Could 'Furiosa'/'Garfield' Be This Year's Barbenheimer?!

Last July, an unprecedented event in the summer movie season became more than just a good weekend at the movies: it became a cultural phenomenon! Barbenheimer was (for the two of you unfamiliar with it) the cinematic double-whammy of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, which both released in theaters on July 21, 2023. In the months leading up to this event, people all across the internet found much enjoyment in -- how do you say? -- meming the ever-living crap out of the absurd contrast from both movies releasing the same day. (I still remember how absurd it was when we all realized they shared release dates!)

What started as a funny internet meme kept growing and growing the closer it came to release. Leading up to that weekend in late-July, there had been a number of successful movies at the 2023 box office, yet I don’t think anyone was prepared for the financial tsunami that was about to crash into shore. Not only did both films have incredible opening weekends — $162 million for Barbie and $82.4 million for Oppenheimer — the amount of people who had tickets for both films on the same day broke records and then some. Viewing order was debated, shirts were made, and people went to the movies in droves. The Barbenheimer phenomenon is STILL considered to be one of the biggest landmark events for mainstream cinema in a post-Pandemic world!

Ever since Barbenheimer became an unexpected success for both films financially and critically, both audiences and studios alike have been constantly looking for the next double-feature to replicate that lightning-in-a-bottle magic from July of 2023. This Memorial Day weekend, another contender enters the ring to try and challenge Barbenheimer’s title in the form of a classic double-feature of films that are so clearly alike in every way you could possibly imagine… George Miller’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and Sony Animation’s The Garfield Movie. Clearly, these are movies that are so identical that you can use that iconic "Office" meme that would warrant the same reply. Ladies and Gentlemen, may we present: GARFURIOSA!

On a fundamental level, the stark contrast of these two films is glaringly apparent. In one corner, a hard-R action film acting as a prequel to one of the best action flicks of all time (the little indie darling Mad Max: Fury Road, in case you weren’t aware), and in the other corner, a new animated take on the iconic cat with an unhealthy addiction to lasagna that families have loved for generations. Yeah, it’s safe to say that you really are comparing apples and oranges when it comes to Furiosa and Garfield. The question that comes to mind for many moviegoers aware of the shared release date is, can this replicate the magic that people felt with Barbenheimer?

Like all questions regarding a one-armed warrior and a cat voiced by Chris Pratt, this is a pure matter of subjectivity. For some, the dichotomy of this double-feature is enough to satisfy the urge for another busy weekend at the movies, while others may not feel the same attraction to Furiosa/Garfield as they did to see both films in the Barbenheimer Cinematic Universe. So, if we were to put on our objective glasses for this case study, the answer becomes a little bit simpler.

Long story short, no, I do not think Furiosa/Garfield can replicate the same magic of Barbenheimer. In terms of the long story long version, neither movies opening this weekend have managed to capture the same fervor that came from the shared release of Barbie and Oppenheimer — both individually and as a collective. Granted, that is not to say that there isn’t anticipation for either Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga or The Garfield Movie. Personally speaking, I’m genuinely excited to see both films this weekend.

Box-office wise, Memorial Day Weekend has always been a popular time for audiences to see a movie or two in theaters, and projections from the trades are not underestimating the financials for either film. According toVariety, “Furiosa… looks to lead the way with $40 million to $45 million from 3,750 venues over the four-day holiday weekend,” whereas “Sony’s animated The Garfield Movie should trail in second with $30 million to $35 million from 4,000 venues between Friday and Monday.” Generally, these are solid opening weekends for both films, yet neither of them are anywhere close to the heights that Barbenheimer achieved.

Critically, there is a much stronger gap between the two blockbusters of this weekend. With Furiosa, it has quickly garnered high praise following its debut at the Cannes Film Festival, currently sitting at a Certified Fresh 88% on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer, with many critics saying that it is a worthy successor to Mad Max: Fury Road and even enhances the qualities of that film. Meanwhile, The Garfield Movie may have had too much lasagna with a current score of 44% from 52 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, which doesn’t negate the chances of families having a fun time, although it certainly won’t bring in anyone with little interest to begin with.

At the very least, even if this may not be able to break the same records for a double-feature that Barbenheimer did, audiences should have plenty enjoyment to come from the movies this weekend for whoever goes to see Furiosa and/or The Garfield Movie. In the meantime, stay safe and eat your lasagna one piece at a time!