The highly acclaimed film “Oppenheimer,” recounting U.S. endeavors to develop the first nuclear weapons, is set for release in Japanese theaters in 2024, according to Bitters End, its Japanese distributor. The decision follows intense public criticism in Japan, where Oppenheimer faced accusations of insensitivity toward the only nation to experience atomic bombings.
Bitters End, in its Thursday announcement, refrained from specifying the exact release date but emphasized the film’s importance and unique cinematic experience by director Christopher Nolan. Despite earning over $950 million globally since its July debut, the film sparked controversy for not portraying Japanese victims of the U.S. atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II, events that claimed an estimated 200,000 lives.
Director Nolan defended the film, asserting that it was not a documentary and was designed to focus on the perspective of American physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer.
Critics also objected to the simultaneous promotion of “Oppenheimer” alongside “Barbie,” a lighter comedy about the iconic Mattel doll. The online campaign known as “Barbenheimer” used memes to contrast the two films’ themes, sparking calls for a boycott in Japan, accompanied by the hashtag #NoBarbenheimer. Social media users expressed outrage when it appeared that the official studio account for “Barbie” endorsed the memes, leading to apologies from Warner Bros., the studio behind “Barbie,” for what was deemed “insensitive social media engagement.”
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The film “Barbie” was released in Japan on August 11 but faced challenges in gaining traction amid the controversy. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are annually commemorated on August 6 and 9, respectively, with memorial ceremonies advocating for the prohibition of nuclear weapons.