Christopher Nolan may not be thrilled about sharing the spotlight of his latest magnum opus with Barbie, but he’ll surely find solace in the overwhelmingly positive first reactions from critics.
Oppenheimer premiered at Le Grand Rex in Paris earlier this week, where critics were left speechless and in awe after nearly three hours of cinematic thrills. Their reviews overflowed with adjectives, trying to capture the essence of their mind-blowing experience.
Here’s a wrap-up of some of the reactions from critics:
#Oppenheimer left me stunned: a character study on the grandest scale, with a sublime central performance by Cillian Murphy. An epic historical drama but with a distinctly Nolan sensibility: the tension, structure, sense of scale, startling sound design, remarkable visuals. Wow
— Matt Maytum (@mattmaytum) July 11, 2023
#ChristopherNolan's #Oppenheimer is incredible. Every aspect of the film is worth talking about from the brilliant performances, to #HoytevanHoytema's amazing work behind the camera, to the way Nolan tells the story. The 3 hour run time flies by. See it in @IMAX 70mm if you can. pic.twitter.com/8mPVJGALKu
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) July 11, 2023
#Oppenheimer is staggering in every sense of the word. Might sound nuts to say this about a Chris Nolan movie that isn't INCEPTION, DUNKIRK, or even TENET, but this could be his most formally daring work yet. Sharp script, impeccable sound design, and Cillian Murphy is a *force*
— Jeremy Mathai❄ (@Somthin_Tookish) July 11, 2023
https://twitter.com/robbiereviews/status/1678888929846521856?s=20
Christopher Nolan’s #Oppenheimer is truly a spectacular achievement, in its truthful, concise adaptation, inventive storytelling and nuanced performances from Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon and the many, many others involved —- some just for a scene.
— Lindsey Bahr (@ldbahr) July 11, 2023
Totally absorbed in OPPENHEIMER, a dense, talkie, tense film partly about the bomb, mostly about how doomed we are. Happy summer! Murphy is good, but the support essential: Damon, Downey Jr & Ehrenreich even bring gags. An audacious, inventive, complex film to rattle its audience
— Jonathan Dean (@JonathanDean_) July 11, 2023
Christopher Nolan's #Oppenheimer is an immense achievement and his best movie in over a decade. It's stunning how immersive (and accurate) the film is with its history—as it is ultimately disturbing due to its implications for our world and future. See it on the biggest screen.
— David Crow (@DCrowsNest) July 11, 2023
#Oppenheimer is powerful stuff. Cillian Murphy’s flawless awards worthy performance is next level. Every player in this rich ensemble cast is at the top of their game. Christopher Nolan’s haunting opus is remarkable and Hoyte van Hoytema‘s execution of his vision is breathtaking. pic.twitter.com/oRFAVM64Kg
— Simon Thompson (@ShowbizSimon) July 11, 2023
OPPENHEIMER is…incredible. The word that keeps coming to mind is "fearsome." A relentlessly paced, insanely detailed, intricate historical drama that builds and builds and builds until Nolan brings the hammer down in the most astonishing, shattering way.
— Bilge Ebiri (@BilgeEbiri) July 11, 2023
Critics might be hyping it up, but early projections paint a disappointing picture for Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film. Early projections suggest a lackluster opening weekend for Oppenheimer, earning a disappointing $50 million at the box office. To add insult to injury, the rival film Barbie is predicted to outperform it, raking in over $80 million.
In any case, let’s not forget the power of the second weekend at the box office, as we’ve witnessed with films like Pixar’s Elemental, come back big a week following its initial premiere. And in the rare case that Oppenheimer becomes a box office bomb, we can still bet on seeing actors like Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, and Matt Damon grab multiple nominations in the upcoming awards season.
With the positive early reactions to Barbie and now similar first reactions for Oppenheimer, there’s a good chance that Tom Cruise’s supposed “Barbenheimer weekend plan” is completely ruined.
