uerkwitz, Roth, David Bellinger, Bellinger, Mario, Morgan Stanley, Benjamin Swinburne, ramped, Oppenheimer, Laszczyk, David Karnovsky, Karnovsky, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Mattel, Warner Bros, Lions, Lions Gate, Hasbro, MAT, Analysts, Universal Pictures, Mario Bros, Hollywood, JPMorgan, CNBC, Alliance, Television Producers, Guild of America Locations: 2H23

[1/2] Margot Robbie poses on the pink carpet for the world premiere of the film "Barbie" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., July 9, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake /File PhotoLOS ANGELES, July 21 (Reuters) - Film fans headed to cinemas in Los Angeles for early screenings of frothy comedy "Barbie" and nuclear arms biopic "Oppenheimer" - a double feature billed as "Barbenheimer." "Barbie" stars Margot Robbie as the Mattel doll, who is living her idyllic life in Barbie World, until one day she starts having dark thoughts and flat feet. Many of the fans coming to see "Barbie" dressed up in pink and posed for pictures in a makeshift Barbie toy box. Reporting by Omar Younis and Rollo Ross in Los Angeles; Editing by Mary Milliken and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Margot Robbie, Mike Blake, Oppenheimer, Joey Litvak, Barbie, Mattel, Christopher Nolan, Cillian Murphy, J, Robert Oppenheimer, Jackie Brenneman, Cage, Claudia Ripper, Brenneman, Omar Younis, Rollo Ross, Mary Milliken, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, Hollywood, National Association of Theatre, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Los Angeles, LA

☆ Opinion: Ryan Gosling’s ‘Kenergy’ is all I need
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Opinion Holly Thomas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Everything changed when Ryan Gosling, the twice-Oscar-nominated star of “Half Nelson,” “La La Land,” “The Notebook,” “Blade Runner 2049” and “Drive” was sent the script for Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” movie. The film depicts Ken as pure superficiality, the acme beta man who exists only under the glow of Margot Robbie’s Barbie gaze. His platinum, almost white-bleached hair has lit up every interview, radiating the “Kenergy” he references like punctuation. Asked by one reporter how we might “find our Kenergy,” Gosling replied without missing a beat: “It’s there the whole time… Look no further. In becoming Ken, Gosling dashed one of Hollywood’s most tedious clichés, proving that it is possible to transform into a marshmallow-for-brains “himbo” without turning into an egomaniacal nightmare.

Persons: Holly Thomas, Katie Couric, CNN — Robert Pattinson, “, they’re, ” Holly Thomas Holly Thomas, Jared Leto’s, Viola Davis, ”, Daniel, Lewis, Oscar, Christy Brown, Ryan Gosling, Greta Gerwig’s “ Barbie, Ken, Margot Robbie’s Barbie, Gosling, Jimmy Fallon, “ Barbie, ” Gosling, ” Ryan Gosling, Margot Robbie, Barbie, Kenergy, husbanding, Hi, “ You’ll, Robbie, Gosling’s Barbie, —, that’s, it’s, Ken ”, It’s Barbie, “ Barbie ”, “ I’m Organizations: Katie Couric Media, CNN, acme, Warner Brothers Discovery, Warner Bros ., Alpha, Twitter Locations: London, La, Leicester, “

☆ 3 ways the Barbie movie could drive more upside for Mattel stock as weekend box-office projections top $150 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Matthew Fox | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The "Barbie" movie could drive material upside for Mattel stock, according to Goldman Sachs. The bank increased its Mattel price target to $24 as estimates suggest more than $150 million in ticket sales this weekend. These are the three reasons why Goldman expects the movie to drive financial upside for Mattel. These are the three factors that could help Mattel benefit from the potential success of the "Barbie" movie. A bonus reason exists for Mattel stock to benefit from the "Barbie" movie, and that's the possibility of Mattel licensing more of its intellectual property for content creation, according to the note.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Goldman, Margot Robbie, Barbie, Ryan Gosling, Ken, Christopher Nolan's, Oppenheimer, Warner Brothers, Mattel, Stephen Laszczyk, Laszczyk, J.J . Abrams Organizations: Mattel, Service, Privacy, BoxOffice Pro, Rotten Locations: Wall, Silicon, America

