The summer of 2023 was encapsulated in two films at the same time: Oppenheimer by Christopher Nolan and Barbie by Greta Gerwig. Since they came out the same weekend, moviegoers were treated to a sort of double feature.
These two blockbusters not only dominated the world last year, but they also reignited our collective desire for a silver-screen experience. Both films exceeded box office expectations, with Margot Robbie’s film enchanting its way to a $1.4 billion global haul, while Oppenheimer’s Oscar-winning narrative netted a whopping $951.4 million.
But Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos recently stirred quite the conversation with his belief that these films could have shone just as brightly on streaming platforms. One can’t help but wonder: How different would the scenario be if these cultural phenomena had debuted on Netflix rather than the cinema’s big screen?
Netflix Boss Predicts Streaming Success for Barbie and Oppenheimer in Alternate Reality
While the idea of two blockbuster films like Barbie and Oppenheimer being released straight to streaming may seem unconventional to some, the Co-CEO of Netflix, Ted Sarandos’ belief in the success of such a strategy raises an interesting debate in the world of film distribution.
Netflix would have “enjoyed just as big” of an audience for both of those films, according to Sarandos. In a recent conversation with The New York Times, he said:
Both of those movies would be great for Netflix. They definitely would have enjoyed just as big an audience on Netflix. And so I don’t think there’s any reason to believe that certain kinds of movies do or don’t work. There’s no reason to believe that the movie itself is better in any size of screen for all people. My son’s an editor. He is 28 years old, and he watched “Lawrence of Arabia” on his phone.
The success of streaming platforms in recent years has revolutionized the way we consume media. With the rise of original content produced by companies like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu, audiences have been given the opportunity to watch high-quality films and TV shows from the comfort of their own homes.
Having said that, a direct-to-streaming approach has proven successful for some films. For instance, consider Ryan Gosling & Chris Evans’ The Gray Man. Despite getting less than stellar reviews, it quickly became Netflix’s 2022 movie of the year and was given the go-ahead for a sequel (via ComicBook).
Fan Insights: Comparing Traditional Release vs. Streaming for Barbie and Oppenheimer
To start, let us look at their box office performances. Margot Robbie’s Barbie achieved a global box office revenue of over $1.4 billion, making it the highest-grossing movie of 2023 and the 14th highest-grossing movie ever (see Box Office Mojo).
Oppenheimer, on the other hand, took home seven Academy Awards and grossed $951.4 million, placing it as the third highest-grossing movie of last year (Box Office Mojo). While audiences reveled in this double-feature delight, Ted Sarandos sparked a lively debate with his belief that had these blockbusters debuted on Netflix, their impact would have been just as monumental.
One fan argued that the immersive experience of watching Cillian Murphy’s Oppenheimer in a theater with top-notch sound quality was what made it truly memorable, questioning whether Netflix could provide the same level of audiovisual experience. On the other hand, some fans believed that Sarandos was undermining the importance of cinemas by suggesting that a Netflix release would have been just as successful.
Let us take a look at some other comments left by fans:
Not him literally saying that cinemas are NOT important
Depressing
— Vikas (@thunderxstorm07) May 27, 2024
Netflix doesn't produce any high-er quality moves so this is a bold face lie.
— extramedium (@extramediumDET) May 27, 2024
Well to be fair, Ted is only selling his market. Albeit false advertisement but cut him some slack you guys🤭🤭 pic.twitter.com/CrVioPbuvC
— Rich Auntie Chi🤑 (@poshchi) May 27, 2024
No. We all specifically left our homes to watch those 2 movies and enjoy the entire experience. That’s completely different from clicking on an app.
— Tony Singh (@soundboi74) May 27, 2024
Nahhhh absolutely not bc Oppenheimer in a theater was insane & I know Netflix ain’t providing sound quality like that💀
— bbyjean🩵 (@lilbbyjean) May 27, 2024
As streaming services continue to grow in popularity, the debate over the importance of theaters versus at-home viewing will undoubtedly continue. While some may argue that Netflix could have replicated the success of Barbie and Oppenheimer, others will always cherish the unique experience of watching these films in a darkened theater surrounded by fellow fans.
Despite the differing opinions, we can’t deny that the release of Barbie and Oppenheimer on the same weekend created a buzz and excitement that had fans flocking to theaters to experience both films in all their glory.
Oppenheimer is streaming on Peacock, while Barbie is available on Max.
