Christopher Nolan Never Expected Oppenheimer to Become a Hit

Summary

• This year has been flooded with top-tier releases.
• Oppenheimer is one of the most anticipated premieres of 2023.
• Its director didn't expect his movie to resonate with audiences.
• Nolan believes it foreshadows key changes for the industry.

Although dozens of films premiere every year, 2023 seems to have seen the most exciting releases in recent years. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Barbie, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One, and many other movies have brought joy and fascination to our lives, with several more titles set to debut in the coming weeks. The Marvels, for example, opens tonight.

But just a few of these releases may define 2023. Barbie, with its $1.442 billion gross, undeniably represents the essence of the year. But 2023 will also be remembered for Greta Gerwig's main competitor, Oppenheimer, which quickly became a hit despite its hefty scientific premise. In that respect, it's no surprise that the film's director, Christopher Nolan, didn't expect it to do so well.

Somber Story of a Grim Man

By now, there's every chance that you've seen Oppenheimer. But if you haven't, let us remind you of its plot. Following the titular scientist, commonly referred to as the father of the atomic bomb, Nolan's drama explores what led the man to create the world's most destructive weapon and how that invention reflected on his life.

Oppenheimer is a very dark story, to say the least. Moreover, it offers the director's unequivocal assessment of the scientist's actions. Yet audiences seem to have admired the movie so far. Arguably, the timing of its release was just right, as Nolan's picture resonates perfectly with what's going on in the world.

'With certain films, your timing is just right in ways that you never could have predicted,' the celebrated director said in an interview. 'When you start making a film, you're two or three years out from when it's going to be released, so you're trying to hit a moving target as far as the interest of the audience. But sometimes you catch a wave and the story you're telling is one people are waiting for.'

A Hit Despite All Odds

Despite its seemingly limited audience appeal, Oppenheimer has grossed a staggering $950 million at the box office, becoming one of the highest-grossing premieres of the year. Naturally, the director can't help but be pleased with the success of his movie. But his happiness goes beyond that.

'It's clear from the box office that audiences are looking for things they haven't seen before,' Christopher Nolan said, alluding to the reign of comic book productions his film disrupted. 'We've been through a period where it was wonderfully reassuring for studio executives to feel that their franchise properties could go on forever and be predictably successful. But you can't deny filmgoers' desire for novelty.'

Hopefully, the director will continue making our lives a little bit better and more meaningful with his further productions.

Source: Variety.