☆ Brands are pouring money into film and TV — meet 13 marketers making the biggest moves as Hollywood's new financiers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

It's not just Barbie — lots of big brands are getting serious about making Hollywood-style entertainment. Insider identified 13 new and established players making the biggest moves in the space. "Barbie" may be the movie of the summer, but lots of other big brands are getting serious about making Hollywood-style entertainment. Neutrogena: Neutrogena Studios launched in 2021 and is J&J Consumer's first brand-funded content studio to make feature documentaries and scripted shorts. PepsiCo: PepsiCo's Content Studio is led by veteran PepsiCo marketer Lou Arbetter.

Persons: It's, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer's, Oscar, Michael Sugar, Brian Newman, REI, Michael Sugar's, Jae Goodman, Lauren Denowitz, Coke, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard's, Selman Careaga, John Deere, Mara Downing, Al Roker, Jill Wilfert, Ryan Gosling, Margot Robbie, Barbie, Ken, Jaap Buitendijk, Robbie Brenner, J.J, Abrams, Lena Dunham, Barney, Daniel Kaluuya, J, Sebastian Garcia, Laurie Hernandez, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck's, Entertainment —, Justin Biskin —, Howard, Lou Arbetter, Max, Robert Rodriguez, Nadia Hallgre, Stanley Nelson, Arbetter, Procter, Kimberly Doebereiner, Paolo Mattola, Kyra Sedgwick, Watiti, Saint Laurent, Anthony Vaccarello, Saint, Pedro Almodóvar, Ethan Hawke, Pedro Pascal, it's, Paolo Sorrentino, David Cronenberg, Kelly Mullen, Bryce Dallas Howard, Lena Waithe, WePresent, Holly Fraser, Moses Sumney, Solange Knowles, Riz Ahmed, Aneil, Fraser Organizations: Hollywood, Procter, Gamble, Companies, Brands, Unilever, InBev, Waffle Iron Entertainment, draftLine Entertainment, Netflix, Coca Cola, Entertainment, Global, Deere, Warner Bros, Warner Brothers, Universal Studios, Mattel, Neutrogena Studios, Studio, Kerry, Seattle Film, Ghetto Film, HBO Nike, Nike, Waffle, Apple, HBO, PepsiCo, Pepsi Super, Showtime, Pepsi, G Studios, Imagine, Amazon's, Hulu, Paramount, Blue Fox Entertainment, Saint Laurent Productions, Unilever Entertainment, Imagine Entertainment, Monotype Locations: Hollywood, Kerry Washington, American, Cannes, Britain

☆ It's not just 'Barbie' — as Hollywood goes through upheaval, brands from Nike to John Deere are becoming the new financiers of film and TV
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

As studios cut spending and strikes shut down production, Hollywood can take some solace — brands are coming to the rescue. Brand Storytelling is an organization that's held a festival for brand content alongside the Sundance Film Festival for the past seven years. Brand film submissions have almost tripled to 160 in the past three years, according to Rick Parkhill, director and co-founder of Brand Storytelling. "Film directors need the work," said Marcus Peterzell, who left ad giant Omnicom to found Passion Point Collective, a brand film studio, in 2019. He's since made some 36 film projects for brands.

Persons: Greta Gerwig, Kyra Sedgwick, John Deere, Kimberly Doebereiner, Chris Paul, Mattel's Robbie Brenner, There's, Jill Lubochinski, Holly Fraser, WePresent, Ron Howard, Brian Grazer's, Reese Witherspoon's, Michael Sugar's Sugar23, we've, Marc Gilbar, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Gilbar, that's, Rick Parkhill, Riz Ahmed, WeTransfer, Vicky Grout, Parkill, Saint Laurent, Pedro Almodóvar, David Cronenberg, They're, Marcus Peterzell, Peterzell Organizations: Hollywood, Mattel, Nike, HBO, Procter & Gamble, Tide, Gillette, G Studios, Warner Bros, Discovery, PepsiCo, REI, Dallas Buyers, Sundance, Brand, Brands Locations: —, HBO's, Hollywood

