Oppenheimer has finally arrived in cinemas and, as expected, is off to a great start at the box office. The highly anticipated Christopher Nolan directorial has been getting rave views from the audiences and critics alike.
However, while Oppenheimer opened in theaters across the world on July 21st, many wondered if the film would be released in Japan, considering it revolves around the invention of the atomic bomb and its tragic dropping over the country during the Second World War. Read on to find out.
No Release Date Announced for Oppenheimer in Japan
As of now, the release of Oppenheimer in Japan has not been announced. While the film premiered in most international territories on Friday, the same is not the case in Japan. So far, neither the producers nor the distributors have confirmed if and when the period drama will be released in Japan.
Meanwhile, Japan has a history of delaying the release of Hollywood films. A number of earlier blockbusters were released there weeks, and sometimes months, after their US debut. It is possible that Oppenheimer will follow the same trend and will be released in Japan in the upcoming months, however, the official announcement should be awaited.
Is Oppenheimer Banned in Japan?
There also have been speculations that Oppenheimer might altogether be banned in Japan since it is based on an event that wreaked havoc over the country and killed over 200,000 people. The atomic bomb was developed by J. Robert Oppenheimer and his team under the Manhattan Project in July 1945.
A month later, two bombs were dropped on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, causing unprecedented destruction and loss of life. There are concerns that the Japanese audiences would be sensitive to the events depicted in the film. However, the speculations are untrue and there has been no announcement regarding any sort of ban on the film.
The Film has Collected $10.5 Million at the Domestic Box Office
While Oppenheimer is yet to get a release in Japan, it has opened well at the global box office. As per early estimates, the film has collected $10.5 million in the domestic market. The number, is, however, less than its rival Barbie which arrived on the same day and has made over $22 million till now.
The reviews are working in the favor of Oppenheimer as people are said to be ‘moved’ and ‘devastated’ after watching the film. “I am, at the moment, stunned and emotionally recovering from having seen Oppenheimer,” said Kai Bird, the author of the book American Prometheus, which served as the source material for the film.
“It is an intense experience because it’s an intense story. I showed it to a filmmaker recently who said it’s kind of a horror movie. I don’t disagree,” Nolan added about his work. Oppenheimer stars an impressive ensemble of Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Florence Pugh, Rami Malek, Kenneth Branagh, Dane DeHaan, Benny Safdie, Casey Affleck, and Tom Conti.
For more news and updates, keep watching this space.
