When Cillian Murphy compared superhero films with Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy

Christopher Nolan recently scored a massive hit with Oppenheimer. The J Robert Oppenheimer biopic, which is characteristically dense, dialogue-driven and niche, took almost two months to earn $900 million at the worldwide box office. However, this is not the most successful film from Nolan. Other than Inception (2010), Nolan delivered The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012). Both of the films have scored more than a billion, and remain one of the most critically acclaimed superhero films of all time. 

3 things you need to know: 

• Oppenheimer is the third highest-grossing film of 2023.
• It has now become the third highest-grossing biopic of all time.
• It is the highest-grossing non-franchise film ever.

Cillian Murphy on superhero films

Back in 2016, Cillian Murphy spoke with Vulture about The Dark Knight trilogy. He spoke about the highly acclaimed series as setting the high bar of quality when it comes to superhero films. The Peaky Blinders actor criticised the state of superhero films back then and gave credit to Nolan.

He said, “It was a different time back when we made Batman Begins. I think that Chris has to take credit for making that trilogy of films. I think they’re so grounded in a relatable reality.” He added that nobody in Nolan’s trilogy had superpowers, and it relied heavily on a heightened level of storytelling. 

(Cillian Murphy as Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow in The Dark Knight Rises | Image: IMDb)

Christopher Nolan breaks his own record

Inception concluded 2010 at the worldwide box office, at fourth spot. Ahead of it that year, were films Toy Story 3 which collected upwards of $1.068 billion, Alice in Wonderland which grossed $1.025 billion and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 which earned upwards of $951 million. Oppenheimer on the other hand, follows Barbie and The Super Mario Bros. Movie with the latter having earned $1.35 billion.