Barbenheimer Syndrome

This book offers a rich and varied analysis of the ‘Barbenheimer’ phenomenon, bringing together a range of scholars to explore how it captured the attention of the world, and revived cinema-going in 2023. Reading 'Barbenheimer' as a syndrome – one that manifested differently across the globe – this engaging collection reveals the lasting cultural significance of the summer when Barbie met Oppenheimer. * Tanya Horeck, Professor of Film and Feminist Media Studies, Anglia Ruskin University, UK * Examining the alchemy between the simultaneous releases of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer in the summer of 2023, Barbenheimer Syndrome is a welcome addition to the ongoing debates about this cultural moment in cinematic history. Including analyses of these films that explore the intersections between feminism, disability studies, meme culture, and the military industrial complex, this volume also looks at the films’ international reception in Japan, Ukraine, and South Korea as a means of investigating this worldwide phenomenon. * Sarah E. S. Sinwell, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Film and Media Arts, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA * Barbenheimer Syndrome dissects Hollywood’s most mismatched double bill and the meme-worthy moment that defined 2023. From pink satire to plutonium angst, this timely and irreverent collection explores how mass entertainment collided with political polarization—sometimes with glitter, sometimes with fallout. A must-read for anyone interested in media convergence, gender dynamics, and the enduring power of film. * Elena Caoduro, Professor of Arts, English and Languages, Queen’s University Belfast, UK *