It seems like you’re about to spend quite a while inside a movie theater for a single screening – again. This Friday, aPuck Newsrepresentativereported that one of the most anticipated movies from 2023,Christopher Nolan’sOppenheimer, has a final runtime of three hours. Should this be confirmed, thewar dramawould become Nolan’s longest-running title.
The movie’s runtime probably won’t be received as bad news by Nolan fans, who are used to witnessing some lengthy work from the filmmaker. Back in 2012, Nolan deliveredThe Dark Knight Riseswith 164 minutes. Two years after that,Interstellarclocked in at 169 minutes, and other landmark projects from the director likeInceptionandTenethave easily passed the more-common 2-hour mark.
OppenheimerJoins an Influx of Lengthy Blockbusters
The only difference this time around is that, due to a combination of factors, we’re getting delivered blockbusters that far exceed the 2-hour runtime. This week, theKeanu Reeves-ledJohn Wick: Chapter 4premiered with a whopping 169 minutes, and earlier this year Academy Award winnerDamien Chazellehit us with 189 minutes ofBabylon— for some people, not even seeingBrad PittandMargot Robbieon the big screen is worth the long sitting. Not too long ago, we had to sit through 192 minutes ofAvatar: The Way of Waterand the 161 minutes ofBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever.
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WillOppenheimer’s Duration Drive People Away?
Fans of a particular franchise or star don’t really care if a new title is long or not, but chances are if you’re not that excited to watch something, the extended runtime might end up factoring in your decision to watch it later, in the comfort of your home, and with bathroom breaks. We also have to consider that, even though their runtimes are yet to be revealed,Transformers: Rise of the BeastsandFast Xare part of franchises that tend to deliver entries that are over two hours long, so all of that adds up and might make people be a bit pickier when choosing which movie they’ll watch next.
On the other hand,Oppenheimerdoes feel like the kind of story you’d need more time to tell. The movie centers aroundJ. Robert Oppenheimer(Cillian Murphy), the man that had a significant part in developing one of humanity’s biggest and most dangerous weapons: The atomic bomb. The cast certainly has enough names to lure people in:Emily Blunt,Robert Downey Jr.,Florence Pugh,Gary Oldman,Alden Ehrenheich,Rami Malek,Kenneth Branagh,Josh Hartnett, and many others may be all it takes to put butts in seats regardless of the movie’s duration. Nolan’s previous war movie,Dunkirk, managed to rake in over $500 million in theaters, but it was an hour shorter. Come July, we’ll see if Nolan’s choice of subject and cast will make him another hit or ifOppenheimer’s duration makes itbomb at the box office.
Oppenheimeris set to premiere in theaters on July 21. You can watch a teaser trailer below:
