Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’ sets the record as the biggest biopic in history

The three-hour film has been described as the director’s magnum opus

With a staggering record of $912 million in ticket sales achieved in the past week, Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer has taken the spot as the now-highest-grossing biopic in history, according to The Guardian. The film has dethroned the 2018 Freddie Mercury biography film Bohemian Rhapsody, which originally held the spot at a riveting $910 million.

However, this is nowhere near the film’s first big feat as Oppenheimer also crept its way to the position of the third-biggest release of the year of 2023 after Barbie at $1.4 billion and The Super Mario Bros Movie at $1.3 billion. The Nolan film is closely followed by Guardians of the Galaxy and Fast X, which currently occupy the fourth and fifth spots on the list.

A story drawn from the works of Kai Bird and Martin J Sherwin’s American Prometheus, the narrative of the film reveals the origins of the world’s first atomic bomb built during World War II. A biopic through the eyes of the “The Father of the Atomic Bomb” himself, J Robert Oppenheimer, the role essayed by Cillian Murphy explores the life and achievements of the lead scientist as he was met with the greatest challenge of his career while working at the Los Alamos laboratory on the secret Manhattan Project.

Clarisse Loughrey of The Independent bestowed a glowing four out of five-star review upon Oppenheimer, describing it as Nolan's magnum opus that skilfully navigates the contentious legacy of the controversially significant physicist. Loughrey praised Nolan's craftsmanship, noting how he transforms Oppenheimer's story into a profound and deeply moving cinematic experience.

In an exclusive interview with the publication, Nolan himself offered insight into the monumental endeavour that was Oppenheimer. The visionary director revealed that the film stands as his most ambitious project to date, highlighting the imperative of capturing the grandeur of Oppenheimer's story. “The film I wanted to make couldn’t have been done smaller,” Nolan said. “It’s not about money, it’s not about budget – the magnitude of the story is what attracted me to it."

The filmmaker further added, "The fact that Oppenheimer and his fellow scientists couldn’t completely eliminate the possibility that they might set fire to the atmosphere and destroy the entire world, but still triggered the test – the idea of someone taking that risk on behalf of all of us and all our descendants. There’s nothing bigger than that.”

Oppenheimer made its theatrical debut on July 21, marking a significant milestone in Nolan's illustrious filmmaking career. As audiences continue to be entranced by the cinematic marvel, the film's impact resonates deeply, exemplifying the power of storytelling to shed light on the complexities of history and the human spirit.