BROOKLINE, MASS. (WHDH) - Local fans were buzzing with excitement Thursday over two big blockbusters hitting theaters this week.
Barbie and Oppenheimer officially premiere on Friday. Many sites had screenings on Thursday, though, drawing crowds to theaters across the Boston area.
“We just want to be part of history,” said Bhagirath Bhardwaj.
The two movies spanning different genres have had some people planning double features under the name “Barbenheimer.”
In Brookline, the Coolidge Corner Theatre is having its biggest weekend in its history with sold out shows across the two films.
“It’s really great to see audiences responding to the theatrical experience in this way,” Coolidge Corner Theatre Director of Special Programming Mark Anastasio told 7NEWS.
In a typical busy weekend, the Coolidge Corner Theatre sees around 1,000 guests. This weekend, Anastasio said the theater is expecting upward of 6,000 people.
Danny Bernard, who is planning to see both movies, said the excitement is “huge for the movie industry.”
Messages related to Barbie and Oppenheimer were written in chalk on the sidewalk and on walls in Coolidge Corner Thursday.
In Boston, moviegoers at the AMC Boston Common were dressed head to toe in pink for Barbie and wearing dark suits to watch Oppenheimer.
Some fans this week combined pink shirts under their suits to fit both the Barbie and Oppenheimer themes.
Others planned their show times strategically, giving themselves time to change into proper attire for each film.
“There’s just so much buzz around Oppenheimer that we’re excited,” said Jay Chaundhary. “It’s a once in a lifetime type movie, so we all got dressed up.”
“I think everyone is just excited to get out of the house and do things that are fun post-COVID,” said Heather Fowler, who headed to the theater with her family.
The premieres of Oppenheimer and Barbie are taking place while writers and actors remain on the picket line for ongoing strikes by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA.
SAG-AFTRA members recently led a rally in Boston on Wednesday as part of their strike, calling for better pay, among other requests.
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