Hollywood blockbuster "Barbie" hit theaters in Japan on Friday, where "Barbenheimer" memes linking the doll-themed film with a biopic of J. Robert Oppenheimer caused a stir and made distributor Warner Bros apologize ahead of the release.
Tickets for "Barbie," starring Margot Robbie in the title role, nevertheless sold fast in Japan as fans flocked to the theatrical release, timed to coincide with the start of the Bon holiday period.
"The pink world of Barbie was absolutely beautiful," said Misaki Suzuki, a 29-year-old nail salon worker, after watching the film at a Tokyo cinema.