tom cruise watch oppenheimer

site categories

Guy maddin’s ‘rumours’ starring cate blanchett gets nearly six-minute ovation in cannes debut, tom cruise lays out plan to see ‘oppenheimer’ & ‘barbie’ on their opening weekend.

By Armando Tinoco

Armando Tinoco

Night & Weekend Editor

More Stories By Armando

• Colin Jost & Michael Che Completely Break In ‘SNL’ Joke Swap Tradition: Kendrick Lamar, Scarlett Johansson, Comcast & Space Lasers Mentioned
• Disneyland Resort Character Cast Members Vote To Unionize With Actors’ Equity Association
• Jake Gyllenhaal Celebrates ‘SNL’s Season 49 Finale In Musical Monologue Ahead Of Historic 50th Season

Tom Cruise is on a mission to watch both Oppenheimer and Barbie on their opening weekend and is opening up about how he’ll make it happen.

“I want to see both Barbie and Oppenheimer . I’ll see them opening weekend,” he said per The Sydney Morning Herald . “Friday I’ll see Oppenheimer first and then Barbie on Saturday.”

Related Stories

2024 Premiere Dates For New & Returning Series On Broadcast, Cable & Streaming

2024-25 Awards Season Calendar - Dates For Oscars, Tonys, Guilds, BAFTAs, Spirits & More

Cruise has made it no secret of his intentions to hit the Cineplex to see Oppenheimer and Barbie and recently showed off his tickets as proof .

“This summer is full of amazing movies to see in theaters,” he tweeted. “Congratulations, Harrison Ford, on 40 years of Indy and one of the most iconic characters in history. I love a double feature, and it doesn’t get more explosive (or more pink) than one with Oppenheimer and Barbie .”

This summer is full of amazing movies to see in theaters. Congratulations, Harrison Ford, on 40 years of Indy and one of the most iconic characters in history. I love a double feature, and it doesn't get more explosive (or more pink) than one with Oppenheimer and Barbie. pic.twitter.com/udWHHj4fAe — Tom Cruise (@TomCruise) June 28, 2023

Cruise is highly credited for bringing audiences back to theaters when Top Gun: Maverick broke records over the summer. The actor is also preparing to hit theaters again as Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One opens July 12, a week before Oppenheimer and Barbie .

Must Read Stories

‘emilia pérez’ red carpet, review, ovation; langley talks biz; schrader’s next movie.

Season Finale With Gyllenhaal; Trump VP Cold Open; What’s In Store For Season 50?

‘the monkey’ rights pre-sell to neon; focus gets lanthimos’ ‘bugonia’, ‘if’ lighter at $30 million+, ‘strangers’ lift, ‘back to black’ belly-up.

Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy.

Read More About:

10 comments.

Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Fans flock to theaters for the 'Barbenheimer' double feature

Rachel Treisman

Jeffrey Williams (left), who rented out a Barbie screening for his birthday, and Andrew Roof pose next to an Oppenheimer poster at the Regal Gallery Place in Washington, D.C., on Friday night. Rachel Treisman/NPR hide caption

Jeffrey Williams (left), who rented out a Barbie screening for his birthday, and Andrew Roof pose next to an Oppenheimer poster at the Regal Gallery Place in Washington, D.C., on Friday night.

The two big movies hitting theaters this weekend couldn't be more different.

There's Oppenheimer , Christopher Nolan's sprawling biographical thriller about the man known as the father of the atomic bomb, which the director has said will leave viewers "absolutely devastated." And there's Greta Gerwig's Barbie , a fantasy comedy with original songs and enough pink paint to prompt a real-life shortage .

Together, they form Barbenheimer. Or is it Oppenbarbie? Boppenheimer?

Movie Reviews

Go see 'barbie' and 'oppenheimer' in theaters — doubleheader or not is your call.

Whatever you call it, it's blown up into a cultural juggernaut.

Warner Bros. and Mattel unleashed a powerful Barbie marketing blitz , with over 100 official brand collaborations . Retailers and restaurants have followed suit, offering their own twist on " Barbiecore ."

And while Oppenheimer has taken a more subdued approach, all the hype appears to have given both movies a boost.

For weeks people have been making memes and merchandise celebrating the mashup, effectively transforming a box-office battle into an unlikely double feature.

And it seems many people are actually committing to the bit: The National Association of Theatre Owners projects that more than 200,000 moviegoers will attend same-day viewings of both movies across North America this weekend.

Pop Culture Happy Hour

A 'barbie' v. 'oppenheimer' game.

"This weekend has captured the cultural imagination in an unprecedented way," association President and CEO Michael O'Leary, told NPR in a statement. "People ... are flocking to the theatres in groups, with family, friends, neighbors, to celebrate two different, but amazing motion pictures."

Sixteen percent of the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema chain's guests have bought tickets to both films, a spokesperson for the chain, which has 39 locations, told NPR in an email Friday. Roughly two-thirds of those seeing both are starting with Oppenheimer , the spokesperson said.

NPR spoke to more than a half-dozen people at a Washington, D.C., movie theater who were there to see one or both movies Friday night. Several of them doing the double feature — either on the same day or back-to-back nights — said they were in it largely for the experience.

Mishaela Robison, who saw Barbie on Thursday, was back at the theater with two friends the next night to watch Oppenheimer and then Barbie again. They said they had decided earlier in the day to double on Barbie because they had loved it so much, and because they'd bought a movie subscription pass months ago to lower the cost.

They agreed they probably wouldn't be seeing the former — at least on opening weekend — if not for the latter.

"I wouldn't see Oppenheimer , but I would see Barbenheimer," Robison said.

What's the deal with these movies?

Both movies come from directors with devoted fanbases, feature ensemble casts and grapple with existential dread — to varying degrees.

Oppenheimer tells the story of American physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer (played by Peaky Blinders ' Cillian Murphy), who directed the Los Alamos Laboratory during World War II and helped develop the country's first nuclear weapons. Nolan has described him as "the most important person who ever lived."

'Barbie' is pretty in pink — but will she also be profitable?

Upon seeing the first successful bomb test in the New Mexico desert in 1945, Oppenheimer reportedly quoted a Hindu scripture: "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds" — now available on a T-shirt in pink curlicue script, as it happens.

The three-hour epic is based on the Pulitzer-Prize winning book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Martin Sherwin and Kai Bird. It's the 12th film by Nolan, whose previous blockbusters include "The Dark Knight" trilogy, Inception and Dunkirk .

Barbie , on the other hand, follows the Mattel icon (played by Margot Robbie) as she experiences an existential crisis: "Do you guys ever think about dying?" she asks on the dance floor at one point in the trailer.

Is 'Barbie' corporate propaganda or Malibu Metacommentary™? Why not both!

She and Ken (a very committed Ryan Gosling) leave idyllic-looking Barbieland behind to explore the real world and discover "the truth about the universe."

Indie director Gerwig wrote the screenplay with her partner Noah Baumbach. This is her third film as solo director, after Lady Bird and Little Women.

The movie, which clocks in at just under two hours, amounts to both corporate propaganda and Malibu metacommentary, NPR's Aisha Harris writes .

Advertisements for Oppenheimer and Barbie are seen above the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday. Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Advertisements for Oppenheimer and Barbie are seen above the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday.

Why did they come out on the same day?

It's increasingly rare for two such high-profile movies to hit theaters on the same day.

Some think it might have to do with Nolan leaving Warner Bros. (after its controversial decision to release its 2021 movies in theaters and on its streaming service simultaneously) and make Oppenheimer with Universal instead.

Their theory is that Warner Bros. chose to release Barbie the same day out of spite. When asked about this by Insider at a recent press event, Nolan chuckled and refused to answer.

Trinity and the Birth of the Atomic Bomb

'american prometheus' authors on 'the triumph and tragedy of j. robert oppenheimer'.

Opposite blockbusters have been pitted against each other in the past, like 10 Things I Hate About You opening against The Matrix in 1999. And, in a much-discussed parallel , Nolan's The Dark Knight premiered on the same day as Mamma Mia in the summer of 2008.

Experts say releasing two different genres of movies on the same day can actually be good for business, especially if they appeal to distinct demographics.

And it certainly appears to be fueling ticket sales for both Barbie and Oppenheimer , whose target audiences may not be as segmented as some originally thought.

One Twitter user went viral back in April for suggesting that there would be little overlap. He was immediately inundated with tweets — many from women in STEM — proving otherwise.

Did the 'Barbie' movie really cause a run on pink paint? Let's get the full picture

The Barbenheimer frenzy has reached a fever pitch in the weeks since.

Viral social media memes have poked fun at everything from the movies' opposing aesthetics to viewers' requisite costume changes to the sheer volume of the hype itself.

People have started making Barbie/Oppenheimer posters featuring a massive pink mushroom cloud. And sites like Etsy and Redbubble are selling all kinds of crossover T-shirts, mixing and matching the movies' slogans and visuals.

"It's Mattel versus the Manhattan Project and BarbenHeimer," Paul Dergarabedian, a senior media analyst for Comscore, told NPR's Mandalit del Barco . "That just means that this is going viral, and that's good news for both Barbie and Oppenheimer ."

What does an internet phenomenon look like in real life?

Deneen Nabinett and her daughters dressed up for Barbie on Friday, after seeing Oppenheimer the previous night. Rachel Treisman/NPR hide caption

Deneen Nabinett and her daughters dressed up for Barbie on Friday, after seeing Oppenheimer the previous night.

The crowd at the Regal Gallery Place in downtown D.C. was awash in hues of bright pink and glittering rhinestones on Friday night, as groups gathered in the lobby for evening showings of Barbie and, in some cases, Oppenheimer too.

Jeffrey Williams, rocking a replica of Robbie's Western-inspired outfit from the movie, was celebrating not only opening night but his 26th birthday. He had called ahead back in May to reserve a theater to screen Barbie with more than 50 friends.

