Christopher Nolan has long been a champion of the theatrical experience (and who knew Taylor Swift would be part of his defense?) but he also wants movie lovers to appreciate the art at home in the best way possible, promoting the upcoming Blu-ray of his monumental Oppenheimer while dropping a bomb on streaming services.
Ahead of a recent screening of Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan told audience members that now that his latest picture has exhausted its theatrical run (with a $950 million worldwide haul, no less), fans should be prepared for the best possible presentation on the physical format. “Obviously Oppenheimer has been quite a ride for us and now it is time for me to release a home version of the film. I’ve been working very hard on it for months…I’m known for my love of theatrical and put my whole life into that, but, the truth is, the way the film goes out at home is equally important.” After noting just how much work went into making The Dark Knight work on home video due to its mixed formats, he said, “In the case of Oppenheimer, we put a lot of care and attention into the Blu-ray version… and trying to translate the photography and the sound, putting that into the digital realm with a version you can buy and own at home and put on a shelf so no evil streaming service can come steal it from you.”
Christopher Nolan of course makes strong points here about the validity of physical media, especially pertaining to the visual and audio presentations of his films like The Dark Knight and Oppenheimer. But there’s also the inclusion of special features that for many continue to serve as invaluable educational tools on film production and history.
Oppenheimer is set to be released on Blu-ray, 4K UHD, DVD, and digital on November 21st, with special features that include an in-depth making-of documentary, a look at the film stocks and more. No date has been announced for its streaming debut, although you can expect it to be featured on Peacock.
Outside of theaters, does it matter to you how you see a movie? Does physical media take precedence over streaming or does convenience play a part? Let us know below!