In a surprising twist, a historical drama is making waves at the box office, leaving its awards season rivals in the dust. Russell Crowe's 'Nuremberg' has emerged as a financial success, despite the challenges faced by many other prestigious films this season.
Here's the scoop: While the industry has seen several high-profile releases struggle to attract audiences, 'Nuremberg' has grossed an impressive $46 million worldwide. This is a significant achievement, especially when compared to its competitors. For instance, 'The Smashing Machine', starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, despite its critical praise, has only managed $21.1 million globally. Even bigger-budget films like 'Bugonia' and 'The Phoenician Scheme' barely reached $40 million each. And let's not forget the box office behemoth 'Marty Supreme', which earned a staggering $79.5 million globally, a number that 'Nuremberg' doesn't come close to.
But here's where it gets interesting: 'Nuremberg' has been an international powerhouse. The film has already doubled its domestic box office success with over $31 million earned overseas, and it's not done yet! Major markets like France and Germany are still to come, which could significantly boost its global total. In Italy alone, 'Nuremberg' has grossed over $8 million, outperforming last year's awards contender 'Conclave' by a significant margin. It also dominated the box office in several other European countries, including the Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, Greece, Portugal, and Romania.
The film, directed by James Vanderbilt, showcases Crowe's powerful portrayal of Hermann Göring, a high-ranking Nazi officer, alongside Rami Malek as U.S. Army psychiatrist Douglas Kelley. Crowe's performance as Hitler's second-in-command has been praised as a 'consummate command' by Variety, with his commitment to learning German dialogue adding an extra layer of authenticity.
Despite being overlooked during awards season, 'Nuremberg' has received critical acclaim, earning six BAFTA longlist spots, including Best Film and Best Actor for Crowe, and two Academy Award shortlist mentions. With a stellar 95%-96% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and its popularity on streaming platforms, it's clear that this film has resonated with viewers.
As France and Germany prepare for its release, 'Nuremberg's' global box office success is set to soar. But will this financial triumph translate into Oscar glory? That's the million-dollar question. Will the Academy recognize this hidden gem, or will it be overlooked in favor of more conventional choices? The world of cinema is holding its breath, waiting to see if this box office surprise becomes an awards season darling.