"I'm just an extra human being ... if the outfit doesn't sell that enough, and so I thought it would be a fun way to celebrate," said Williams, who plans to see Oppenheimer next weekend. "I think it's probably the biggest movie cultural day in a while, so can't pass that up."

Even movie regulars said they were surprised by the size of the crowds.

Deneen Nabinett and her daughters say they come to the theater every Friday, but had to split their double feature into two nights in order to get their preferred seats. They saw Oppenheimer first on Thursday, and Nabinett said — on her way out of Barbie — that the order didn't really matter.

"Either way we wanted to see both of them, so I'm just glad it worked out," she said.

Not everyone NPR spoke with was in the midst of a double feature.

It's Been a Minute

The spectacular femininity of bimbos and 'barbie'.

Brandon Thomas said he's a fan of Nolan and has been waiting to see Oppenheimer for months — and says while he doesn't care much about Barbie, he'll probably see it eventually.

"I'm just glad people are in the theaters," he added.

And the costumes weren't only for Barbie . Robison dressed up for Oppenheimer , wearing a vintage, long-sleeved turquoise dress that she said her grandmother used to wear to work when she was around her age.

"It really reminds me of Barbie , even if it's not a Barbie fit, because it's about the ties of femininity and there's a really good line in [the movie] about mothers and daughters and the work mothers do so their daughters can see how far they've come," she explained. "And I have composed a very nice text to send her about all of this."

Robison, 24 and her friend Margaret Murphy, 23, compared Barbenheimer to another ongoing cultural phenomenon — Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, for which people have been dressing up in aesthetically similar outfits and shelling out money for Swift-themed merchandise and experiences, too.

"I feel a little bit of fomo with the Eras Tour," Murphy said. "And so getting to have my own little Eras Tour, where I got a dress for Barbie last night, and I felt like a little princess going to see Barbie, and it being so influential for my life, it felt like such a good, well-rounded moment."

Mishaela Robison and Margaret Murphy made Barbenheimer-themed friendship bracelets to give out at the theater in a nod to another cultural phenomenon, Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. Rachel Treisman/NPR hide caption

Mishaela Robison and Margaret Murphy made Barbenheimer-themed friendship bracelets to give out at the theater in a nod to another cultural phenomenon, Taylor Swift's Eras Tour.

The two even took a page out of the Eras Tour playbook by making friendship bracelets , which Swifties have been exchanging in the crowds at concerts. But instead of referencing Swift lyrics or album titles, their beaded creations said things like "Kenergy" and "Barbenheimer."

Robison said she had been inspired by that embrace of femininity and expression of solidarity and figured they would transfer well to Barbie too — she'd been giving out bracelets at the theater.

"And hopefully it'll be a cultural moment people remember," she added. "So maybe it'll go in a museum in a hundred years."

What's the ideal viewing order?

There's been so much chatter about seeing both movies that it's even spurred a spirited online debate : Which one should you watch first?

Spending five-plus hours in a movie theater is no small commitment, and there's been a lot of discussion on how best to go about it. Do you start with Oppenheimer and some strong coffee, and finish with Barbie and a dance party? Or do you ease in with a Barbie brunch so you can drag your depleted self straight to bed when it's all over?

Coffee and face masks at 10AM Mimosas and glam 11:30AM Barbie movie 2PM Joint at 4:30PM Olive Garden 5PM Oppenheimer 7PM Applebees Happy Hour 10PM https://t.co/eWowDFZzat — Jacqueline (@jvckierios) June 24, 2023

While public opinion seems to favor ending on a lighter note, there are compelling arguments to be made for each side, as Slate reports .

Some experts have weighed in, too.

Robbie, Barbie herself, called it a "perfect double bill" at her movie's premiere last week .

"I think actually start your day with 'Barbie,' then go straight into 'Oppenheimer' and then a 'Barbie' chaser," she said.

In search of tunes for your 'Barbenheimer' pregame? Look no further

Tom Cruise, whose latest "Mission: Impossible" movie opened in theaters last week, said at his premiere that he plans to see both, likely starting with Oppenheimer . Others have endorsed his approach.

"If you see Oppenheimer last then you might be a bit of a psychopath," Barbie actor Issa Rae said.

Gerwig told The Hollywood Reporter that she also recommends treating Barbie as a palate cleanser.

"I want to have mimosas and drinks and cocktails after Barbie , I don't want to, like, sulk," she said. "That's just my plan, as long as you're seeing Barbie I don't care."

What's Hollywood saying?

Those who worked on the movies appear to be enjoying the rivalry-turned-alliance.

A picture of Gerwig and Robbie posing with their Oppenheimer theater tickets last month, for example, sent the internet into another minor frenzy.

Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie with their opening night tickets for ‘OPPENHEIMER’. pic.twitter.com/VHwFuxst6d — DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) June 30, 2023

"I love that there's solidarity though, where people tried to pit us against one another but now it's turned into like a double-feature situation," Gerwig told THR .

She also told USA Today that she feels "very shiny" to be associated with Oppenheimer , adding that "a rising tide lifts all boats."

Nolan told Insider that many in the industry have been longing for "a crowded marketplace with a lot of different movies."

"That's what theaters have now, and those of us who care about movies are thrilled about that," he said.

3 lessons past Hollywood strikes can teach us about the current moment

Oppenheimer actor Emily Blunt, who wore "Barbie" pink heels to her movie's premiere, similarly told USA TODAY that the other film's cast has been "so supportive" toward hers.

"It doesn't have to be competitive!" she said. "It's really cool and that's what we want: that full spectrum of what you can see in movie theaters. We love it."

An important note: Now that SAG-AFTRA is on strike, the actors are officially prohibited from promoting their movies. That's why the Oppenheimer stars walked out of the London premiere last week, and why Robbie's glamorous parade of Barbie-inspired red carpet outfits was cut short.

And don't worry, you can watch the movies without crossing the proverbial picket line.

SAG-AFTRA is not calling for a consumer boycott of movie theaters or streaming services at this time, National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland told NPR in an email.

"There may well come a time when we ask fans to send their message of support through direct economic action, but for now, we hope that they will inform themselves about our cause and share that information with their network of family, friends, and colleagues," he said.

• christopher nolan
• Oppenheimer
• barbie movie
• greta gerwig

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories .

• What Is Cinema?
• Newsletters

Tom Cruise Is Seeing Both Barbie and Oppenheimer —But Which One First?

By Savannah Walsh

The somewhat clunky portmanteau that’s on every moviegoer’s lips is…“Barbenheimer,” i.e. a double feature of Greta Gerwig ’s Barbie, starring Margot Robbie, and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, starring Cillian Murphy. Seeing both movies in quick succession has been endorsed by no less an authority than Tom Cruise, who “saved Hollywood’s ass” (in the words of Steven Spielberg ) with the runaway box office success of 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick.

Got all that? Well: Just last week Cruise declared the start of summer movie season by sharing photos of himself holding movie tickets for various big-screen titles. “I love a double feature, and it doesn’t get more explosive (or more pink) than one with Oppenheimer and Barbie ,” he wrote of the films, both of which debut on July 21.

This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.

Still, questions remain. In the lead-up to the dual release, many have debated the correct order in which to experience the bombshell and the atomic bomb: Does one kick-start their day by entering Barbie world first, before coming down with the less technicolor tale of Robert Oppenheimer? Or is the opposite—a dour start, then upbeat finish—the way to go? Cruise himself has now waded into this discourse, telling The Sydney Morning Herald, “I want to see both Barbie and Oppenheimer. I’ll see them opening weekend. Friday, I’ll see Oppenheimer first, and then Barbie on Saturday.”

While this is not technically a back-to-back double feature, Cruise is clearly jazzed about the theatergoing experience. “I grew up seeing movies on the big screen,” he continued. “That’s how I make them, and I like that experience; it’s immersive, and to have that as a community and an industry, it’s important. I still go the movies.”

Cruise’s summer-movie crusade has come amidst promotion for his own upcoming blockbuster, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One , which hits theaters on July 12.

More Great Stories From Vanity Fair

Live Updates From the 2024 Cannes Film Festival

Cover Star Chris Hemsworth on Fear, Love, and Escaping Hollywood

Inside Disney’s CEO Succession : Bibbidi Bobbidi Who Will It Be?

Meet the Mastermind Behind New York’s Celebrity Playground of Choice

The Vatican’s Secret Role in the Science of IVF

Griffin Dunne on the Tragic Death That Reshaped His Family

Visit the VF Shop and Get Our Brand-New Tote (and Much More)

By Britt Hennemuth

Savannah Walsh

Staff writer.

By Hillary Busis

By David Canfield

By Kase Wickman

By Karen Valby

By Donald Liebenson

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes
• Entertainment

Tom Cruise Is Doing an 'Oppenheimer' and 'Barbie' Double Feature Too: 'Doesn't Get More Explosive'

The "Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One" star shared his excitement for some of the upcoming films he wants to watch in theaters

Monica Schipper/WireImage

Tom Cruise is showing some love for his fellow filmmakers and actors!

The Hollywood icon — gearing up for the theatrical release of his own film Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One next month — took a break from his action-packed schedule to tweet about some of the summer movies he is looking forward to watching himself.

Among the films he praised were Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny , the long-awaited sequel starring Harrison Ford as the legendary adventurer (out Friday), the atomic-bomb biographical thriller Oppenheimer starring Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer and Barbie with Margot Robbie as the famous toy. The latter two films will be released on the same day: July 21.

“This summer is full of amazing movies to see in theaters,” Cruise wrote alongside photos of himself and his Dead Reckoning — Part One director Christopher McQuarrie in front of each of the films' respective posters.

