The Hidden Truth Behind Warner Bros' Clash with Christopher Nolan

Warner Bros. Discovery may have intentionally scheduled the release of Oppenheimer and Barbie on the same day, according to a recent report. While Oppenheimer marks director Christopher Nolan's first project with Universal after previously working with Warner Bros., the latter film is rumored to have been scheduled out of spite. Puck suggests that Warner Bros. Discovery may have chosen to release Gerwig's Barbie on the same day as Nolan's film as a way of sending a "middle finger" to Universal, with whom Nolan has entered into a new collaboration. This move is seen as retaliation for Nolan's public criticism of Warner Bros.' decision to adopt a day-and-date release strategy for much of its 2021 slate.

Christopher Nolan's Warner Bros. Controversy Explained

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the theatrical movie industry suffered a significant blow as theaters worldwide either closed or operated intermittently. Nolan, a strong advocate for the cinematic experience, made efforts to save struggling movie theaters by writing op-eds and launching petitions. His highly anticipated espionage thriller Tenet, which was released in August 2020, was expected to provide a lifeline to theaters. However, despite being Nolan's most expensive original project to date with a budget of $205 million, Tenet only grossed $363 million at the box office, falling far short of expectations. Its failure played a crucial role in Warner Bros.' decision to shift much of its 2021 slate to a hybrid release model, where films such as Godzilla vs. Kong, Mortal Kombat, and The Suicide Squad were released simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max (now known as Max).

Nolan strongly opposed this decision, stating that it disrespected both theaters and filmmakers who put in immense effort to create movies specifically for the big screen. Moreover, he pointed out that the filmmakers had no say in the shift to simultaneous release. The recent confirmation that Oppenheimer is rated R suggests that Barbie may emerge as the victor at the box office. Regardless of the outcome, it is evident that Warner Bros. Discovery was displeased with losing one of its top directors.