Christopher Nolan’s hotly-anticipated film Oppenheimer has officially been given an R rating, which could hurt its chances to win an upcoming box office battle. This marks the first rated-R film directed by Nolan in more than 20 years. Premiering on July 21, 2023, the movie is the twelfth feature film by the legendary director and features an ensemble cast of Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, and Gary Oldman.
Oppenheimer will follow the story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his historic involvement in creating the first atomic bomb. Coined the “father of the atomic bomb“, Oppenheimer infamously worked on the Manhattan Project which led to the development of the weapon of mass destruction. The film is based on true events and will take place during the 1940s during the early days of World War II.
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Why Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer Is Rated R
Oppenheimer’s R-rating is surprising given Nolan’s track record of making mostly PG-13 movies. One indication of the MPAA’s decision could be the protagonist’s romantic relationships with two characters that could potentially include sexual themes and instances of adultery. Another reason could be scenes of violence or intense situations that resulted from the creation of the atomic bomb, which reportedly took more than 20 lives due to accidents during the Manhattan Project. Nolan used practical effects to simulate Oppenheimer’s nuclear explosion, adding the realism of the dangerous and potentially lethal mission.
A certain character in Oppenheimer is based on a real person, Jean Tatlock, who had a history of depression and self-harm. This could have given the upcoming blockbuster its R rating if the movie does portray that part of the character’s life. Ironically, Nolan’s first three feature films, Following (1998), Memento (2000), and Insomnia (2002) were all rated R before going on to make only PG-13 movies for the following two decades. Oppenheimer will certainly face a challenge as an R-rated movie going up against another highly-anticipated summer blockbuster, Barbie, which is rated PG-13 on the same opening weekend.
Oppenheimer’s R-Rating Gives Barbie A Better Chance In Summer 2023’s Biggest Box Office Battle
Oppenheimer’s R-rating could influence its opening weekend performance at the box office despite Nolan’s prestigious reputation for filling movie theater seats. R-rated movies typically have lower box office numbers than PG-13 movies, which could draw more moviegoers, especially teenagers, to Greta Gerwig’s Barbie instead of the dense Nolan film. It is also worth noting that Nolan’s latest movie is also his longest ever, which could also deter summer audiences. All things considered, Oppenheimer’s R rating is sure to test Christopher Nolan’s ability to still pull in massive ticket sales at the box office.
