Dublin City has been "transformed" into a Barbie Dream World on the national premiere of the long-anticipated Barbie film.
Today marks the national release of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling.
The Barbie premiere coincides with the release of Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, led by Irish actor Cillian Murphy, with ticket sales this weekend expected to hit height not seen since before the pandemic.
Irish cinemas are preparing for an influx of cinema-lovers, with The IFI announcing that, for the first time, they will be selling popcorn in-house to purchase with tickets.
The Barbie premiere coincides with the release of Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer led by Irish actor Cillian Murphy and ticket sales this weekend are expected to contribute to the biggest week for cinemas since before the pandemic.
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Reporting for The Pat Kenny Show this morning, Newtalk's Sarah Madden spoke to some of the country’s biggest Barbie fans – many of whom had donned their best outfits in true Barbie tradition.
"I'm wearing a pink suit from ASOS, it's very pink, very Barbie," one fan said, "I'm literally just out of a Barbie business brunch."
Another Barbie fan went so far as to dedicate her whole appearance to the film's release.
"I actually even have pink hair ... and I do have pink eyebrows," she said.
Dublin
Sarah told The Pat Kenny Show that many shopowners have "transformed" the city into a Barbie Dream World.
"There are shop windows running with the theme," she said.
"Barbie burgers and Ken cocktails are actually popping up on restaurant menus."
It's #Barbenheimer week down to what we're drinking at ODEON😉🍸🍹
What are you sipping during your #Barbie and #Oppenheimer showings? pic.twitter.com/3GoEMCmkE7
— ODEON Ireland (@ODEONcinemasIRE) July 18, 2023
The owner of Maharani, a George's Street Arcade clothing store, said she had purposely displayed pink kimonos to fit the day's theme.
"I have a Ken jacket on the other mannequin and then there's a pink dress for Barbie," she said.
Clothing store Om Diva on Drury Street boasted an entirely pink window display.
"Our shop is constantly pink all year around – it's Barbie theme for eternity," one employee said.
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Some men said they were embracing their inner "Kenergy" – hoping to emulate Gosling's performance as Barbie's boyfriend Ken.
"It's the first time I've heard the term Kenergy, but I really like it," said one man.
Sarah said that Ken embodies the modern-day 'himbo' – a mix of the words him and bimbo, and a slang term for an attractive man who is "unashamedly focused on their image".
"Ryan Gosling's Ken is a great example of the modern himbo, he's bleached his hair, he's on the pink carpet in matching suits, and he's been promoting Kenergy at every turn," she said.
London, UK. 12 July 2023. Barbie fans from Dublin, all as Ken, in Leicester Square ahead of premiere of the film Barbie (Credit: Stephen Chung / Alamy Live News)Barber Aido reported that he's seen more Ken-curious men looking to incorporate some Kenergy into their look.
"There would be lots of lads getting Kenergy hair," he said.
"Blonde streaks, pink hair, blue hairs – it's a lot more open."
"It's not that they're going to Aido because of Ken, it's more that because they're going to Aido, this is the perfect time for Ken to make his comeback," Sarah told the show.
Barbie fan Giovanni at the first screening this morning at Cineworld Parnell Street (Photo by Newstalk)Connor Creighton, an author and men's work practitioner said Ken embodies "quintessential masculinity".
"It's not so much submissive, it's just supportive," he said.
"There's no greater sign of a confident man than one who is sort of prepared to let his partner take the light.
"What Ryan Gosling is maybe referring to with Kenergy ... it's this idea of just having a fully human experience with no restrictions, and as a male that's often been quite difficult.
"I think a big part of that of this idea of maybe bleaching your hair, shaving your legs or painting your nails or expressing yourself emotionally is liberating yourself from that."
Barbie opens in cinemas across Ireland today and currently holds an 89% rating on the Rotten Tomatoes critic's Tomatometer.
