Warner Bros.’ Barbie dominated Thursday previews, earning a whopping $22.3 million at the domestic box office. Universal’s Oppenheimer followed with $10.5 million in previews.

Barbie set a summer box office record, surpassing the previous best of $17.5 million from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The film is expected to have a massive opening weekend, projected to earn well over $100 million, with some estimates reaching $140 million due to its extensive marketing efforts.

Oppenheimer, directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Cillian Murphy, is estimated to open with $50 million, securing a solid second place. It exceeded preview earnings from Dunkirk and other hits earlier this year.

Both films have star-studded casts and focus on globally recognizable figures. Barbie brings the iconic doll to life with Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as her Ken. Oppenheimer chronicles the life of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, played by Cillian Murphy, supported by a remarkable ensemble.

With significant budgets, both movies are set to spin a nice profit during their runs. However, the real winners are theater owners and the eager fans who booked same-day, double screenings of the films nationwide.

As the weekend unfolds, Barbie and Oppenheimer will captivate audiences with their narratives and star power, while Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is expected to take third place with earnings of $28 million to $30 million in its second weekend.

The box office battle has just begun, and moviegoers eagerly await the outcome as these blockbuster films vie for dominance in the summer movie season.