"Congratulations, Harrison Ford, on 40 years of Indy and one of the most iconic characters in history," added the actor, 60, "I love a double feature, and it doesn't get more explosive (or more pink) than one with Oppenheimer and Barbie.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

Cruise was recently on the red carpet in Rome for the world premiere of Dead Reckoning Part One, as previously reported by PEOPLE, praising how people of different cultures "all join together to enjoy cinema" as he gave a speech from the city's famous Spanish Steps, according to Variety .

"It’s something that I grew up with, that made me and inspired me to dream and want to travel the world," Cruise said. “My goal since I was little was to make movies and travel. And not just be a tourist, but work in that world and understand their culture."

"Through my movies, I’ve been able to have that because everyone here has allowed me to entertain them. It’s a privilege that I have never taken for granted," he continued in his speech, highlighting the importance of seeing movies in theaters. "It’s my passion to entertain you, and I will always fight for big theaters and that kind of experience for everyone.”

Cruise joined his longtime collaborator McQuarrie, 54, along with some of the stars of the film, such as Esai Morales , Simon Pegg , Frederick Schmidt, Shea Whigham , Mariela Garriga, Rebecca Ferguson , Hayley Atwell , Pom Klementieff and Vanessa Kirby .

TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty

The star complimented his collaboration with McQuarrie — who directed the last two Mission: Impossible movies and also wrote 2022's Top Gun: Maverick — during his speech, saying the director has "had a hand in every single film I’ve made over the past 16 years."

"He is my creative brother and an exceptional human being,” Cruise said.

McQuarrie and Cruise have been working together since at least 2008, when McQuarrie wrote the script for Valkyrie . He later directed Cruise for the first time in 2012’s Jack Reacher , which led to him becoming the Mission: Impossible franchise’s director starting with 2015’s Rogue Nation .

In the series’ newest entry since 2018,  Dead Reckoning Part One follows Cruise's Ethan Hunt and his IMF team racing their most perilous mission: to stop a horrifying weapon that endangers mankind before it’s too late.

Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One is in theaters July 12.

Related Articles

Tom Cruise, Self-Appointed Box Office Savior, Plans to See ‘Oppenheimer’ and ‘Barbie’ on Opening Weekend

By Emily Zemler

Emily Zemler

Tom Cruise ‘s latest mission is to single-handedly prove that movies should be seen in theaters. The Mission: Impossible star has confirmed he will see Christopher Nolan ‘s Oppenheimer and Greta Gerwig ‘s Barbie as soon as they open simultaneously on July 21.

“I want to see both  Barbie  and  Oppenheimer ,” the actor told The Sydney Morning Herald . I’ll see them opening weekend. Friday I’ll see  Oppenheimer  first and then  Barbie  on Saturday.”

Cruise added that he wants to encourage viewers to go out and see movies in theaters, rather than waiting for streaming. He confirmed he’s a big proponent of enjoying films with that sense of true spectacle.

“I grew up seeing movies on the big screen,” Cruise said. “That’s how I make them, and I like that experience; it’s immersive, and to have that as a community and an industry, it’s important. I still go the movies.”

“This summer is full of amazing movies to see in theaters,” Cruise wrote. “Congratulations, Harrison Ford , on 40 years of Indy and one of the most iconic characters in history. I love a double feature, and it doesn’t get more explosive (or more pink) than one with Oppenheimer and Barbie .”

Speaking to the Herald , Cruise added, “Harrison Ford is a legend. I hope to be still going. I’ve got 20 years to catch up with him. I hope to keep making Mission: Impossible films until I’m his age.”

'SNL' Weekend Update Tackles Trump-Biden Debates, MTG Getting Roasted By Colleague

'snl' cold open: trump wheels out hannibal lecter, his 'favorite' vp pick, the mad scientist and the killer whales, trump attacks joe biden's economic policy... over snickers bars.

After Cruise tweeted his intention to see Barbie , Gerwig and star Margot Robbie posted photos of themselves with tickets for Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One , as well as Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Oppenheimer . “Mission accepted,” the pair wrote on the Barbie Twitter page.

'SNL': Jake Gyllenhaal Tries and Tries to Cancel a Flight

• Confirmation Code?
• By William Vaillancourt

'SNL' Weekend Update Tackles Trump-Biden Debates, MTG Getting Roasted By Colleague

• Waffle House of Reps

'SNL' Cold Open: Trump Wheels Out Hannibal Lecter, His 'Favorite' VP Pick

• Late, Great

‘Bridgerton’ Has a New Francesca — Meet Hannah Dodd

• lady in waiting
• By Kalia Richardson

'Kinds of Kindness' Is Weird, Wild, and Way More Than the Sum of Its F-cked-Up Parts

• CANNES MOVIE REVIEW
• By David Fear

Most Popular

'mad max' director says 'there's no excuse' for tom hardy and charlize theron's 'fury road' set feud: tom 'had to be coaxed out of his trailer', '3 body problem' renewed for additional episodes to conclude the netflix series, katie holmes’s daughter suri just ensured her father tom will have no part in her theater career, dj akademiks says he'll take entire industry down if convicted in rape lawsuit, you might also like, paolo sorrentino on making his first ‘feminine epic’ with cannes film ‘parthenope’ and directing gary oldman: he’s ‘one of the top five actors in the world’ (exclusive), nypd is investigating death of brooklyn accessories designer, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors, ‘eephus’ review: not even beer league baseball is spared the cruel passage of time, wnba investigating $100k bonus to each las vegas aces player.

Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Rolling Stone, LLC. All rights reserved.

Verify it's you

Please log in.

UK Edition Change

• UK Politics
• News Videos
• Paris 2024 Olympics
• Rugby Union
• Sport Videos
• John Rentoul
• Mary Dejevsky
• Andrew Grice
• Sean O’Grady
• Photography
• Theatre & Dance
• Culture Videos
• Fitness & Wellbeing
• Food & Drink
• Health & Families
• Royal Family
• Electric Vehicles
• Car Insurance Deals
• Lifestyle Videos
• UK Hotel Reviews
• News & Advice
• Simon Calder
• Australia & New Zealand
• South America
• C. America & Caribbean
• Middle East
• Politics Explained
• News Analysis
• Today’s Edition
• Home & Garden
• Broadband deals
• Fashion & Beauty
• Travel & Outdoors
• Sports & Fitness
• Sustainable Living
• Climate Videos
• Solar Panels
• Behind The Headlines
• On The Ground
• Decomplicated
• You Ask The Questions
• Binge Watch
• Travel Smart
• Watch on your TV
• Crosswords & Puzzles
• Most Commented
• Newsletters
• Ask Me Anything
• Virtual Events
• Betting Sites
• Online Casinos
• Wine Offers

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in

Tom Cruise is all in on Barbie-Oppenheimer double feature: ‘It doesn’t get more explosive (or more pink)’

Fans have been debating what order to see the blockbusters, which both release on 21 july, article bookmarked.

Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile

Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey

Get our the life cinematic email for free, thanks for signing up to the the life cinematic email.

It’s less than a month until two of the biggest movies of the year are released on the same day – and Tom Cruise is excited.

Greta Gerwig ’s Barbie – starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling – and Christopher Nolan ’s Oppenheimer – starring Cillian Murphy – are both due for release on 21 July.

As a result, cinemagoers have been planning on watching the two blockbusters as a double feature and are now debating in what order to watch them.

Cruise, whose own summer action film Mission: Impossible – Dead Ref10ckoning Part One is out on 12 July, has expressed his desire to see the movies back-to-back.

In a tweet shared on Wednesday (28 June), the 60-year-old Top Gun star also praised Harrison Ford on his fifth and final Indiana Jones movie, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny , which is released in cinemas on Friday 30 June.

• Tom Cruise refused to kick co-star Pom Klementieff while filming Mission: Impossible 7
• Tom Cruise reveals morbid reason why Mission: Impossible 7 stunt was shot on the first day of filming
• Margot Robbie shares secret behind viral Barbie high heels scene

“This summer is full of amazing movies to see in theatres,” Cruise wrote.

“Congratulations, Harrison Ford, on 40 years of Indy and one of the most iconic characters in history. I love a double feature, and it doesn’t get more explosive (or more pink) than one with Oppenheimer and Barbie .”

Cruise is known for passionately promoting the cinema industry. Earlier this year, Steven Spielberg was filmed telling the actor he’d “saved Hollywood’s ass” thanks to his $1.5bn-grossing Top Gun revival, Maverick.

At the Dead Reckoning UK premiere last week, Cruise told Insider : “I’m always pushing. I just remember, every time they say, ‘Can you top it? Can you not top it?’, we’re always pushing.

“Every film I do, whatever genre it’s in, I want to make it as entertaining as possible for that audience. I know I can do things better.”

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

In the seventh film in the Mission: Impossible franchise, Cruise join forces with Avengers star Hayley Atwell to track down a terrifying new weapon that threatens humanity.

For the most part, reviewers have fawned over Cruise and the film’s breathtaking action sequences . Back in April, the star treated Cinemacon attendees to an “epic” 20-minute motorcycle chase sequence from the movie , which saw the 60-year-old action star bombing around the Italian capital.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is out in cinemas 12 July.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

New to The Independent?

Or if you would prefer:

Want an ad-free experience?

Hi {{indy.fullName}}

• My Independent Premium
• Account details
• Help centre

Things you buy through our links may earn  Vox Media  a commission.