☆ Jordan Henderson looks set to join a Saudi Arabian club. Once seen as an ally for LGBTQ groups, his move has drawn criticism
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

On Thursday, the BBC reported that Liverpool had agreed to Henderson joining Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq in a £12 million ($15.4 million) transfer. Liverpool and Al-Ettifaq did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment on Henderson’s widely reported impending transfer. Except Henderson’s transfer has attracted more scrutiny than those other players who have moved to Saudi Arabia. Henderson wears a rainbow captain's armband in support of the Rainbow Laces campaign during a match. The country regularly receives criticism for its treatment of LGBTQ people, women and migrant workers, as well as its human rights record.

Persons: Jordan Henderson’s, He’s, Jürgen Klopp’s, Henderson, Ettifaq, Ballon d’Or, Karim Benzema, N’Golo, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, Roberto Firmino –, Laurence Griffiths, ‘ Football Ally, Mr Henderson, ” “, ’, 3LionsPride, “, Robbie de Santos, Jordan Henderson, ” De Santos, ” Organizations: CNN, England, Liverpool, English Premier League, Champions League, BBC, Saudi Arabian, Saudi Professional League, Stonewall, ‘ Football, Human Rights, Ukraine, Twitter, LGBT, CNN Sport, Communications, Affairs Locations: Saudi Arabia, Dammam, Al, Saudi, England

☆ Barbie, Nike Air, Cheetos, Mario: Why Movies Are All About Brands Now
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Jared Holst | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

But the release of half a dozen movies about brands — Barbie, Flamin' Hot Cheetos, Tetris, Nike Air, BlackBerry, and Beanie Babies — in six months isn't just the result of Hollywood groupthink and coincidence. But just as these brand-centric movies ring hollow, so does the gig economy they're catering to. While the plot isn't about the making of Barbie, Barbie and Ken do step outside Barbie Land to peek behind the curtains of their creation.) As more companies look to gig workers to replace full-time jobs, more workers take up gig work. As the economy continues to emphasize the importance of self-branding through gig work, brand movies will continue to resonate.

Persons: Ryan, — Barbie, Flamin, isn't, Barbie, doggedly, Zach Galifianakis, Ty Warner, Ken, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Ben Affleck, —, it's, hadn't, they'd, it'd, Jared Holst, Jared Organizations: Nike Air, BlackBerry, Hollywood, Hulu, Mattel, Federal Trade Commission, Amazon, Economic, Institute, Brands Locations: American, New York, Brooklyn

☆ The best ways to support members of SAG-AFTRA and the WGA on strike, as actors and writers exit film and TV productions to hit the picket lines
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The SAG-AFTRA actors' union went on strike Friday, joining the ongoing WGA writers' strike. You can support actors and writers on strike by donating to the hardship funds that help entertainment workers. "Any non-member seeking future membership in SAG-AFTRA who performs covered services for a struck company during the strike will not be admitted into membership in SAG-AFTRA," the union's strike notice outlines. While the writers' strike largely shut down development and production, especially in Los Angeles and New York, some film and TV shoots were able to continue. Others have said the sides are so far apart that this work stoppage could outlast the 100-day WGA strike of 2007-8, which cost the California economy roughly $2 billion.

Persons: Adam Conover, AFTRA, who've, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Oppenheimer, thay Organizations: SAG, WGA, Morning, Alliance, Television Producers, Hollywood, Financial, Disaster Relief Fund, Welfare Emergency, The Entertainment, Washington Post, Mattel Locations: Hollywood, Los Angeles and New York, California

☆ Everything's pink: How Barbiecore fashion has fueled a movie's buzz
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

There are Barbie sneakers, Barbie backpacks, Barbie swimsuits, and Barbie hoodies for your dog. A few months later, photos showed Barbie movie star Margot Robbie on set in a hot pink Western jumpsuit. As the style took off, fashion magazines chronicled celebrities from Kim Kardashian to Harry Styles in bright Barbiecore outfits. Barbie-inspired foods include an ice cream flavor and a Barbie burger with pink sauce sold at Burger King in Brazil. Robbie, who rotated through Barbie-inspired looks during the movie's publicity tour, even rolled pink suitcases through the airport in Sydney.

