In a recent interview for Variety's Actors on Actors special, Margot Robbie and Cillian Murphy sat down to discuss their respective films, Barbie and Oppenheimer, and the unexpected cultural phenomenon that ensued when movie-goers began setting up double features to watch the films back-to-back.

Robbie, who also serves as a producer on Barbie, revealed that people kept asking her if the marketing departments of both films were coordinating this unique movie experience. However, Robbie made it clear that this was purely driven by the audience's excitement and not a part of any orchestrated marketing campaign. "You can't force that or orchestrate that," she stated.

Murphy added, "I think it happened because both movies were good. In fact, that summer, there was a huge diversity of stuff in the cinema, and I think it just connected in a way that you or I or the studios or anybody could never have predicted."

The interview took an interesting turn when Robbie disclosed that one of the producers for the Christopher Nolan film Oppenheimer had even called her to request a change in Barbie's release date to avoid a clash. However, Robbie stood her ground, refusing to move the date. According to her, "It's a perfect double billing, Barbie and Oppenheimer."

Murphy chimed in, agreeing that it was indeed a good pairing and expressing his instinctual support for the decision.

Discussing the choice of directors for their respective films, Robbie revealed that Greta Gerwig was always her first choice to helm Barbie. She was determined to get Gerwig on board and "wasn't going to let her say no." Little did she know that Gerwig's involvement would contribute to the cultural phenomenon surrounding Barbie.

On the other hand, Murphy shared his experience of working with Christopher Nolan for the sixth time on Oppenheimer. He mentioned that Emma Thomas, Nolan's wife and the producer of the film, personally reached out to him. Murphy described the unique nature of the project, highlighting that it was the story of Oppenheimer's life and that the script was written in the first person, a format he had never come across before.

Robbie discussed the challenges she faced while preparing for her role as Barbie, describing it as a "weird" experience. She revealed that her usual tools as an actress, including working with coaches for acting, dialect, and movement, did not apply. It was Greta Gerwig who introduced her to an episode of This American Life about a woman who struggled with introspection but possessed exceptional intelligence. This helped Robbie understand how to approach her character, focusing on what is directly in front of her at any given moment.

The Barbenheimer phenomenon became one of the defining cultural moments of 2023, as audiences all over set up double features of Barbie and Oppenheimer. The interview with Margot Robbie and Cillian Murphy provided insights into the unexpected success and the factors that contributed to the unique movie-going experience.