'Barbie' movie debut shines even brighter as final tally rises

Barbie's record-breaking debut at cinemas over the weekend landed higher than initial estimates with US$162 million (about RM739.4  million) in ticket sales in the US and Canada, distributor Warner Bros said on Monday.

The final Friday to Sunday tally for the "Barbie" movie starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling was slightly higher than the US$155 million the studio estimated on Sunday.

"Barbie" is the number 1 movie of the year based on domestic opening weekend sales, beating the US$146.4 million haul for April release "The Super Mario Bros. Movie."

Director Greta Gerwig's take on the Mattel Inc doll also added US$194.3 million in 63 international markets for a global debut of US$356.3 million.

"Barbie" faced off against director Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" in a box office battle dubbed "Barbenheimer."

Final numbers also rose for "Oppenheimer." The story of the making of the atomic bomb brought in US$82.4 million in the US and Canada from Friday through Sunday, up from the earlier estimate of US$80.5 million.

In 78 international markets, "Oppenheimer" collected nearly US$98.0 million for a global total of US$180.4 million.

Both movies beat expectations and helped the US and Canadian box office surpass US$300 million for just the fourth time in history.