Christopher Nolan’s recent cinematic masterpiece, “Oppenheimer,” has carved a niche for itself at the box office, jointly reigning with the blockbuster “Barbie” in the trend labelled “Barbenheimer.” Critics have been generous with their praise.
However, discerning viewers pointed out a hiccup in historical accuracy. A 1945 scene shows Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer amidst throng flaunting American flags with the incorrect star count.
“Enjoyed the movie, but they goofed by showcasing a 50-star flag in 1945,” tweeted Andy Craig on Friday.
The 1945 American flag historically bore 48 stars; Alaska and Hawaii were yet to join as states. It wasn’t until 1960 that the US embraced the 50-star flag.
Interestingly, another 1945 scene in the film accurately portrays the American flag. A Twitter fan theorized, “Perhaps it’s intentional: the coloured shots represent Oppenheimer’s memory, which in his present-day might be influenced by the 50-star flag, whereas the monochromatic ones offer an external viewpoint.”
The film journeys through Oppenheimer’s life, highlighting his student years in the 1920s, the World War II era when he spearheaded the nuclear bomb’s development, and the tumultuous 1954 Atomic Energy Commission hearings when he faced consequences for his alleged Communist ties.
A Twitter user humorously quipped, “Guess ‘Barbie’ gave a heads-up,” hinting at the simultaneous release of “Oppenheimer” with Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie.”
Following closely behind “Barbie,” “Oppenheimer” debuted with an impressive $80.5 million in its US weekend premiere, as reported by Comscore. Both films surpassed earlier box office forecasts by a substantial margin, noted Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore’s senior media analyst.
Dergarabedian commented on the unique scenario where not only did both movies excel, but they also bolstered each other’s success via the “Barbenheimer” wave.
In the ever-evolving world of cinema, minor slip-ups can sometimes become talking points, adding another layer of intrigue to an already captivating narrative. Despite the little flag discrepancy, “Oppenheimer” has undoubtedly left its mark alongside “Barbie,” proving that sometimes two major films can harmoniously co-exist and even elevate each other in Hollywood. It’s an exciting time for moviegoers as they witness and partake in the magic of the “Barbenheimer” era.
