Oppenheimer Gets Second-Best Opening Weekend Ever for a Non-Franchise R-Rated Film

Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer has secured the second-highest opening for an R-rated non-franchise film.


In a remarkable turn of events, Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, the latest release from Universal Pictures, has taken the box office by storm, registering the second-biggest domestic opening weekend for a non-franchise R-rated film of all time, trailing only behind Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ.


Per Box Office Mojo, the film also emerged as the 11th biggest opening weekend of all time for an R-rated movie, in the US and Canada, unadjusted for inflation. It even managed to dethrone the highly successful John Wick: Chapter 4, as the biggest R-rated opener of 2023. A major part of its earnings came from IMAX screens.


The epic historical drama, Oppenheimer, directed by the acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan, raked in an astounding $80.5 million during its opening weekend, marking it as an instant blockbuster. This figure is almost twice the early estimates, and even more impressive after witnessing competitor Barbie's $155 million opening, which shattered numerous records. It should be noted that Barbie has a PG-13 rating and a runtime of less than two hours, compared to the former's three hours.


Notably, it registered the 2nd biggest opening ever for an R-rated non-franchise film, merely missing out on passing the $83.8 million of The Passion of the Christ, also an epic historical drama. It also had the 6th biggest opening weekend for an R-rated non-sequel movie, leaving behind iconic films like Jordan Peele's Us and Zack Snyder's 300. This puts it only behind Deadpool ($132 million), It ($123 million), Joker ($96 million), Fifty Shades of Grey ($85 million), and The Passion of the Christ; most of which appealed to a comparatively wider range of audiences. Another big achievement includes surpassing John Wick: Chapter 4 ($73.8 million) as the biggest opening of the year for restricted films. This highlights the power of the strong fan following and captivating storytelling of Nolan that drew audiences to theaters across the nation.


Oppenheimer features Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer in a gripping tale about his involvement in the Manhattan Project, about the development of the atomic bomb during World War II. The film has received widespread universal acclaim from both critics and audiences.


Movie enthusiasts and historians alike are eager to witness the enduring success of Oppenheimer as it continues to captivate and inspire audiences across the globe. Despite the fierce competition, Oppenheimer has already solidified its place among the box office giants, with its groundbreaking achievement at the box office. As word-of-mouth spreads and critical acclaim pours in, the film is expected to maintain a strong presence in theaters, potentially climbing even higher in the ranks.


Oppenheimer is currently running in theaters.

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