Christopher Nolan’s immersive historical masterpiece, “Oppenheimer,” has achieved yet another impressive feat at the box office, surpassing the $850 million mark in global ticket sales.
The film, which features Cillian Murphy as the enigmatic “father of the atomic bomb,” has demonstrated remarkable financial success by collecting $311 million in North America and a significant $542.7 million internationally. Defying expectations, especially for a solemn and R-rated biographical historical drama set in the backdrop of dimly lit rooms filled with intense discussions among scientists and politicians, “Oppenheimer” continues to surpass projections. With its current trajectory, reaching the $900 million milestone seems quite attainable, and even the astonishing $1 billion mark is now within closer grasp than anticipated by industry observers.
Having been produced with a budget of $100 million, the film’s profitability is poised to benefit both Universal, the film’s backers, and Nolan himself.
As “Oppenheimer” completes seven weeks in theaters, it solidifies its place as Nolan’s third-highest-grossing film ever. It sits ahead of “Inception,” which raked in $837 million, and is only surpassed by the massive box office successes of “The Dark Knight” ($1 billion) and “The Dark Knight Rises” ($1.08 billion). Notably, the movie has become Nolan’s top-grossing work in 59 international markets, including prominent countries like Germany, France, the Netherlands, India, Brazil, Spain, Italy, and Saudi Arabia.
Taking its place as a prominent contender in the realm of cinematic achievements, “Oppenheimer” has secured itself as the third-highest grossing release of the year. It follows in the footsteps of “Barbie” with a whopping $1.36 billion and “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” with an impressive $1.35 billion. In this remarkable feat, the film has even surpassed the new chapters in blockbuster franchises, such as Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” with $845 million and “Fast X” with $704 million.
Amidst its success, “Oppenheimer” has hit a range of noteworthy milestones. It now holds the title of Universal’s highest-grossing R-rated film in the domestic box office, breaking the $300 million barrier. Additionally, it stands as the year’s leading R-rated movie, surpassing “John Wick Chapter 4” with its $187 million haul. An impressive achievement is also seen in its consistent presence in the top five of box office charts for seven consecutive weeks in North America, a remarkable accomplishment even more notable during the bustling summer season.
“Oppenheimer” has struck a chord with audiences seeking immersive experiences, particularly in Imax theaters, amassing a staggering $170 million worldwide from this premium format. This ranks the film as the fifth-highest grossing Imax movie, with the top four spots being claimed by colossal blockbusters like “Avatar,” “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” and “Avengers: Endgame,” each surpassing the $2 billion mark. The film’s popularity has also reverberated in China, where it recently debuted with a solid $9.3 million from Imax screens and an impressive total of $30.5 million overall.
Imax’s CEO, Rich Gelfond, reflected on the remarkable Chinese debut of “Oppenheimer,” emphasizing that the film’s captivating and resolute vision continues to captivate global audiences.
Drawing inspiration from the Pulitzer Prize-winning book “American Prometheus,” Christopher Nolan skillfully adapted the narrative of “Oppenheimer.” The storyline delves into the life of the esteemed theoretical physicist who played a pivotal role in the creation of the atomic bomb, a monumental development that marked the conclusion of World War II. The ensemble cast is led by Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, and Alden Ehrenreich, who collectively contribute to the film’s compelling portrayal of this historical journey.
