[imagesource:twitter/knowyourmemes]

You may have noticed the Barbie x Oppenheimer war on your social media feed over the weekend.

The two highly anticipated films are arriving on the same day – July 21 – and as D-Day looms ever closer, the internet has gotten into an absolute tizzy, with the Barbenheimer phenomenon reaching a fever pitch, per Vulture.

The two movies are starkly opposite in vibe, but both are spangled by a stellar cast and have excellent directors at the helm (Greta Gerwig and Christopher Nolan), so the competition is real. While some are gunning for one movie to be a box office hit, others are convinced you can love both equally, obsessing over which screening schedule will work best on the big day.

Of course, Tom Cruise has inserted himself in this film chat, coming up with the, frankly, genius suggestion to do a Barbenheimer double feature on the same day:

This summer is full of amazing movies to see in theaters.

Congratulations, Harrison Ford, on 40 years of Indy and one of the most iconic characters in history.

I love a double feature, and it doesn’t get more explosive (or more pink) than one with Oppenheimer and Barbie. pic.twitter.com/udWHHj4fAe

— Tom Cruise (@TomCruise) June 28, 2023

Cue the memes:

@badandmen Me fr #tomcruise #ryangosling #cillianmurphy #oppenheimer #barbiemovie #me #sigma ♬ original sound – Bad&Men

Barbie & Oppenheimer audience at the parking lot of a theatre on July 21st pic.twitter.com/0ohjwqTS4w

— beyza misses chandler (@beyzanurapaydin) June 27, 2023

the day we find out whether oppenheimer or barbie got the higher rotten tomatoes score is gonna be like the civil war on here

— soul nate (@MNateShyamalan) June 28, 2023

@blarkypoo oppenheimer can wait #blarkypoo #fyp #viral #barbie #oppenheimer ♬ Aces by DKJ – Danny Johnson

Is this a war or an alliance? Both – why not?

@.joelbp She’s a Blonde Bombshell! ‍♀️ #barbenheimer #barbie #oppenheimer ♬ original sound – Joel Phillips

The Barbie/Oppenheimer crossover has begun pic.twitter.com/16zESO1TAY

— Stone Cold Jane Austen (@AbbyHiggs) June 28, 2023

Werked on some Barbenheimer merch last night pic.twitter.com/XL1wh5B2s2

— Rahul Kothari (@rahkothari) June 30, 2023

It could be a good idea:

@velmorfilm JULY 21 #barbie #barbiemovie #edit #cinema #film #oppenheimer #christophernolan #gretagerwig #margotrobbie #cillianmurphy #ryangosling ♬ original sound – velmorfilm

Or a bad idea:

@meandthegameyt who’s going with me to barbie? #barbie #oppenheimer #auntmay ♬ original sound

Either way, people are planning what works for them:

11am: drop 4 tabs of acid
noon: Oppenheimer
3pm: ego death + brunch with the boys
5pm: 8gs of shrooms
6pm: Barbie (bring dab pen into theater)
8pm: Dave and Busters

— Keefler (@Keefler_Elf) June 27, 2023

On July 21, we wear black and then pink:

Their entire lives have led up to the Oppenheimer / Barbie release pic.twitter.com/w2FgLwhDg1

— Yann (@yannhatchuel) June 26, 2023

For some people, it’s become political:

I humbly present my Barbie-Oppenheimer 2024 electoral map pic.twitter.com/ULp2WFenQL

— Emmet Sandberg (@SandbergEmmet) June 28, 2023

For others, it is intensely personal:

the desire to be seen as someone who awaits barbie/oppenheimer with equal anticipation is not dissimilar to those who wished to be known as kkb/death grips listeners; acknowledged as consumers capable of emotional complexity; you are no different from the person who posts these— pic.twitter.com/3ZN4lfmUrn

— roro, PhD (@fuglibetty) June 27, 2023

But at least everyone will be happy and fulfilled:

The Oppenheimer guys realizing that marketing for the Barbie film is also now marketing for their film for some reason pic.twitter.com/iRj2RMAgCV

— leaves weep (@forsorrows) June 28, 2023

July 21 is set to be fabulously dark and terribly pink.

[source:vulture]