Margot Robbie reveals SHE was mastermind behind ‘Barbenheimer’ after REFUSING to move release date of Barbie going up against Oppenheimer: ‘It’s a perfect double billing’

By William On Dec 5, 2023

Margot Robbie revealed she was the mastermind behind 'Barbenheimer' while performing alongside Cillian Murphy Variety's actors on actorswhich dropped on Tuesday.

Greta Gerwig's comedy about the 1959 Mattel Barbie doll and Christopher Nolan's biopic about the “father of the atomic bomb” J. Robert Oppenheimer were both scheduled to be released on the same day: July 21.

The Australian 33-year-old – who produced Barbie – recalled the moment Oppenheimer producer Chuck Rove called her and said: “I think you guys should move your date.”

“And I was like, 'We're not moving our date. If you're afraid to stand up to us, then you should move your date,'” Margot explained.

“And he says, 'We're not moving our date. I just think it's better for you to move.' And I thought, “We're not moving!” I actually think this is a great duo. It's a perfect double bill, Oppenheimer and Barbie.'

Margot Robbie revealed she was the mastermind behind 'Barbenheimer' when she appeared alongside Cillian Murphy in Variety's Actors on Actors, out Tuesday

The Irish 47-year-old told Robbie: “That was a good instinct.”

'Obviously the world agreed. Thank God!' the two-time Oscar nominee exclaimed.

“The fact that people said, 'Oh, look at Oppenheimer first, then Barbie.' I thought, “See? People like everything.” People are weird.'

The strange combination clearly worked, based on the sheer amount of hilarious memes that went viral leading up to the release of the two films.

“Weren't there some great ones?” Margot asked Cillian.

'People are so smart. People kept asking me, “Does every marketing department talk to each other?” And I thought, “No, this is the world doing this! This is not part of the marketing campaign.”

Murphy responded, “And I think it happened because both movies were good. In fact, there was a tremendous diversity of things in theaters that summer, and I think it just connected in a way that you or I or the studios or anyone could never have predicted.”

Robbie said, “You can't force that or orchestrate that.”

The Australian 33-year-old – who produced Barbie – recalled the moment Oppenheimer producer Chuck Rove called her and said: 'I think you guys should move your date'

Margot explained, “And I thought, “We're not moving our date. If you are afraid to stand up to us, then move your date.” And he says, “We're not moving our date. I just think it's better for you to move”

Robbie continued: 'And I thought, “We're not moving!” I actually think this is a great duo. It's perfect double billing, Oppenheimer and Barbie'

The Irish 47-year-old told Robbie: 'That was a good instinct'

The two-time Oscar nominee exclaimed, “Obviously the world agreed. Thank God! The fact that people said, “Oh, look at Oppenheimer first, then Barbie.” I thought, “See? People like everything.” People are weird.'

Fans have even created parody posters combining the films

The strange combination clearly worked, based on the sheer amount of hilarious memes that went viral leading up to the two films' release

Margot asked Cillian, “Aren't there some great ones? People are so smart. People kept asking me, “Does every marketing department talk to each other?” And I thought, “No, this is the world doing this! This is not part of the marketing campaign”'

Robbie said: 'You can't force or orchestrate that'

The Golden Globe nominee shot back: 'No, and it might never happen again'

Barbie with a budget of $145 million eventually collected an eye-popping $1.4 billion at the worldwide box office and scored an 88% approval rating by critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Meanwhile, with a $100 million budget, Oppenheimer amassed $953.2 million at the worldwide box office and scored a 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes

The Golden Globe nominee shot back, “No, and it may never happen again.”

Barbie with a budget of $145 million ultimately collected an eye-popping $1.4 billion at the worldwide box office and scored an 88% approval rating from critics on Rotten tomatoes.

Meanwhile, with a $100 million budget, Oppenheimer amassed $953.2 million at the worldwide box office and scored 93% critical approval on Rotten tomatoes.