Christopher Nolan: Oppenheimer is “The most successful film I’ve ever made”
On the heels of Oppenheimer’s $951 million global gross, director Christopher Nolan boldly called the atomic bomb drama the most successful film he has ever made in a recent interview. For the critically acclaimed filmmaker behind blockbusters like Inception and The Dark Knight trilogy, that’s a major statement about his latest project’s surprising commercial breakout.
Oppenheimer Amost Cracked the $1 Billion Mark
As was reported by Empire, though costing $100 million to produce, Oppenheimer dramatically overperformed at the box office thanks to Christopher Nolan’s reputation and positive reviews. Having already topped Nolan’s previous highest-grossing film, The Dark Knight Rises, Oppenheimer was on its way to make history.
It “could potentially cross the $1 billion mark globally,” says Nolan.
That would be a monumental feat for a historical drama lacking IP or franchise appeal.
As Nolan puts it, “I’ve just made a three-hour film about Robert Oppenheimer which is R-rated and half in black-and-white – and it made a billion dollars.”
For him and his studios, Oppenheimer reaffirms that original filmmaking can still draw massive audiences.
Why Does Christopher Nolan Think Oppenheimer Resonated so Widely?
While complex and sobering with its nuclear weapons subject matter, Oppenheimer managed to enthrall global crowds. When asked why he believes the film broke out, Nolan pinpoints the power of unpredictability in cinema.
He argues Oppenheimer tapped into “the audience’s desire to be surprised, to see something new, to see something they did not know they wanted.”
The film delivered a perspective never before seen in “the man behind the atomic bomb,” packaged in Nolan’s signature, ambitious style. That made Oppenheimer “a must-see event” for moviegoers of all types. Nolan also credits the ability of movies like Oppenheimer and others this year, such as Top Gun: Maverick, to draw viewers back to theaters.
He says their success “speaks to a shift in cinemagoing” and proves “the most powerful force in theatrical film” remains surprising original stories only possible on the big screen.
Oppenheimer‘s Legacy for Christopher Nolan
Already cementing its legacy as Nolan’s magnum opus, Oppenheimer also holds personal significance for the director. He snuck into theaters on opening weekend to witness audience reactions firsthand.
Nolan describes an unforgettable experience of seeing a sold-out IMAX crowd go dead silent during the Trinity nuclear test scene. For him as a filmmaker, witnessing the visceral impact of Oppenheimer on packed theaters was “quite overwhelming, really.” It reaffirmed his belief that “films are doing great” right now based on the public’s appetite.
So while the critical acclaim and awards attention still lie ahead, Christopher Nolan is already declaring Oppenheimer his proudest achievement just based on its commercial reception. As his career reaches new heights, Nolan’s atomic bomb drama looks poised to leave a mushroom cloud-sized impact for years to come.
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