‘Barbie’ Earns Raves After L.A. Premiere, on Pace to Double ‘Oppenheimer’ at Opening Weekend Box Office

Early reviews praise the Oscar-nominated director, as well as the performances of Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie.

Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images for CinemaCon

Gerta Gerwig's forthcoming Barbie film, which hits theaters July 21, is drawing rave reviews from critics after the movie's Los Angeles premiere on Sunday night.

Early reactions to the film, which follows Gerwig's previous two Oscar-nominated projects, 2017's Lady Bird and 2019's Little Women, praise the director, as well as notable performances from Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling.

ScreenRant writer Joseph Deckelmeier said the "whole cast is brilliant," while calling the film “funny, bombastic and very smart.” ComicBook.com's Jamie Jirak admitted that Gerwig "somehow exceeded" her expectations, before jumping on the bandwagon for Gosling's Academy Awards campaign: "Give Ryan Gosling an Oscar nomination, I'm dead serious!"

The New York Film Academy's Eric Heckler reiterated Jirak's praise regarding Gosling's performance as Ken, claiming the actor's portrayal of the iconic doll is his "best role to date — Greta Gerwig takes everything that has made him great in his previous films and combines them into a Super-Gosling."

"The Oscar buzz is real, and if it happens it would be one of the most fun and inspired nominations in recent memory," Heckler added.

And while much has been made between the upcoming battle between Barbie and Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, which will be released on the same day, The Ringer's and Puck's Matthew Belloni tweeted that Barbie is on pace to double Oppenheimer at box office in its opening weekend. "Wow: The BARBIE tracking has spiked to $93M for the opening weekend. OPPENHEIMER is also up, but to $43M, per NRG," Belloni wrote.

Wow: The BARBIE tracking has spiked to $93M for the opening weekend. OPPENHEIMER is also up, but to $43M, per NRG.

— Matthew Belloni (@MattBelloni) July 10, 2023
Twitter: @MattBelloni

Check out some of the early reactions to Barbie in the tweets below.

#Barbie caught me off guard & I mean that in the best way possible. It’s funny, bombastic, & very smart. Greta Gerwig aims for the fences & hits a home-run. Margot Robbie’s performance is great & @RyanGosling & @SimuLiu are pure entertainment! The whole cast is brilliant! pic.twitter.com/oXH965aUIF

— Joseph Deckelmeier (@joedeckelmeier) July 10, 2023
Twitter: @joedeckelmeier

I can't officially quit Twitter before telling you all that #Barbie is currently my favorite film of the year. Greta Gerwig somehow exceeded my expectations. She tackles the positives and negatives of Barbie so beautifully. Give Ryan Gosling an Oscar nomination, I'm dead serious!

— Jamie Jirak (@JamieCinematics) July 10, 2023
Twitter: @JamieCinematics

I have seen #Barbie! The craftsmanship is incredible. In particular the costume & production design includes next-level work that heavily contributes to creating the feeling that these truly are Barbies, their dream houses, and their worlds come to life.

As for the story, that’s… pic.twitter.com/97r3sSodcw

— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) July 10, 2023
Twitter: @PNemiroff

Wow: The BARBIE tracking has spiked to $93M for the opening weekend. OPPENHEIMER is also up, but to $43M, per NRG.

— Matthew Belloni (@MattBelloni) July 10, 2023
Twitter: @MattBelloni

#Barbie is a cinematic triumph. Gerwig is at the top of her game here, she’s crafted a film that’s not only gorgeous to look at, but poignant, clever and hilarious. Margot Robbie delivers an endearing and memorable performance, though it’s Gosling who stole every scene he was in pic.twitter.com/IU9ZrbKlnq

— Jack (@JStepback) July 10, 2023
Twitter: @JStepback

The way BARBIE completely lives up to the hype! A rich tapestry of camp, tantalizing visuals and emotional sincerity. Offering the grand comment on society that a woman’s everyday life is a gendered battlefield. Gosling as Ken is sublime and instantly ICONIC. In Gerwig we TRUST🤌 pic.twitter.com/qCPuA3Afxo

— ty (@DennisDuganFan) July 10, 2023
Twitter: @DennisDuganFan

#Barbie is Ryan Gosling’s best role to date—Greta Gerwig takes everything that has made him great in his previous films and combines them into a Super-Gosling. The Oscar buzz is real, and if it happens it would be one of the most fun and inspired nominations in recent memory. pic.twitter.com/yxhYULZTYz

— Eric (@EHeckler) July 10, 2023
Twitter: @EHeckler

#Barbie is perfection. Greta Gerwig delivers a nuanced commentary on what it means to be a woman in a whimsical, wonderful and laugh-out-loud funny romp. The entire cast shines, especially Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in roles they were clearly born to play. 🎀

— Katcy Stephan (@katcystephan) July 10, 2023
Twitter: @katcystephan

#BarbieTheMovie is witty, heartfelt, and downright fun at times. Ryan Gosling is a scene stealer delivering most of the laughs while Margot Robbie’s heartfelt performance will tug at your heartstrings. While I enjoyed most of the film the screenplay feels bloated at times pic.twitter.com/lepggZKZIX

— Sharronda Williams (@payorwait) July 10, 2023
Twitter: @payorwait

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