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The summer of 2023 was encapsulated in two films at the same time:Oppenheimerby Christopher Nolan andBarbieby Greta Gerwig. Since they came out the same weekend, moviegoers were treated to a sort of double feature.
These two blockbusters not only dominated the world last year, but they also reignited our collective desire for a silver-screen experience. Both films exceeded box office expectations, with Margot Robbie’s film enchanting its way to a $1.4 billion global haul, whileOppenheimer’s Oscar-winning narrative netted a whopping $951.4 million.
But Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos recently stirred quite the conversation with his belief that these films could have shone just as brightly on streaming platforms.One can’t help but wonder: How different would the scenario be if these cultural phenomena had debuted on Netflix rather than the cinema’s big screen?
Netflix Boss Predicts Streaming Success forBarbieandOppenheimerin Alternate Reality
While the idea of two blockbuster films likeBarbieandOppenheimerbeing released straight to streaming may seem unconventional to some,the Co-CEO ofNetflix,Ted Sarandos’ belief in the success of such a strategy raises an interesting debate in the world of film distribution.
Even a Gigantic $1.4 Billion Box Office Collection Was Not Enough For Margot Robbie’s Barbie to Beat Chris Pratt’s Movie in Profitability
Netflix would have“enjoyed just as big”of an audience for both of those films, according to Sarandos.In a recent conversation withThe New York Times, he said:
Both of those movies would be great for Netflix. They definitely would have enjoyed just as big an audience on Netflix. And so I don’t think there’s any reason to believe that certain kinds of movies do or don’t work. There’s no reason to believe that the movie itself is better in any size of screen for all people. My son’s an editor. He is 28 years old, and he watched “Lawrence of Arabia” on his phone.
The success of streaming platforms in recent years has revolutionized the way we consume media. With the rise of original content produced by companies like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu, audiences have been given the opportunity to watch high-quality films and TV shows from the comfort of their own homes.
Having said that, a direct-to-streaming approach has proven successful for some films. For instance, consider Ryan Gosling & Chris Evans’The Gray Man.Despite getting less than stellar reviews, it quickly became Netflix’s 2022 movie of the year and was given the go-ahead for a sequel (viaComicBook).
Fan Insights: Comparing Traditional Release vs. Streaming forBarbieandOppenheimer
To start, let us look at their box office performances.Margot Robbie’sBarbieachieved a global box office revenue of over $1.4 billion, making it the highest-grossing movie of 2023 and the 14th highest-grossing movie ever (seeBox Office Mojo).
Oppenheimer, on the other hand, took home seven Academy Awards and grossed $951.4 million, placing it as the third highest-grossing movie of last year (Box Office Mojo).While audiences reveled in thisdouble-feature delight, Ted Sarandos sparked a lively debate with his belief that had these blockbusters debuted on Netflix, their impact would have been just as monumental.
One fan argued that the immersive experience of watchingCillian Murphy’sOppenheimerin a theaterwith top-notch sound quality was what made it truly memorable, questioning whether Netflix could provide the same level of audiovisual experience. On the other hand, some fans believed that Sarandos was undermining the importance of cinemas by suggesting that a Netflix release would have been just as successful.
Let us take a look at some other comments left by fans:
Not him literally saying that cinemas are NOT important
Depressing
— Vikas (@thunderxstorm07)July 02, 2025
Netflix doesn’t produce any high-er quality moves so this is a bold face lie.
— extramedium (@extramediumDET)June 19, 2025
https://twitter.com/poshchi/status/1794889854419169406
No. We all specifically left our homes to watch those 2 movies and enjoy the entire experience. That’s completely different from clicking on an app.
— Tony Singh (@soundboi74)August 13, 2025
Nahhhh absolutely not bc Oppenheimer in a theater was insane & I know Netflix ain’t providing sound quality like that💀
— bbyjean🩵 (@lilbbyjean)July 16, 2025
As streaming services continue to grow in popularity, the debate over the importance of theaters versus at-home viewing will undoubtedly continue. While some may argue that Netflix could have replicated the success ofBarbieandOppenheimer, others will always cherish the unique experience of watching these films in a darkened theater surrounded by fellow fans.
“Margot can try to cast it aside as jealousy, but it still stings”: Margot Robbie is Reportedly Hurt After Shakira’s Nasty Comments About Barbie
Despite the differing opinions, we can’t deny that the release ofBarbieandOppenheimeron the same weekend created a buzz and excitement that had fans flocking to theaters to experience both films in all their glory.
Oppenheimeris streaming on Peacock, whileBarbieis available on Max.
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3310
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