Tom Cruise Is a Barbie - Oppenheimer Double-Feature Evangelist

Tom Cruise is going door-to-door spreading the gospel. The Barbie and Oppenheimer double-feature gospel, that is, a church in which Matt Damon also belongs . These two big-budget summer blockbusters will debut on the same day, which leads some to pit each movie’s box-office numbers against the other or vow to see both of them in a doubleheader. Cruise is a part of the latter sect. “This summer is full of amazing movies to see in theaters,” the Mission Impossible star tweeted. “Congratulations, Harrison Ford, on 40 years of Indy and one of the most iconic characters in history,” he wrote before adding the important bit about an atom-bomb procedural epic and an existentialist movie about a plastic doll. “I love a double feature, and it doesn’t get more explosive (or more pink) than one with Oppenheimer and Barbie,” he finished. Cruise included pictures of himself and an executive holding movie tickets to each film mentioned. The real question, though, is the order one should view the movies. Is there a universally acknowledged sequence that one must view to get the best possible experience? Cruise doesn’t give us insight in his tweet. He needs to hurry up and make a suggestion before some brave soul tries to watch both films at the same time and ends up subconsciously associating Barbie with congressional hearings about nukes.

• why not both?
• oppenheimer

Most Viewed Stories

• Can You Handle Another Bennifer Breakup?
• It’s Time to Bet on Slow Horses
• Cinematrix No. 60: May 17, 2024
• The 11 Best Movies and TV Shows to Watch This Weekend
• Cassie’s Lawsuit Against Diddy, Explained
• A Complete Track-by-Track Timeline of Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s Feud
• Bridgerton Recap: The Carriage Scene

Editor’s Picks

Most Popular

• We’ve Hit Peak Theater

What is your email?

This email will be used to sign into all New York sites. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive email correspondence from us.

Sign In To Continue Reading

Create your free account.

Password must be at least 8 characters and contain:

• Lower case letters (a-z)
• Upper case letters (A-Z)
• Numbers (0-9)
• Special Characters (!@#$%^&*)

As part of your account, you’ll receive occasional updates and offers from New York , which you can opt out of anytime.

• lol Badge Feed
• win Badge Feed
• trending Badge Feed

Browse links

• © 2024 BuzzFeed, Inc
• Consent Preferences
• Accessibility Statement

Tom Cruise Is Planning To See Both "Barbie" And "Oppenheimer" On Opening Weekend, And He's Already Decided Which One He's Going To First

“I want to see both Barbie and Oppenheimer . I’ll see them opening weekend."

BuzzFeed Staff

Even Tom Cruise is on the " Barbenheimer " train, though he isn't technically planning a back-to-back double feature.

For the past several weeks, Tom has been all over the world promoting his latest film in the Mission: Impossible series: Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One. The film comes out July 12, which is a little over a week before the films Barbie and Oppenheimer head to theaters July 21.

All this, combined with the recent release of the latest  Indiana Jones  film,  Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny , has made it a busy time at the box office. Fortunately, Tom appears to be the supportive movie star, publicly posting on Twitter last week about his excitement over the three new films he isn't in.

This summer is full of amazing movies to see in theaters. Congratulations, Harrison Ford, on 40 years of Indy and one of the most iconic characters in history. I love a double feature, and it doesn't get more explosive (or more pink) than one with Oppenheimer and Barbie. pic.twitter.com/udWHHj4fAe — Tom Cruise (@TomCruise) June 28, 2023

Barbie  director Greta Gerwig and the film's star Margot Robbie quickly followed suit and posed with tickets to  Indiana Jones ,  Oppenheimer , and  Mission: Impossible.

Mission: Accepted! pic.twitter.com/DJ2gm5e4XU — Barbie Movie (@barbiethemovie) June 30, 2023

Since  Barbie  and  Oppenheimer  drop the same day, some moviegoers have to decide which film to see first, with many dubbing the double-film event "Barbenheimer."

We’re into Barbenheimer month. Choose your fighter. pic.twitter.com/me54rFcO4Y — Queen's Film Theatre (@QFTBelfast) July 3, 2023

Well, it turns out Tom already has his plan figured out for the July 21 weekend, and he's not planning a same-day screening of both films.

“I want to see both Barbie and Oppenheimer . I’ll see them opening weekend. Friday I’ll see Oppenheimer first, and then Barbie on Saturday," he told the Sydney Morning Herald on July 3.

If it isn't already clear, Tom is a big fan of seeing films in theaters. “I grew up seeing movies on the big screen. That’s how I make them, and I like that experience; it’s immersive, and to have that as a community and an industry, it’s important,” he told the publication. “I still go [to] the movies.”

So there's Tom's plan. What about yours? Tell us in the comments below whether you plan to see Barbie or Oppenheimer first.

Share this article.

• Latest News
• Emergencies
• Ask the Law
• GN Fun Drive
• Visa+Immigration
• Phone+Internet
• Reader Queries
• Safety+Security
• Banking & Insurance
• Dubai Airshow
• Corporate Tax
• Top Destinations
• Corporate News
• Electronics
• Home and Kitchen
• Consumables
• Saving and Investment
• Budget Living
• Expert Columns
• Community Tips
• Cryptocurrency
• Cooking and Cuisines
• Guide to Cooking
• Art & People
• Friday Partner
• Daily Crossword
• Word Search
• Philippines
• Australia-New Zealand
• Corrections
• From the Editors
• Special Reports
• Pregnancy & Baby
• Learning & Play
• Child Health
• For Mums & Dads
• UAE Success Stories
• Live the Luxury
• Culture and History
• Staying Connected

Entertainment

• Live Scores
• Point Table
• Top Scorers
• Photos & Videos
• Course Reviews
• Learn to Play
• South Indian
• Arab Celebs
• Health+Fitness
• Gitex Global 2023
• Best Of Bollywood
• Special Features
• Investing in the Future
• Know Plan Go
• Gratuity Calculator
• Notifications
• Prayer Times

Tom Cruise to watch ‘Oppenheimer’ and ‘Barbie’ in theatres on opening day

Entertainment hollywood.

Actor plans to watch ‘Oppenheimer’ first and ‘Barbie’ the next day

Hollywood actor Tom Cruise is set to watch ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’ on their opening day, which will be two of the biggest movies releasing this month.

“I want to see both Barbie and Oppenheimer. I’ll see them opening weekend,” he said as per ‘The Sydney Morning Herald’.

“Friday I’ll see ‘Oppenheimer’ first and then ‘Barbie’ on Saturday.”

Both films are set to hit theatres on July 21 and will compete for audiences at the box office. Cruise is a big proponent of watching movies in the theatres as that’s the way he grew up.

The ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ star further added: “I grew up seeing movies on the big screen. That’s how I make them, and I like that experience; it’s immersive, and to have that as a community and an industry, it’s important.”

• In pictures: From ashes to phones, pop idols face assault from fans
• Gear up for a rollercoaster ride with the girls trip film 'Joy Ride' out in UAE cinemas this week
• Adele calls out fans who throw things at artistes on stage

“I still go the movies.” The actor has made no secret watching these exciting cinematic ventures on the big screen on their first day.

Back in June, the actor had tweeted his excitement about the two upcoming films.

He had tweeted: “I love a double feature, and it doesn’t get more explosive (or more pink) than one with ‘Oppenheimer’ and ‘Barbie’.

After breaking box office records with his military action film with ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ last year, the actor is all geared to up the ante with the highly anticipated seventh installment of his upcoming spy-thriller-action franchise Mission Impossible with ‘Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One’.

The movie is poised to release on July 12, a week before ‘Oppenheimer’ and ‘Barbie’.

More From HollyWood

Cannes 2024: All about Coppola's 'Megalopolis'

Inside John Krasinski’s new fantasy comedy ‘IF’

Cannes 2024: Fest kicks off with strong women on screen

Cannes 2024: Meryl Streep gets Palme d'Or

Indian actor dies by suicide days after co-star's death

Marriage is not a solution to anything: Prithviraj

Rapper Drake may have a daughter

AI film festival gives glimpse of cinema's future

10 amazing movies with the most sequels

Gantz to quit unless netanyahu shifts to new plan, schauffele and morikawa share pga championship lead, anax developments elevates urban living, watch: 13.5km track for cyclists, pedestrians in dubai, burjeel holdings launches advanced day surgery center.

Get Breaking News Alerts From Gulf News

We’ll send you latest news updates through the day. You can manage them any time by clicking on the notification icon.

Tom Cruise wants you to watch 'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer' over 'Mission Impossible 7', here's why

L OS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Get ready for a thrilling cinematic lineup with a trio of upcoming movies that promise to captivate audiences across different genres. With the highly-anticipated ‘Mission: Impossible- Dead Reckoning Part 1', where Tom Cruise reprises his role as the charismatic spy Ethan Hunt, brace yourself for heart-pounding action, mind-bending twists, and jaw-dropping stunts that have become synonymous with the franchise. Meanwhile, Christopher Nolan's historical drama ‘Oppenheimer' will transport the viewer to the tumultuous era of World War II as the film explores the enigmatic life of J Robert Oppenheimer, the brilliant scientist behind the creation of the atomic bomb. Lastly, in a delightful departure from the usual fare, ‘Barbie' takes center stage, bringing the beloved doll to life in a whimsical and empowering adventure filled with friendship, self-discovery, and unforgettable fun starring Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie . With these diverse offerings, the coming weeks are expected to witness an intense clash in the box office.

In a surprising twist, Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise is urging fans to divert their attention from his own highly anticipated film ‘Mission Impossible 7' and instead focus on ‘Barbie' and ‘Oppenheimer', both premiering on July 21. With his characteristic charm and enthusiasm, Cruise is asking moviegoers to explore new cinematic realms beyond action-packed espionage. Cruise took to Instagram to state that he is looking forward to watch ‘Barbie' and ‘Oppenheimer'.

Why Tom Cruise wants people to watch ‘Barbie' and ‘Oppenheimer' over ‘MI7'

Tom Cruise took to his Instagram to encourage people to visit cinemas this summer and catch movies such as 'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer'. Despite the beautiful weather and the challenging times faced by the film industry, the 'Mission: Impossible' star emphasized the importance of experiencing films on the big screen. He also paid tribute to Harrison Ford on the 40th anniversary of the 'Indiana Jones' franchise, praising Ford for creating an iconic character in cinema history.

