Barbenheimer was a cultural phenomenon that preceded and surrounded the simultaneous theatrical release of two major studio films—Barbie by Warner Bros. Pictures and Oppenheimer by Universal Pictures—on July 21, 2023. The significant contrast between Barbie, a fantasy comedy directed by Greta Gerwig about the fashion doll Barbie, and Oppenheimer, a historical thriller directed by Christopher Nolan about physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer and the Manhattan Project, sparked widespread online engagement. This included the creation of memes, merchandise, and themed content across social media.