"Oppenheimer" makes explosive debut in Japan

More than eight months after its initial global release and a historic win for Best Picture at the Oscars, Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" continues to captivate audiences worldwide.

Over the weekend, the film opened in Japan, marking its final market release, and garnered a remarkable $2.5 million from 343 theaters, securing the third spot at the box office.

It outperformed notable titles such as "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" and "Dune: Part Two," with opening weekends of $1.6 million and $1.3 million, respectively.

The film's performance is particularly noteworthy given the controversy surrounding its release in Japan. "Oppenheimer" explores the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer portrayed by Cillian Murphy, the American physicist who played a pivotal role in developing the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. 

Given this background, there was initial uncertainty about whether the film would be shown in Japan, especially after Toho-Towa, a major distributor, chose not to handle the film. Nevertheless, Bitters End, the distributor behind the successful Japanese releases of "Parasite" and "Perfect Days," opted to bring "Oppenheimer" to Japanese theaters after considerable discussion about its themes.

"Oppenheimer's" box office success in Japan adds a new chapter to Nolan's impressive record in the country. The film's initial ticket sales have surpassed those of Nolan's earlier works such as "Interstellar," "Batman Begins," "Dunkirk," and "The Dark Knight" at comparable points in their Japanese releases. 

It matched the opening figures for "The Dark Knight Rises" and "Tenet," although it fell short of the towering $42 million earned by "Inception," Nolan's highest-grossing film in Japan. 

Made on a budget of $100 million,  "Oppenheimer" has not only reaped box office gold but also clinched seven Oscars, including the coveted titles of Best Picture and Director.