The renowned film Oppenheimer, featuring acclaimed actors Cillian Murphy and Emily Blunt, witnessed unexpected turns of events after part of the cast exited the premiere. This surprising event fuelled curiosity about the Oscar-nominated biographical thriller, causing many to speculate about the incidents occurring behind the scenes.
The cast members disclosed details about the sudden walkout during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. They explained that the purpose behind this unusual act was to extend their solidarity towards fellow performers during the SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) strike. The strike had kickstarted a day after Oppenheimer‘s UK premiere and exactly a week prior to its debut in North America.
“In true Irish fashion, I went to the bar straight away“, said Murphy, while Blunt added, “We went to the bar in solidarity. A few of us went. Even Robert Downey Jr. joined us. We stayed till 4 am.“
The cast’s walkout came into motion following the SAG-AFTRA decision to strike on the day of the film’s premiere. Actor Matt Damon alerted the media beforehand about their intention to leave early. The strike ended the subsequent November after SAG-AFTRA agreed to a more lucrative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).
Notwithstanding the unions’ restrictions limiting the cast’s promotional activities for Oppenheimer approaching its release date, the film directed by Christopher Nolan became a phenomenal success. It emerged as the highest-ever moneymaking biopic and the second most profitable R-rated film, amassing a staggering worldwide collection of $960.2 million. The movie has amassed rave reviews, securing an impressive critics’ rating of 93% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Remarkable Success of Oppenheimer:
As anticipated, Oppenheimer has gained laurels in the major awards circuit. This World War II era film has pocketed five Golden Globes, seven British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs), and a Grammy. Further, the film has an impressive line-up for the 96th Academy Awards next month, with 13 nominations in its bag, the most by any film at this year’s show, cementing its status as a top Oscar contender.
The biographical thriller tells the riveting tale of the influential theoretical physicist, J. Robert Oppenheimer, played by Murphy, and his crucial role in developing the world’s first atomic bomb via The Manhattan Project. The film paints a vivid picture of this historic event and is based on the 2005 novel, American Prometheus, authored by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin.
Oppenheimer is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV. It can also be accessed on home video platforms.
Source: Jimmy Kimmel Live! via YouTube
Vocabulary List:
- Renowned (adjective): Well-known and respected; famous.
- Acclaimed (adjective): Highly praised or publicly acknowledged.
- Solidarity (noun): Unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest; mutual support within a group.
- Kickstarted (verb): To launch or start something, especially a process or project, quickly or forcefully.
- Lurative (adjective): Producing a great deal of profit.
- Critics (noun): People who express an unfavorable opinion of something.