Persons: Mattel Inc's, Barbie, Barbie swimsuits, Barbie hoodies, Richard Dickson, Couture, Valentino, Margot Robbie, Madeline Hirsch, Hirsch, Kim Kardashian, Harry Styles, Kendra Scott, Dreamhouse, Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Ken, Rich Daughtridge, Christopher Nolan's, Oppenheimer, Tom Cruise's, Filmgoers, Jeff Bock, Bock, Lisa Richwine, Rollo Ross, Sarah Mills, Mary Milliken, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Mattel, InStyle, Balmain, Old Navy, Microsoft, Burger King, Warner Bros, Malibu, Party, Relations, Thomson Locations: ANGELES, French, Burger, Brazil, Sydney, Barbiecore, Maryland, flamingo, Los Angeles, London

☆ ‘Barbie’ Review: Beyond Her Ken
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Kyle Smith | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Margot Robbie Photo: Warner Bros. PicturesIn “Barbie,” Will Ferrell plays the CEO of Mattel, who muses, “Remember Proust Barbie? That did not sell well.” It’s the film’s second reference to the French modernist novelist, and its makers would have been well advised to heed their own joke and question the wisdom of stuffing this fantasy-comedy with references to the mastectomy and IRS troubles of the doll’s creator, gynecology, the mass devastation of indigenous people by smallpox, and (this comes up many times) “irrepressible thoughts of death.”

Persons: Margot Robbie Photo, “ Barbie, ” Will Ferrell, “, Proust, ” Organizations: Warner Bros, Mattel

☆ ‘Barbie’ Reviews Are In: Slickly Subversive or Inescapably Corporate?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Julia Jacobs | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As reviews for “Barbie” rolled out ahead of its weekend opening, a critical divide emerged. Some thought that Greta Gerwig, the acclaimed director of “Lady Bird” and “Little Women,” had met the expectations for a more subversive take on the 11.5-inch Mattel phenomenon. Others felt that the director did not go far enough in dinging her corporate sponsors, keeping the critiques of consumerism and female beauty standards at surface level. Read on for some highlights. ‘Barbie’ May Be the Most Subversive Blockbuster of the 21st Century [Rolling Stone]The movie does more than avoid delivering a two-hour commercial for Mattel, David Fear writes, suggesting that the movie could be “the most subversive blockbuster of the 21st century to date.”

Persons: “ Barbie ”, Greta Gerwig, Bird, ”, Noah Baumbach, Barbie, Margot Robbie’s, Ryan, Ken, Read, ‘ Barbie ’, David Fear Organizations: Blockbuster, Mattel

REUTERS/Mike Blake/File PhotoLOS ANGELES, July 19 (Reuters) - Margot Robbie recalls being at a rehearsal for the upcoming "Barbie" movie and experiencing an existential crisis. "So I was like, ‘I've got to make this movie and it's the biggest movie I've ever produced, and I've got to answer to two humongous corporations and a director I really respect and actors."" Similar to Robbie's existential crisis, the "Barbie" movie follows the doll who suddenly has an existential crisis in the middle of a dance number. Even though the Barbie doll first debuted in 1959, it has taken more than 60 years for the character to get to the big screen. It's kind of for everyone," he told Reuters during the "Barbie" world premiere in Los Angeles.

Persons: Margot Robbie, Mike Blake, Robbie, ‘ I've, I've, Greta Gerwig, Barbie, Rather, Ryan Gosling, Ken, Rollo Ross, Danielle Broadway, Mary Milliken, Jamie Freed Organizations: Warner, REUTERS, Mattel, Warner Bros, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Los Angeles

Even for 'Barbie' director Greta Gerwig, negotiating a salary isn't always easy. And while her salary has not been made public, the movie has a budget of $145 million, according to Variety. Within the movie industry, Gerwig believes there is a need for more women directors. And Gerwig isn't alone in her fear of asking for too much. But for Gerwig, directing movies comes with a much different pay structure than other professions.

Persons: Barbie, Greta Gerwig, Gerwig's, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Variety, hasn't, Gerwig, jobseekers Organizations: Variety, Hollywood, CNBC, Harvard Business Locations: Hollywood, Jobvite

☆ A Minute With: Greta Gerwig on making 'Barbie' a surprising movie
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Rollo Ross | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LOS ANGELES, July 19 (Reuters) - Director, writer and actor Greta Gerwig has plunged into the world of the iconic Barbie doll to make a movie that promises to be one of the cinematic hits of the summer. Q: I wasn't expecting to wake up this morning thinking about gender politics and the history of Barbie. I’m so glad you woke up thinking thoughts you didn’t know you’d have. Q: Even though the film is set in Barbie World, how much would you say it makes people reflect on reality? Gerwig: "There were so many interesting things about Barbie to me as a cultural icon and a totem.

Persons: Greta Gerwig, Barbie, Gerwig, Noah Baumbach, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, There’s, it's, I've, Rollo Ross, Mary Milliken, Leslie Adler Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: ANGELES, margarita

☆ 'Barbie' review: Margot Robbie stars in Greta Gerwig's 'Barbie'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —“Barbie” comes roaring out of the gate with an inventiveness and energy the movie perhaps inevitably can’t sustain. Still, the closest kin would probably be “The Lego Movie,” which similarly took a familiar toy and built a kind of existential crisis around it. Simu Liu, Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in "Barbie." Courtesy Warner Bros. PicturesThe juxtaposition of those more thoughtful elements with the sheer giddiness elsewhere – alternating between the serious and the silly, between art and commerce – doesn’t always quite mesh or feel as fresh as it might. (The film is being released by Warner Bros., like CNN, a unit of Warner Bros.

Persons: CNN — “ Barbie ”, Greta Gerwig’s, Noah Baumbach, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, “ Barbie ”, Ferrell’s, Helen Mirren, Barbie, Ken, Gosling’s Ken, Ariana Greenblatt, Simu Liu, Bird, Gosling, “ Justice League ”, “ Oppenheimer, “, overdoing, ” Organizations: CNN, Mattel, America, Warner Bros, “ Justice League, Warner Bros .

☆ Trump loses bid for new trial on damages in E. Jean Carroll sexual abuse, defamation case
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

E. Jean Carroll exits the Manhattan Federal Court following the verdict in the civil rape accusation case against former U.S. President Donald Trump, New York City, May 9, 2023. Jurors also found Trump had defamed Carroll in comments last fall denying her allegations. Carroll II is how lawyers in the case refer to the lawsuit that resulted in this verdict. In that other civil lawsuit, Carroll alleges Trump defamed her in 2019, when he denied her claims after she first publicly accused Trump of raping her during the encounter. In Manhattan state court, Trump is accused of falsifying business records in connection with a 2016 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

Persons: Jean Carroll, Donald Trump, Trump, Carroll, Bergdorf Goodman, Kaplan, Judge Lewis Kaplan, E, Trump's, Joseph Tacopina, Robbie Kaplan, E Jean Carroll, Carroll I, Judge Kaplan, Stormy Daniels, Jack Smith, Joe Biden Organizations: U.S, New, Trump, U.S . Department of Justice, DOJ, Washington , D.C, ., Republican, GOP Locations: Manhattan, Donald Trump , New York City, U.S, New York, Carroll II, Carroll, Washington ,, Florida

☆ Matt and Ginger Gaetz channeled MAGA Barbie and Ken on the pink carpet, but she didn't like the movie because of Ryan Gosling's 'beta energy'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Matt Gaetz and his wife, Ginger, channeled MAGA Ken and Barbie at an event celebrating the movie. Ginger said she didn't like the film because of Ryan Gosling's Ken and his "beta energy." Ginger Gaetz, who married the Florida congressman in 2021, tweeted a photo of them posing on a pink carpet on July 17. Either way, we have the "Barbie" movie to thank for these tweets about Matt Gaetz's "Big Kenergy." Thanks Barbie!