Cruise also expressed his excitement for upcoming movies, including Greta Gerwig's live-action 'Barbie' film and Christopher Nolan's biographical thriller 'Oppenheimer'. He described these films as "explosive" and "pink" and shared a picture holding his Cineworld cinema ticket, captioning the post, "This summer is full of amazing movies to see in theaters. These are just a few that we can't wait to see on the big screen. Congratulations, Harrison Ford, on 40 years of Indiana Jones and creating one of the most iconic characters in cinema history. You have given us countless hours of joy." He continued, "I love a double feature, and it doesn't get more explosive (or more pink) than one with Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer and Greta Gerwig's Barbie."

‘All the action is real'

Tom Cruise recently praised 'Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One' as an excellent starting point for newcomers to the franchise, particularly younger viewers. Emphasizing the film's realistic and practical action sequences, Cruise highlighted its epic adventure and visually stunning locations. He commended the movie's "engrossing story" and the "exceptional cast," which includes Hayley Atwell, Rebecca Ferguson, and Simon Pegg.

Describing the film as a defining example of his perspective on cinema, Cruise underscored the brilliance of the ensemble cast and the captivating nature of the story. He told Collider , "They could start with this film to see and understand that this is all real, all the action is real, it's practical. This movie is an epic adventure. It's so lush, filled with practical action and amazing locations." The 60-year-old continued, "[The movie has] submarines, it has the desert, it has Rome, beautiful locations in Abu Dhabi, Norway, a train that we built, action on the train, and a very engrossing story with a really beautiful cast, an amazing, very charismatic cast. I think when you look at this movie, it really defines what I think about cinema and why because you look at this kind of cast, you look at a brilliant ensemble cast, and the kind of story is very engrossing".

SHOCKER: Tom Cruise Reveals All! Here's The Order He Plans To See Barbie And Oppenheimer

Both Greta Gerwig's ultra-pink, kid-friendly fantasy "Barbie" and Christopher Nolan's terse biography "Oppenheimer" will be released on July 21, 2023. One promises to be a fluffy look at one of the most popular toy products ever made, while still interrogating the negative impact it had on the world. The other will be a deep look into the mind of a man whose brilliance and engineering acumen created one of the most deadly weapons ever conceived by humankind. The audiences for the two films could not be more different. 

Or could they? Enterprising cineastes the world over have been intrigued by both Gerwig's and Nolan's movies, and delight in the bizarre juxtaposition of the two being counterprogrammed in theaters against one another. As such, one might find that some audience members fully intend to go to their local multiplex on July 21 and construct one of the most jarring double features imaginable. The term "Barbenheimer" has become a minor meme in recent months, happily blending the two prospective film experiences into one. One can even find Barbenheimer t-shirts on Etsy.

Of course, the question remains: which film does one watch first? Do you start with a frothy, lighthearted romp, have a drink, and then contemplate the destruction of the Earth via nuclear bomb? Or does one start with the longer, headier film, and chase it with something colorful?

One notable fan asking this question is Tom Cruise, star of "Taps" and "Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Part One." He, like many of us, intends to see "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" on their opening weekend. He also, as he revealed in a recent interview with Variety , has a plan of action.

Cruise's Barbenheimer plans

Cruise, it seems, has no plans to marathon both films on the same day. Gerwig's "Barbie" is a surprisingly long 114 minutes, while Nolan's "Oppenheimer" is a hefty 180 minutes. Add in a 15-minute break for coffee, as well as the typical theater's coming attractions reels, and that's about six straight hours at the theater. This is not feasible for viewers who have day jobs or require babysitters. Cruise is likely a busy guy — his own new action blockbuster will be playing in theaters alongside "Barbenheimer" — so he'll be splitting up the experiences. His plan: 

"I want to see both 'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer.' I'll see them opening weekend. Friday, I'll see Oppenheimer' first and then 'Barbie' on Saturday."

Fine. A hefty movie for a Friday night, then a Saturday matinee to unwind. This is as good a plan as any. 

How one orders "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" may well depend on your disposition. If one wants to leave the theater in a hopeful mood, pondering that little kids can take hope from their toys and construct identities for themselves, then finish with "Barbie." If one prefers to leave a theater with a great weight on their brain, contemplating how humankind's implied promise of a grand technological future was ultimately betrayed by the construction of an atomic bomb, then definitely finish with "Oppenheimer." Personally, I would skew toward the latter. Either way, I'd be interested to hear reviews from people — including Cruise — who tried doubling up. 

It's been theorized that any two films, when watched back-to-back, seem to share a thematic link. Perhaps the link would be different if "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" were watched in a certain order. 

How would you construct a Barbenheimer double feature?

Tom Cruise vs Oppenheimer vs Barbie: which movie are you most excited for?

Between July's three biggest movies, which one are you most looking forward to?

In the span of nine days in July, movie fans are going to be in heaven. On July 12, Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One , releases worldwide, then on July 21 we get the one-two punch of Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer and Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie's Barbie . There probably hasn't been a run of such highly anticipated movies releasing in such a short window since pre-COVID; all three movies made WTW's list of blockbuster movies we're excited to see this summer.

As of publication, there's still more than a month before any of those movies are available to watch, but a rivalry among the three of them is already brewing. 

The one between Oppenhimer and Barbie has been talked about for a while, pretty much since we learned they were going to release on the same day. But a recent report by Puck News revealed that Tom Cruise may have his own beef over Oppenheimer taking away IMAX movie screens away from the latest Mission: Impossible and is pushing to change their minds.

Most of this is just business and hype around these movies. As Matt Damon, who stars in Oppenheimer , correctly pointed out , there is no rule against people going to only one movie in a weekend; there are even ways to help make multiple trips more affordable with movie theater subscriptions and membership deals if that's a worry. We know we'll certainly be seeing these movies on the big screen as soon as we can. Oppenheimer and Barbie could make for a fun double feature.

But, in all fairness, it is kind of fun to stack these movies against each other. We'll have to wait to see how they compare at the box office, but we can find out right now how excited you, the average moviegoer, are about each one of these films.

So, between the new Mission: Impossible , Oppenheimer and Barbie , which one are you most eager to see?

You can cast your vote in the poll below, but here's a brief rundown of each movie in case you need some additional info to help make your pick.

Get the What to Watch Newsletter

The latest updates, reviews and unmissable series to watch and more!

Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One

Release date : July 12 Starring : Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Hayley Atwell, Vanessa Kirby, Pom Klementieff, Esai Morales, Cary Elwes, Indira Varma, Shea Whigham and Henry Czerny What's it about : Dead Reckoning is the seventh movie in Cruise's Mission: Impossible franchise, and as the Part One of the title suggests, the first half of a larger story. We don't know a lot of plot specifics, but we do know it is going to deliver another incredible Tom Cruise stunt , which some are calling his biggest stunt ever . It has felt like each Mission: Impossible movie has been better than the last (OK, maybe not Mission: Impossible II ), we can only hope that continues here.

Release date : July 21 Starring : Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Will Ferrell, Kate McKinnon, Simu Liu, Helen Mirren, John Cena, Emma Mackey, Michael Cera, Issa Rae, Kingsley Ben-Adir and plenty more. What it's about : Greta Gerwig wrote the script with her partner Noah Baumbach ( Marriage Story ), so get ready to have your expectations rocked for what a Barbie movie can be. From the trailer, Barbie (Robbie) begins to have questions about the Barbie-centric world she inhabits and must venture into the real world to get some answers. The movie looks colorful, absolutely hilarious and stuffed to the brim with fun actors.

Oppenheimer

Release date : July 21 Starring : Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, Jack Quaid, Gary Oldman, Olivia Thirlby, Josh Peck and Benny Safdie What it's about : Nolan tells the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, considered the father of the atomic bomb. If that doesn't necessarily sound like a blockbuster movie to you, consider that Nolan reportedly recreated a nuclear explosion without the use of CGI. Add in that he shot the movie in IMAX, it has a reported three-hour run time and it is the first R-rated movie of Nolan's in 20 years and there's plenty of intrigue around Oppenheimer .

Let us know which of the three movies you are most excited to see when they release in July (though we hope you see all of them).

Michael Balderston is a DC-based entertainment and assistant managing editor for What to Watch, who has previously written about the TV and movies with TV Technology, Awards Circuit and regional publications. Spending most of his time watching new movies at the theater or classics on TCM, some of Michael's favorite movies include Casablanca , Moulin Rouge! , Silence of the Lambs , Children of Men , One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest and Star Wars . On the TV side he enjoys Only Murders in the Building, Yellowstone, The Boys, Game of Thrones and is always up for a Seinfeld rerun. Follow on Letterboxd .

These are the A-list stars voicing the imaginary friends in the IF cast

15 blockbuster movies for summer 2024 ranked: the movies we can't wait for

The Bold and the Beautiful spoilers: week of May 20-24

Most Popular

• 2 General Hospital spoilers: week of May 20-24
• 3 Days of Our Lives spoilers: week of May 20-24
• 4 Shogun season 2: everything we know about the Japanese period drama
• 5 Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage: everything we know about the Young Sheldon spinoff

Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, sweepstakes, and more!

Why Does Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer Have Tom Cruise so Upset?

The star of Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning is reportedly up in arms over some IMAX plans.

There are a lot of big movies hitting theaters this summer, but two of the most-anticipated are inarguably  Oppenheimer  and  Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One . One is a major new historical drama from one of blockbuster cinema's most well-regarded filmmakers, while the other is the latest action spectacle from a living legend many fans consider to be among the last remaining true movie stars. They're both movies we're anxious to see, and now they're reportedly at odds in a very interesting way.

