Syracuse, N.Y. (NCC News) – Going to the cinema has always been a social activity. However, the rise of different streaming platforms has made people resort to watching their favorite shows and films from the comfort of their homes.
Up steps the “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” movies, which have caught the attention of billions worldwide. Both have resulted in record-setting numbers in theaters, showing a hint of a return to the status quo.
Dubbed ‘Barbenheimer’, both films re-introduced people to a social interest. ‘Barbenheimer’ has grossed over one billion dollars at the box office.
Robert Thompson, a professor at Syracuse University and a pop culture expert, reiterates this point, saying it brought him down memory lane.
“The whole ‘Barbenheimer’ phenomenon reminded us what it was like in those glory days before streaming; practically reminded us what it was like before television,” he said.
Thompson says ‘Barbenheimer’ shows that going to the cinema to watch movies produces a different reality than online streaming platforms.
“This, at least for a weekend, demonstrated that sometimes the movie-going experience can’t be streamed alone, the Barbenheimer thing if you wanted to be part of that phenomenon.”
He also says the rate of moviegoers has been on the decline in recent years, mentioning that COVID-19 has also played a contribution.
Nevertheless, ‘Barbenheimer’ is a strong example of the core value that people still place on cinemas.