Persons: Matt Gaetz, Ginger, MAGA Ken, Barbie, Ryan Gosling's Ken, Ginger Gaetz, Ryan Gosling's, Ken, Gosling's, Barbie …, Robbie, He's, Matt Gaetz's Organizations: Service, Aspen Security, Twitter Locations: Wall, Silicon, Florida

☆ How to watch the ‘Oppenheimer’ and ‘Barbie’ double feature
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Scottie Andrew | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

It’s the “Barbenheimer” double feature, and it started its life, as most phenomena do, as a meme. He says he’s seeing “Oppenheimer” first, on its opening Friday, and then “Barbie” “right after” so he gets to experience both with packed houses. Neither “Barbie” nor “Oppenheimer” seem like they’ll be boring, so ahead of both films, use the restroom. Use it again between “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie.” Gerwig’s film is also the more ICEE-friendly film, so re-up on snacks and such in between. 10:50 a.m.: Arrive 10 minutes early for “Oppenheimer,” get an extra-large popcorn and prepare for cinematic annihilation.

Persons: Greta Gerwig’s, Barbie ”, Christopher Nolan’s “, Oppenheimer, ”, Margot Robbie’s Barbie, It’s, “ Barbie ”, ‘, “ Oppenheimer, “ Barbie, Ken, Nicole Kidman’s, Nolan, you’ll, ‘ Oppenheimer, Cillian Murphy, ” can’t, Tom Cruise, Emma Mackey, Simu Liu, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, —, it’s, you’ve, you’re, celebs, Christopher Nolan, Wes Anderson’s, Florence Pugh, Barbie Organizations: CNN, Warner Bros, Discovery, AMC, Pictures, Universal Locations: cliffhangers, ”, New Mexico

☆ 'Barbenheimer' opening weekend could top $200 million, a jolt for Hollywood's soft box office
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

This weekend at the box office is all about atomic bombs and blonde bombshells. Typically when two big movies from two different studios hit theaters at the same time, it's a competition for ticket sales. Heading into the weekend, "Barbie" is expected to capture at least $90 million in domestic ticket sales, with some box office analysts projecting the film could tally upwards of $140 million. Major movie chains have indicated that ticket sales are strong for both films this weekend and additional shows have been added to accommodate demand. "Going into this weekend anticipation has been very high for both 'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer,'" said Jeffrey Kaufman, chief content officer at Malco Theatres.

Persons: That's, Oppenheimer, Erik Davis, It's, Barbie, Jeffrey Kaufman, Greta Gerwig, Bird, Hollywood's, Audiences, Stanley Kubrick's, Margot Robbie, Ken, Ryan Gosling Organizations: Warner Bros, Mattel, AMC Theatre, National Association of Theatre, Malco, Academy Locations: Barbie

☆ Barbie is all the buzz this summer — and retailers hope it will make cautious consumers spend
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Bloomingdale's is just one of the retailers and brands trying to tap into Barbie buzz. With a splash of hot pink, retailers hope to chase away the summer doldrums and inflation blues. About half of Aldo's Barbie collection sold out in the first week. So far, the Barbie merchandise is "selling incredibly well" and appealing to customers across generations, said Frank Berman, the department store's chief marketing officer. Gap has sold out of some of its popular Barbie items, including rectangular pink sunglasses.