According to a new report over at Puck , Tom Cruise is vocally "pissed" behind the scenes over the IMAX exhibition deal Universal Pictures secured for  Oppenheimer , which director Christopher Nolan now-famously shot entirely in the IMAX format . As Universal prepped the film's release with Nolan, they locked down a deal that will secure every IMAX screen in North America for Oppenheimer and only Oppenheimer , and the deal will continue for the first three weeks of that film's release.

RELATED: Christopher Nolan Reveals  Oppenheimer  IMAX Secrets

So, what's the problem? Well,  Dead Reckoning  opens less than two weeks ahead of  Oppenheimer , and while Cruise can be confident that his film will dominate IMAX auditoriums for those two weeks, once Nolan's film arrives at the end of July it will knock all  Dead Reckoning  showtimes out of IMAX screens entirely, potentially drawing spectacle and box office dollars away from the film. 

What Is Oppenheimer Rated? Film Marks Christopher Nolan's First R Rating in 20 Years

As Puck's Matthew Belloni points out,  Dead Reckoning  is still likely to land a bigger box office haul than  Oppenheimer . It's the latest in a major action franchise known for Cruise's daring stunts, and Cruise is still  Tom Cruise  even if you don't see him on IMAX screens. Still, for a guy who's been credited with reviving the theatrical experience thanks to last year's  Top Gun: Maverick , the loss of IMAX so early in his film's run has to sting. As a result, Cruise is reportedly going around to distributors and working to keep his film on as many other Premium Large Format screens as possible, while Nolan will have full command of the IMAX spotlight.

It'll be very interesting to see how this all plays out when both films are in theaters and earning money, and it'll be even more interesting to see how both Nolan and Cruise play this reported showdown in the public eye. Whatever happens, we still get to see both movies.

Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One  is in theaters July 12.  Oppenheimer  arrives July 21, get tickets here !

• Mission: Impossible 7
• Oppenheimer
• Christopher Nolan

Related Stories

Chris Pratt Mourns Jurassic World Stunt Double

Abigail Star Reveals Alternate Ending for Vampire Flick

Spy Kids is Still a Benchmark For Latinx Representation in Blockbusters

What If Operation Valkyrie Had Succeeded in Killing Hitler?

Hot Take: The Rock and Karl Urban's 2005 Doom Movie Doesn’t Suck

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish Directors On That 'Shrek' Tease

Jurassic Park's '6-Foot Turkey' Kid Looks Back on Iconic Role

The Dark History Behind the Fairy Tale of Hansel and Gretel

Abigail Sets Streaming Premiere: What to Know, How to Watch at Home

How 1990s Lost in Space Movie Was Meant to Launch a Franchise

Deep Sea Animated Fantasy Film Streaming Now on Peacock

How The Chronicles of Riddick Turns a Simple Sci-Fi Story Into Dune

Recommended for you.

Linda Hamilton on Resident Alien Role: "I'm Not the Funny Girl, I'm the Straight Man"

The Classic Twilight Zone Episode That Inspired Jordan Peele's Us

Resident Alien's Alan Tudyk on Harry's New Love Interest, Edi Patterson's Blue Avian

Screen Rant

Tom cruise angry at oppenheimer & barbie taking mission: impossible 7 screens, new report reveals battle for summer bo.

Your changes have been saved

Email Is sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Jurassic World 4’s “New Era” Can Fix An Original Steven Spielberg Jurassic Park Mistake

Denzel washington's lost role in 2023 thriller prevented a perfect 30-year reunion from happening, how david bowie was almost cast in sylvester stallone’s $255m action classic recalled by director.

A new report suggests Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One star Tom Cruise is angry that Oppenheimer and Barbie are taking screens away from his film. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One will be the beginning of the end of Cruise's Ethan Hunt, whose last mission begins on July 12, 2023. However, just one week later on July 21, the highly anticipated Oppenheimer and Barbie films will be released in theaters.

Now, a report from Puck claims Cruise is angry that the Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One release will lose key IMAX screens fairly quickly, most of them to Oppenheimer . While Cruise's blockbuster will play in IMAX during its first week of release, Oppenheimer will be playing on all IMAX screens in the US for its first three weeks of release as part of an exclusive deal. The new Mission: Impossible film will also have to struggle against Barbie , which opens on the same day as Oppenheimer .

What Mission: Impossible 7's Struggles Mean For The Summer Box Office

The report goes on to highlight just how many high-profile films are expected to come out during the summer. According to the article, a major film release is expected to be in theaters almost every week through mid-August, starting with Fast X 's release two weeks ago. Aside from Oppenheimer and Barbie , Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One will also have to compete with Haunted Mansion , Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem , Meg 2: The Trench , and Gran Turismo , all of which come out within one month of the newest Mission: Impossible film.

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One 's competition with other major blockbusters puts the film in a difficult position. While the new Mission: Impossible will be the longest-running of the franchise and mark the beginning of its end, its box office revenue is bound to be impacted by other films releasing during its run. This is especially true for Oppenheimer , the IMAX screenings of which could significantly slow Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One 's performance.

Cruise's anger about Mission: Impossible 7 losing IMAX screens to Oppenheimer is understandable, given how competitive it seems the summer will be for big film releases. The situation also illustrates just how many major movies are coming out in the next few months, something that could make it daunting for consumers to keep up with every major release. It remains to be seen just how much Oppenheimer, Barbie , and other high-profile films will impact Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One at the box office.

Source: Puck

Key Release Dates

Mission: impossible - dead reckoning part one, mission: impossible - dead reckoning part two.

• Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning (2023)
• Oppenheimer (2023)

Subscribe Now! Get features like

• Latest News
• Entertainment
• Real Estate
• SRH vs PBKS Live Score
• SRH vs PBKS
• Lok Sabha Election 2024
• My First Vote
• IPL 2024 Schedule
• IPL Points Table
• IPL Purple Cap
• IPL Orange Cap
• The Interview
• Web Stories
• Virat Kohli
• Mumbai News
• Bengaluru News
• Daily Digest
• Election Schedule 2024

Barbie or Oppenheimer? Check which side are Tom Cruise, Matt Damon and other Hollywood stars on

Here's how some of the hollywood stars have reacted on the prospective battle- “oppenheimer vs barbie”, which is also being hailed as "the bomb vs bombshell"..

Film Pundits are speculating on which of the two upcoming Hollywood movies namely Oppenheimer and Barbie, would do the best on the box office. The battle between the two multi-starrer films is further interesting because both are getting released on July 21, 2023. For some fans,it's a double bonanza and they are referrring the two movies together as “Barbenheimer”.

Oppenheimer's star cast includes big names like Robert Downey Jr. , Matt Damon and Cillian Murphy. The movie is based on the Pulitzer Prize–winning biography American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer. Oppenheimer was an American physicist who is known as the "father of the atomic bomb" for his major contribution in the Manhattan Project which ultimately led to the development of world's first nuclear weapons.

"Barbie" is a fantasy movie based on the Barbie fashion dolls by Mattel, an American toy manufacturing company. Directed by Greta Gerwig, the movie's story revolves around how Barbie and Ken explore the real world after being expelled from "Barbie Land" for being less-than-perfect dolls. Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie are the lead actor and actress respectively in the film.

“I want to see both Barbie and Oppenheimer. I’ll see them opening weekend. Friday I’ll see Oppenheimer first and then Barbie on Saturday," Tom told The Sydney Morning Herald, when he was in the Australian capital for the premiere of Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning - Part One.

“People are allowed to go see two movies in a weekend. Oppenheimer is one of them!” Damon told Vanity Fair in May. On being told that his four daughters might prefer to watch Barbie, Damon said: “I’ll have to ask them that. If that’s the case, they’ll see two movies that weekend!”.

Cillian Murphy

“I mean, I’ll be going to see Barbie, 100 per cent. I can’t wait to see it. I think it’s just great for the industry and for audiences, that we have two amazing films by amazing filmmakers coming out on the same day. You can spend the whole day in the cinema – what’s better than that?, ”Murphy told IGN recently.

• Christopher Nolan

“Summer, in a healthy marketplace, is always crowded, and we’ve been doing this a long time. I think for those of us who care about movies, we’ve been really waiting to have a crowded marketplace again, and now it’s here and that’s terrific,” Nolan told IGN recently.

• Margot Robbie

IPL 2024 Coverage

Join Hindustan Times

Create free account and unlock exciting features like.

• Terms of use
• Privacy policy
• Weather Today
• HT Newsletters
• Subscription
• Print Ad Rates
• Code of Ethics

• IPL Live Score
• T20 World Cup Schedule
• IPL 2024 Auctions
• T20 World Cup 2024
• Cricket Teams
• Cricket Players
• ICC Rankings
• Cricket Schedule
• T20 World Cup Points Table
• Other Cities
• Income Tax Calculator
• Budget 2024
• Petrol Prices
• Diesel Prices
• Silver Rate
• Relationships
• Art and Culture
• Taylor Swift: A Primer
• Telugu Cinema
• Tamil Cinema
• Board Exams
• Exam Results
• Competitive Exams
• BBA Colleges
• Engineering Colleges
• Medical Colleges
• BCA Colleges
• Medical Exams
• Engineering Exams
• Horoscope 2024
• Festive Calendar 2024
• Compatibility Calculator
• The Economist Articles
• Lok Sabha States
• Lok Sabha Parties
• Lok Sabha Candidates
• Explainer Video
• On The Record
• Vikram Chandra Daily Wrap
• EPL 2023-24
• ISL 2023-24
• Asian Games 2023
• Public Health
• Economic Policy
• International Affairs
• Climate Change
• Gender Equality
• future tech
• Daily Sudoku
• Daily Crossword
• Daily Word Jumble
• HT Friday Finance
• Explore Hindustan Times
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Subscription - Terms of Use

Don't Forget: 'Mission: Impossible 8' Is Coming to the Biggest Possible Screen Next Spring

The Tom Cruise-led action franchise is getting an extended run in the premium IMAX format.

