Japan opening of 'Barbie' marred by controversy ahead of nuclear memorials

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Margot Robbie in a scene from "Barbie." - Warner Bros. Pictures via AP

TOKYO (Reuters): The Japan opening of the hit film "Barbie" was dealt additional setbacks as an online petition gained steam calling on Hollywood studios to disavow a grassroots marketing movement that made light of nuclear holocaust.

A Change.org petition collected more than 16,000 signatures over two days as of Thursday, demanding that Warner Bros and Universal Pictures, the studio behind the "Oppenheimer" biopic, call a halt to the "Barbenheimer" hashtag that has helped make the film a global blockbusters.