Barbenheimer is an Internet phenomenon that began on social media before the simultaneous theatrical release of two blockbuster films,
Barbie and
Oppenheimer, on July 21, 2023, in the United States and several other countries. The word is a portmanteau of the films' titles. The contrast of
Barbie—a fantasy comedy by Greta Gerwig about the fashion doll Barbie—and
Oppenheimer—an epic biographical thriller by Christopher Nolan about physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, scientific director of the Manhattan Project, which developed the first nuclear weapons during World War II—prompted a comedic response from Internet users, including memes and merchandise.
Polygon described the two films as "extreme opposites", and
Variety called the phenomenon "the movie event of the year".