The Big Picture

• IMAX gives three-week exclusive run for Mission: Impossible 8 which will no doubt boost box office performance.
• Dead Reckoning Part One faced tough competition but still grossed $567.5 million worldwide.
• Paramount's strategic move to give Mission: Impossible 8 a clear IMAX run and a new, more accessible title sets it up for success in 2025.

IMAX has announced that the highly anticipated Mission: Impossible 8 will have a three-week exclusive run in its premium format theaters next year. This announcement comes after the film, previously titled Dead Reckoning - Part Two , faced a significant delay of almost a year. The extended IMAX run is a strategic move to give the film a competitive edge, following the lessons learned from the release of its predecessor, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One .

Dead Reckoning Part One faced a tough battle at the box office last year. Its release came just a week before the unexpected "Barbenheimer" phenomenon , which saw Barbie and Oppenheimer dominate the box office, effectively sidelining Mission: Impossible . A significant blow was losing its premium format screens to Oppenheimer merely a week after its debut. Despite this setback, Dead Reckoning Part One managed to gross $567.5 million worldwide, a figure bolstered by a $71 million insurance payout due to COVID-19-related production delays.

Bruce Markoe , head of IMAX post-production, revealed that IMAX had initially approached Paramount before the release of Dead Reckoning Part One to suggest a date adjustment that would allow the film a clearer run on IMAX screens. The goal was to give the film a larger share of the premium format audience. However, Paramount chose not to take the advice , resulting in a crowded release window that hampered the film's box office potential. Learning from this experience, Paramount has now secured an uninterrupted three-week IMAX run for Mission: Impossible 8 , ensuring the film maximizes its exposure in premium theaters.

A Title Change for 'Mission: Impossible 8'

Another significant change is the film's title. While Dead Reckoning Part Two indicated a continuation, it may have contributed to the previous film's underperformance . Commentators suggest that the title might have deterred casual viewers, who were less inclined to invest in a lengthy film that ended on a cliffhanger. This mirrors issues faced by other franchises, like Marvel's initial approach with Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame as Parts 1 and 2 , which they later rebranded to create distinct entities. The new title aims to attract a broader audience by presenting the film as a standalone experience.

James Gunn's 'Superman' Just Got an Extremely Large Release Update

With the exclusive IMAX run and a more accessible title, Mission: Impossible 8 is positioned to capitalize on the premium format's immersive experience, attracting both dedicated fans and new viewers. The series, known for its high-octane action and intricate plots, stars Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt, alongside Rebecca Ferguson as Ilsa Faust and a stellar ensemble cast.

As Mission: Impossible 8 gears up for its 2025 release, the strategic adjustments in its rollout reflect lessons learned from past releases. The extended IMAX run promises a more favorable box office environment, while the title change is expected to broaden its appeal. Fans can look forward to another thrilling chapter in the Mission: Impossible saga, optimized for the best possible viewing experience. 2025 will also see Brad Pitt 's Formula One movie and Joker: Folie à Deux hit the screens on IMAX.

Stay tuned for more updates on Mission: Impossible 8 and its exclusive IMAX premiere.

Mission: Impossible 8

The 8th entry in the long running Mission Impossible franchise.

Tom Cruise's Warner Bros. Deal Could Signal the End of Mission: Impossible

Tom Cruise recently signed a deal with Warner Bros. to produce & star in projects, but what does that mean for Mission: Impossible at Paramount?

• Tom Cruise's recent deal with Warner Bros. Discovery allows him the freedom to work with other studios, indicating that he may be seeking a new home for his projects.
• Paramount's handling of the release and budgeting issues of Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One caused tensions between Cruise and the studio.
• The success of Top Gun: Maverick did not alleviate the strain between Cruise and Paramount, and it's possible that the next installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise could be Cruise's last.

It's a very good time to be Tom Cruise . Arguably the biggest movie star working today, the actor recently signed a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery to produce original and franchise films in which he will also star. The pact sounded like the next stage in his evolution to have a stronghold on an industry he undeniably loves. It also sounded like a plan for him to move on. Cruise, while not having a deal with Paramount Pictures, exclusive or otherwise, has made many of his recent movies with them, including the box office and critical behemoth that was Top Gun: Maverick and the Mission: Impossible films. His relationship with the studio appeared solid but digging deeper into how the release of Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One was handled, it could appear that Cruise was possibly looking for a new home to do business, which could mean that the next installment of the Impossible franchise could be the last.

When the Warner Bros. Discovery deal was announced, one of the most significant pieces of news about it was that it was not an exclusive pact. Cruise is free to work with other studios on other projects should they not interfere with prior engagements. For Warner Bros., any deal with the actor would be a win-win. Despite coming off the massive success of Barbie , they're also still dealing with the stink of bad optics business moves (shelving films for tax write-offs) and expensive flops ( Shazam! Fury of the Gods and The Flash ). Getting in line with the actor who became known for saving cinema during the post-pandemic box office courtesy of Top Gun: Maverick , could right many wrongs and put the studio back on track to its former greatness.

But what did it mean for Cruise? He had been seemingly happy doing business with Paramount since 1992, when his production company Cruise/Wagner entered a production deal leading to the first Mission: Impossible in 1996. That deal ended long ago, but they were still doing great business together. As it turns out, their deal began with Mission: Impossibl e, and it looks like cracks also started to appear due to the most recent installment of Mission: Impossible .

Tom Cruise's Issues With Paramount Actually Began with Top Gun: Maverick

Top gun: maverick.

Tom Cruise returns as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, and keeps pushing the envelope as a seasoned aviator for the Navy in this sequel to the original Top Gun film.

Let's rewind just a bit. The apparent issues between Cruise and Paramount go back to Top Gun: Maverick . What possible problems could arise from a movie that made $1.5 billion worldwide and also received awards attention, including a Best Picture Oscar nomination? Even though the film eventually hit screens in May 2022, the movie was initially slated for release in July 2019. The project was then delayed until June 2020 to complete shooting on several complex action sequences.

Then, the COVID-19 pandemic happened, and moviegoing as we knew it collapsed. Movie theaters shuttered worldwide, and studios scrambled to reschedule their projects, hoping the pandemic would wane. Top Gun: Maverick suffered many delays due to this as Paramount began to shuffle it around the schedule, but in the middle of this shuffle, the studio also considered a streaming or VOD release for the project to finally get the film out. This sparked the first round of tension between Cruise and Paramount.

Will Tom Cruise Ever Win an Oscar?

Cruise has been adamant in his stance on his films. At the Cannes premiere of Top Gun: Maverick in 2022, the actor stated, "I make movies for the big screen." This is why, while Paramount was willing to consider a streaming launch for Maverick during the pandemic, Cruise was not. For the studio, this had to be stressful because they were dealing with the unprecedented results of the pandemic while also bleeding money.

Delaying a film and rescheduling it isn't a free endeavor. A new marketing campaign has to be generated, which increases the costs of a project that is already pricey. Possibly dealing with any other actor, Paramount could've convinced them to release the film for home viewing, but not Cruise. The actor was willing to wait this out, no matter the costs, which proved to be a battle—a battle that Cruise ultimately won, which ended up being financially beneficial for all involved.

You would think that after the success of Top Gun: Maverick, Paramount would be all about "in Cruise we trust," but they again butted heads while making Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One , which was initially announced alongside Dead Reckoning Part Two . Much like films awaiting release due to COVID-19, movies in production were also affected. Filming on all projects was halted immediately due to the pandemic, including Mission: Impossible , which began a delay that only cost more money. Once safety protocols were implemented for productions to return to work, these additions also inflated the budget, increasing Dead Reckoning to almost $300 million.

Paramount CEO Brian Robbins has since revealed that the studio and Cruise feuded over the budget on Dead Reckoning Part One and what has now become known as Mission: Impossible 8 , a film that was also delayed due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, which has since ended. Robbins has stated that Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie wanted more money to add an expensive scene towards the end of the first film that was originally intended for Part 2 , and Paramount wasn't willing to pay:

"Let's just say that the studio and the production and Tom were in a disagreement over direction, and there was a stalemate going on. We had to hit the pause button. They were stuck on how they were going to move forward with 'Dead Reckoning Part Two' while finishing 'Part One.' It was a production issue, and it was about the scope of what was being asked for. And the question we needed to ask was do we need this and why? And then how big is it going to be, and how is that going to take?"

Budget and collaboration have been a common fight between Cruise and Paramount, particularly during this last run of Mission: Impossible films. According to a report in The Hollywood Reporter , tensions have only increased between the megastar and the studio:

"Tensions have gotten higher between Tom and Paramount as relates to budget and collaboration. He doesn't send script pages, doesn't let them see dailies. He used to be very responsible on budgets. That changed on Dead Reckoning."

Had the box office results been more significant, these tensions could've been erased. However, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One was not the massive box office success that Paramount, or even Cruise, may have expected. The film grossed $566 million globally, which is not a horrible figure but certainly lacking when compared to the film's $300 million budget, not including marketing costs.

For comparison's sake, Rogue Nation grossed $682.7 million worldwide on a $150 million budget, while Fallout was even better at $791.7 million globally on a $178 million budget. The numbers on Dead Reckoning were beneath these figures, but Cruise likely thinks this could've been prevented had Paramount better scheduled the film to appropriately dominate IMAX screens.

Paramount Fumbled the Release of Dead Reckoning on IMAX Screens

Dead Reckoning was already postponed over COVID issues, so it's understandable why the studio didn't want to delay it further. Still, they declined IMAX's request to delay its release a bit more, which limited its run on their large format screens to just nine days. The film opened ahead of Oppenheimer and Barbie , with Oppenheimer having contracted access to IMAX screens due to director Christopher Nolan filming the movie with their cameras.

