Oppenheimer' Shatters Records: Surpasses $500 Million at the Box Office as Highest-Grossing World War II Film

 

'Oppenheimer' Surpasses $500 Million Mark at the Box Office, Sets Record as Highest-Grossing World War II Film

On the same day "Barbie" crossed the billion-dollar box office milestone, the other half of the viral "Barbenheimer" phenomenon raced past the half-billion-dollar mark.

Since its release three weeks ago, Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" has raked in $552.9 million worldwide, as per official estimates from Universal Pictures.

It now holds the title of the highest-grossing R-rated movie of 2023 and achieved the fastest Universal R-rated film to reach the $200 million threshold domestically, according to a news release from the studio on Sunday. Additionally, it has become the highest-grossing movie set during World War II, according to Universal.

In its third weekend, "Oppenheimer" continues to hold strong as the No. 3 movie in both domestic and international box offices.

Nolan's blockbuster has demonstrated remarkable staying power, particularly considering its R-rating, extended running time, and subject matter. Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore, described its theatrical run as astounding, emphasizing that in the hands of a lesser filmmaker without a spectacular marketing and release strategy, it might have been relegated to a mere footnote among historical dramas' box office performance.

The box office numbers are particularly impressive for a three-hour biography about J. Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist behind the Manhattan Project. "Oppenheimer" now joins an elite club of only four biopics to surpass the half-billion-dollar mark globally, alongside "Bohemian Rhapsody," "Passion of the Christ," and "American Sniper."

"'Oppenheimer' has emerged as one of the most highly praised, widely discussed, and commercially successful summer movies ever released by a major studio," said Dergarabedian, emphasizing that the film showcases the potency of exceptional filmmaking, along with a touch of unforeseen 'Barbenheimer' magic.

In the lead-up to their simultaneous debut on July 21, "Oppenheimer" and "Barbie" shared a symbiotic relationship, likely bolstered by their distinct styles and tones.