No one has ever had a doubt in their heart about Christopher Nolan’s work, especially since he is the one standing behind masterpieces like The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception, Interstellar, and more such critically acclaimed movies. But certainly, Cillian Murphy’s Oppenheimer was challenging work for Nolan, for it was a difficult task to help mainstream audiences connect with the film.
However, proving himself the one true master of modern cinema, Christopher Nolan made it possible for Oppenheimer to reach out to casual moviegoers. And now Cillian Murphy’s movie is revolutionizing Hollywood while becoming a landmark hit at the box office. But still, Oppenheimer ended up being the second-highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time.
Cillian Murphy’s Oppenheimer Became a Phenomenon
Even before Oppenheimer was considered as a potential project by Christopher Nolan, the director was already making his position in the entertainment industry. With several critically acclaimed projects like Inception, Interstellar, and Dunkirk under his belt, Nolan was slowly transitioning into a sensation. But then came Cillian Murphy’s Oppenheimer, which simply fast-forwarded his fame.
Despite the challenges involved with developing a World War 2 drama, like political obstacles, social dilemmas, and more, Christopher Nolan flawlessly narrated the story of the creation of mankind’s most dangerous weapon. Throwing the spotlight on Cillian Murphy who played the titular role of the theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, Nolan created a masterpiece.
Soon, his 2023 drama turned into a global phenomenon and hailed positive reviews from fans and critics alike. Once again proving to be a visionary director, Christopher Nolan revolutionized the entertainment industry with Oppenheimer. Bagging close to a billion dollars at the box office, Cillian Murphy’s movie became a landmark hit. Further, gaining momentum at the Chinese box office, Nolan’s 2023 blockbuster waited for the chance to reach the $1B mark.
Oppenheimer is the Second-Highest-Grossing R-rated Movie
Predicted by prognosticators to reach as high as $950M, Cillian Murphy’s Oppenheimer managed to bag $957M as per Box Office Mojo, after yet another boost from China to its already higher-than-expected revenue. However, despite gaining the momentum needed at the Chinese box office, the World War 2 drama ended up being the second highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time.
Failing to reach the top position, Cillian Murphy’s Oppenheimer ended up trailing behind the only highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time, Joker. The 2019’s DC origin story directed by Todd Phillips, starred Joaquin Phoenix in the lead role of the Crowded Prince of Crime. Proving to be truly versatile with each of his projects, Phoenix ended up evoking the animal from within, which helped Joker make an unprecedented collection of $1B, for an R-rated picture.
Further, Joaquin Phoenix’s DC flick not only managed to bag a staggering amount at the global box office but also received an Oscar for his performance. Therefore, Joker (2019) turned into the only R-rated movie so far, which became a benchmark for several other films to come. Although Oppenheimer attempted to break that record, it, unfortunately, ended up being in second position.
Additionally, Cillian Murphy’s movie became the third-highest-grossing film in 2023, right behind The Super Mario Bros. Movie which earned $1.36B, and Greta Gerwig’s Barbie which earned $1.42B. Oppenheimer and Barbie had been competing against each other at the box office, after sharing the same-day release date. However, both films managed to create the Barbenheimer phenomenon and were also appreciated for bringing Hollywood revenue back to pre-pandemic levels.