Persons: Bloomingdale's, Barbie, Aldo, Brand, Daianara Grullon Amalfitano, Aldo's, Aldo Macy's, Frank Berman, Berman, it's, Ken, Circana, Margot Robbie's, Oliver Chen, Cowen, Chen, Susan Fournier, Barbie isn't, Fournier Organizations: Warner Bros, Mattel, Companies, NPD Group, IRI, Unit, Walmart, Target, Amazon Prime, Consumers, Adobe Analytics, Aqua Locations: Manhattan, Lexington Ave, U.S, Boston, New York City

☆ In ‘Barbie’ vs. ‘Oppenheimer,’ the Real Winner May Be the Box Office
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Brooks Barnes | More About Brooks Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Fury of the Gods” and “Fast X.”The latest “Mission: Impossible” film arrived last weekend to solid results, but below what Hollywood had been expecting. “Oppenheimer” is based on the 2005 biography “American Prometheus” by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin. “Both studios went all-in on original films, directed by notable auteurs with an interest in pushing the envelope,” said Paul Dergarabedian, a senior Comscore analyst. “Barbie” is aimed at women, while “Oppenheimer” has the edge with men. One represents what many cinephiles loathe about Hollywood: movies based on toys.

Persons: moviegoing, John Wick, Indiana Jones, ”, Mario, III, Barbie, “ Oppenheimer, Kai Bird, Martin J, Sherwin, Paul Dergarabedian, ” “ Barbie ”, — Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling —, Cillian Murphy, “ Barbie ”, “ Oppenheimer ” Organizations: Hollywood, Mario Bros, “ Locations: United States, Canada

☆ ‘Barbie’ Review: Out of the Box and On the Road
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Manohla Dargis | More About Manohla Dargis | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

That’s a question that swirls through Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” a live-action, you-go-girl fantasia about the world’s most famous doll. The movie opens with a prelude that parodies the “dawn of man” sequence in “2001: A Space Odyssey” (with girls, not ape-men), and then shifts to Barbie Land, a kaleidoscopic wonderland. There, Gerwig sets the scene and tone with Barbie (Margot Robbie) — who calls herself stereotypical Barbie — soon floating out of her Dreamhouse, as if she were being lifted by a giant invisible hand. Written by Gerwig and her partner, Noah Baumbach, the movie introduces Barbie on yet another perfect day in Barbie Land, in which dolls played by humans exist in what resembles a toyland gated community. There, framed by a painted mountain range, Barbie and a diverse group of other Barbies rule, living in homes with few exterior walls.

Persons: Greta Gerwig’s “ Barbie, ”, fantasia, Barbie, George Bernard Shaw’s, Lerner, Loewe, “ Barbie, Gerwig, Margot Robbie, —, Barbie —, Noah Baumbach, Eero Saarinen Organizations: Mattel Locations: Barbie

☆ This Barbie Is Now on Strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( The Styles Desk | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The actors’ strike has hit the brakes on the hot pink convertible that is the “Barbie” film’s press tour. That means the parade of neon fashion led by Ms. Robbie has probably come to an end. But several of the actress’s best looks took inspiration from Barbie’s clothing archive, including a black-and-white-striped swimsuit the doll wore when it was introduced in 1959, a prim skirt suit from the ’80s and a swirly minidress Barbie wore in the ’90s. Those outfits, seen here alongside the Barbie clothes that inspired them, struck the exact right balance between kitschy and chic. “It’s not subtle,” Ms. Robbie said in an interview with People, “but it’s very fun!”

Persons: ”, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Greta Gerwig’s, Robbie, Andrew Mukamal, Versace, Vivienne Westwood, prim, Barbie, Ms Organizations: SAG

☆ We Are All Background Actors
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( James Poniewozik | More About James Poniewozik | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In Hollywood, the cool kids have joined the picket line. I mean no offense, as a writer, to the screenwriters who have been on strike against film and TV studios for over two months. The cleverest picket sign joke is no match for the attention-focusing power of Margot Robbie or Matt Damon. SAG-AFTRA, the union representing TV and film actors, joined the writers in a walkout over how Hollywood divvies up the cash in the streaming era and how humans can thrive in the artificial-intelligence era. But for all the focus that a few boldface names will get in this strike, I invite you to consider a term that has come up a lot in the current negotiations: “Background actors.”You probably don’t think much about background actors.

Persons: Margot Robbie, Matt Damon, ”, You’re Organizations: Hollywood, SAG Locations: Gotham, Normandy

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