Oppenheimer has blown away all the expectations that were once placed on Christopher Nolan’s filmmaking skills. Even with shades of Oliver Stone and the political intrigue of the 70s, as seen in the works of John Frankenheimer and Alan Pakula, Nolan stayed true to his own signature style in this historical masterpiece. There is a good reason why the movie is leading as the frontrunner in the 2024 Oscars. But as great as the film was, it bucked the trend of Christopher Nolan staying within the PG-13 or 12A rating bracket.

For the first time in two decades, Christopher Nolan’s work received an R-rating since 2002’s Insomnia. And here are four reasons why this biographical drama ended up with that restricted rating.

Trigger Warning: This article mentions suicide which can be distressing for some readers. Reader discretion is advised.

The s*x scenes

Oppenheimer‘s R-rating primarily stems from its graphic s*x scenes, particularly those involving J. Robert Oppenheimer and his first love Jean Tatlock. Throughout most of Tatlock and Oppenheimer’s scenes together, they are shown either engaging in s*xual acts or completely naked.

Critics have questioned the necessity of the nudity, with some countries even resorting to using CGI to cover Pugh’s naked body with a dress.

The Horror Element

Apart from the se*ual content, Oppenheimer is reputedly so intense that some have labeled it a “horror movie”. Nolan also did not back away from depicting the death of Jean Tatlock. Owing to the narrative of the movie, specifically the bathtub scene, it vividly showed her committing suicide.

In fact, the movie was so intense that the director himself once shared that he saw some people leaving the movie utterly devastated, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

Intense Background Score

There were moments when the volume was too high, especially with the music being excessively loud, such as during the loud bang from the Trinity test scene. For the most part of Oppenheimer that was shown in theatres like IMAX, the background score was so intense that it made the dialogue difficult to hear.

Strong language and smoking

On top of all these, the film contained frequent instances of strong language. Throughout the movie, there was an overuse of foul language, with at least 10 instances of the “F” word and five other strong profanities. Additionally, the movie also showed instances of smoking, which further added to its R-rating.

Nonetheless, the R-rating did not prove detrimental to the film. While many military biopics typically aim for a PG-13 rating, Oppenheimer‘s R-rating allowed for a more realistic and intense portrayal of human nature. This increased the viewer’s immersion and emotional impact of the film. No matter the rating, the movie has without a doubt earned its spot as one of the filmmaker’s finest creations, with the chance of Oscar glory right around the corner.

What do you think about Oppenheimer‘s R-rating? let us know your thoughts in the comments below!