The new phenomenon know as Barbenheimer has been sweeping across The Chiswick Cinema this month! Here’s the lowdown…

ADMISSIONS & BOX OFFICE

As the UK and global cinema industry reported their record-breaking weekend figures for the opening weekend of box office juggernauts Barbie and Oppenheimer, The Chiswick Cinema can also reveal that they have just had their highest admissions weekend since opening two years ago, thanks to the Barbenheimer phenomenon! It was also the only weekend where the cinema hit over 1,000 admissions on all three days, Friday (1084), Saturday (1225), Sunday (1140). Total weekend admissions was 3,449. This meant practically every performance was sold out throughout the three days, and pushed the five screen cinema to the limits of operating.

MARKETING & PROGRAMMING

To capitalise on the social media driven viral interest of Barbie and Oppenheimer being released on the same day, Chiswick Marketing Manager, Chris Parker, posted regular and vibrant content on social media showing the cinema’s commitment to the double bill experience where they used the trending hashtag #barbenheimer and built the film schedule around giving guests the opportunity to see both films as a double feature. The excitement was real, and many did actually come to see both (the fierce debate being around the order in which to see it!)

F&B OFFERING

The Chiswick went full out with the opportunities for F&B as well, as the team knew they would have a busy footfall. They capitalised once again on the excitement by designing two cocktails inspired by the movies – The Dreamhouse and The Atom Splitter. They also had a ‘Barbenheimer Bundle’ which included popcorn, drink and a simple beef burger, and the coffee & cake deal for the guests who needed a pick me up in-between the double bill!

Ticket sales for the second weekend remained strong with 2.7k admissions and only a small drop off for both movies.