Oppenheimer had those screens for over three weeks or longer, while Mission: Impossible only had them for nine. Cruise reportedly made many angry calls to rectify this, but his anger was brushed aside. One tactic that was played was moving the film up to a mid-week Wednesday release to have the screens longer, but that wasn't nearly enough, and perhaps hundreds of millions of dollars were left on the table.

Edge of Tomorrow 2 Talks Are Happening, Tom Cruise Could Join Quentin Tarantino’s Final Movie

All of these rifts left Cruise open to be courted by other studios. The deal with Warner Bros. reportedly came about after a meeting between Cruise and CEO David Zaslav went well as the duo hit it off over their potential plans. Allegedly, Paramount was unaware of these meetings or developments, but they wouldn't need to be since Cruise no longer had an exclusive deal with them. Should they have heard about this union when it hit the trades, Paramount had to be worried about truly losing their golden goose.

Since the deal with Warner Bros. also doesn't have an exclusivity clause, Cruise is free to work with anyone he wants, including more deals with Paramount. However, to most looking in, it appears that Cruise is setting the stage to cut off ties. He still needs to complete Mission: Impossible 8, and he no doubt will make it as epic as it can be, but signs point to it being his last hurrah as Ethan Hunt. Even though he has expressed interest in continuing these films, a lot can change when business relationships falter. Once he concludes his obligations with Paramount, he could properly put Mission: Impossible to rest, which has had an incredible run that many thought wouldn't still be going on when it began in 1996.

Putting an interesting wrinkle in all of this was the announcement that Top Gun 3 is in the works with a script currently being written that includes Cruise and his Maverick co-stars Miles Teller and Glen Powell. If his relationship with Paramount is so fragile, why would he be involved with them on another Top Gun film?

It should be noted that Paramount nor Cruise have publicly commented on this development, but it does feel like a final hail Mary from the studio to stay in good graces with the actor as he sets up offices on the Burbank lot with Warner Bros. The news also landed almost like a let us put our big news against your big news. It felt very competitive, as if this sort of fight was going on to make Cruise happy. Ultimately, Cruise is the clear winner here because he's free to develop projects with anyone he sees fit.

Even with the Top Gun 3 news surfacing, it's a long road from getting in front of the cameras. A script needs to be finished, and shooting a film of this scope would take time in addition to post-production. He still needs to finish Paramount's own Mission: Impossible film, and he has to get to work on the Doug Liman-directed Universal project that will see the actor shooting in space, which will hopefully feature some of Tom Cruise's best stunts . Cruise's calendar is extremely crowded, and it's unclear when he'll get to work on anything new for Warner Bros., Paramount, or any other studio. For now, it seems like Cruise is setting up the next stage of his career, and that could very well be without Mission: Impossible , Ethan Hunt, or Paramount Pictures.

Warner Bros. Spends Big: ‘Joker 2’ Budget Hits $200 Million, Lady Gaga’s $12 Million Payday, Courting Tom Cruise’s New Deal and More 

By Tatiana Siegel

Tatiana Siegel

• Janet Montgomery to Play Young Faye Dunaway in Jonathan Baker’s ‘Fate’ 18 hours ago
• Cannes Bomb Scare: The Croisette Shuts Down in Front of Palais 19 hours ago
• From Torch Lady to Michelle Yeoh: Columbia Pictures Marks Its 100-Year Anniversary in Cannes With Legendary Leading Ladies Photo Exhibit 2 days ago

In January, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group chiefs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy jetted to London to connect with the new crown jewel of the studio, Tom Cruise . The three met to identify a film that would kick off their nonexclusive “strategic partnership.” Sources say a raft of possibilities were discussed, including an “Edge of Tomorrow” follow-up and Quentin Tarantino ’s “The Movie Critic,” which currently isn’t set up with a distributor and has Warner Bros., like every major studio, salivating.

Popular on Variety

“The strategy at Warner Bros. right now and the reason they made some of these big star deals is they’re basically playing with other people’s money,” says one insider. “They’re shopping for Quentin or Cruise with the notion they can use it as a shiny object that is going to be additive when Zaslav sells the company.”

That time may be approaching. In April, Warner Bros. Discovery can entertain offers to buy, sell or merge with a studio like NBCUniversal, as many on the lot believe will happen. That’s when the two-year lock-up period expires as part of the 2022 deal that united WarnerMedia and Discovery. All of the recent moves, from a first-look pact with Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap to the quest to land Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” follow-up are akin to painting a house before it hits the market.

And this is one splashy renovation. The budget for Todd Phillips’ musical “Joker” sequel — one of De Luca and Abdy’s first green lights — has ballooned to about $200 million, a significant bump from the $60 million cost of the first film. Sources say Joaquin Phoenix is getting $20 million to reprise his role as the clown prince of crime, while Lady Gaga is taking home about $12 million to play Harley Quinn. “Joker” took in more than $1 billion, but musicals are tricky. Case in point: Warners lost $40 million on last year’s “The Color Purple,” according to sources. Though that one can be blamed on the previous regime.

Some argue that spending big is essential when releasing movies in theaters.

“There’s only so much top talent in Hollywood, and it’s very competitive and stretched thin because a lot of talent have deals in streaming,” says Jeff Bock of Exhibitor Relations. “If theatrical is going to work, you need the A-lister like Tom and Leo, and Warner Bros. is spending what they need to spend to keep this talent.”

But executives across town believe Warners’ math sometimes doesn’t add up, with the studio decried as fiscally irresponsible. The Anderson film, for instance, was greenlit with a $115 million budget, according to sources. Underscoring the gamble, none of the director’s movies has crossed $80 million at the box office. His latest, 2021’s “Licorice Pizza,” made $33 million worldwide. Even with Cruise’s star power, “Magnolia” only mustered $48.5 million. (It was De Luca, then a New Line exec, who convinced Cruise to play “Magnolia’s” misogynistic self-help guru.) The pair are said to be less pumped about another auteur’s latest: Bong Joon Ho ’s “Mickey 17.” In January, Warner Bros. pulled the $150 million Robert Pattinson sci-fi starrer from its schedule and then moved it to 2025. A Warner rep insists: “There is, of course, enthusiasm for it.”

As merger mania draws near, De Luca and Abdy seem unwilling to push back on talent asks. But apparently they did just that during the Coogler-Jordan negotiations. The director and star wanted 25% of first-dollar gross to split and two guaranteed theatrical release slots for future films. Both deal points were nixed.

Despite the pressure to acquiesce to demands from top talent, De Luca and Abdy can still say no.

More From Our Brands

‘snl’: jake gyllenhaal tries and tries to cancel a flight, patek philippe leads geneva’s spring watch auctions to a frothy $125 million, wnba investigating $100k bonus to each las vegas aces player, the best loofahs and body scrubbers, according to dermatologists, snl video: jake gyllenhaal and sabrina carpenter’s scooby-doo parody ends in a violent bloodbath, verify it's you, please log in.

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes

Pom Klementieff asked Tom Cruise to kick her in the stomach for Mission: Impossible fight scene

"I kept telling him to just kick me here," the Guardians of the Galaxy actress recalls to EW, indicating her midsection. "I was squeezing abs... But he wouldn't do it."

Senior Writer

Tom Cruise got strapped to the outside of a plane for 2015's Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation and rode a motorbike off a cliff for the latest sequel, Dead Reckoning Part One . But there is at least one thing the Top Gun star won't do in pursuit of on-screen verisimilitude while making the action franchise — kick Pom Klementieff in the stomach.

In the latest Mission: Impossible film, the Guardians of the Galaxy actress plays a highly dangerous character named Paris who is partnered with the movie's main antagonist, Gabriel, played by Esai Morales. During a sequence set in Venice, Paris has a fight with Cruise's super-spy Ethan Hunt and it was while shooting the encounter that Klementieff asked her co-star to give her a kick in the guts for real.

"I kept telling him to just kick me here," the actress recalls to EW, indicating her midsection. "I was squeezing abs. [I said], 'You can just go for it.' He was like 'No, no, no, no, no.' I was like, 'But it's going to help me!' But he wouldn't do it."

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One director Christopher McQuarrie cast Klementieff after seeing her playing Mantis in Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 and describes her character as "very, very, very much a chaotic element in the story. It doesn't matter how deep in the background she is, you're going to be watching her at all times and wondering what she's going to do." The actress herself says that Paris is someone who "destroys everything in her path. She's a rebel, she's a killer, she's extremely skilled and quite lonely too."

Much of the destruction caused by the character takes place in Rome during a sequence in which a Humvee-driving Paris pursues Cruise's Ethan Hunt and Hayley Atwell 's character, who are in a small yellow Fiat. "I had so much fun shooting this scene," says the French actress. "It was so special to be on location in Rome. We were shooting during COVID, so we were very lucky to be here. I was trying to not laugh too much because I was having so much fun in the car following the Fiat."

Klementieff reveals that her character's name is a nod to the Great Paris, the magician-spy played by Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy on the original Mission: Impossible TV show. "When Christopher McQuarrie cast me for the role, he didn't know which name the character would have," she says. "It was cool to name me Paris, me being from France, and then they decided that I would speak French because I speak French in real life."

It is unlikely that Nimoy ever wore anything as eye-catching on the TV show as the looks sported by Klementieff in the movie.

"She's very different style-wise from every other actress in the Mission: Impossible franchise," Klementieff says. "She has a side that's a bit more punk and she doesn't really give a f---. So that was cool."

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One will release in theaters July 12.

Want more movie news? Sign up for Entertainment Weekly 's free newsletter to get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more.

Related content:

• 'I want to wreck a train!': Behind the scenes of Mission: Impossible 7
• Tom Cruise is on the run in new Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One images
• Watch the trailer for Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
• Tom Cruise says iconic Mission: Impossible vault scene nearly didn't happen because stunt was too hard

Related Articles