Hollywood's award season often feels like a high-stakes gamble, and this year, one film defied the odds to become a true success story: "Nuremberg." While many anticipated blockbusters stumbled, this historical drama, starring Russell Crowe, quietly amassed a global box office that's turning heads.
Sony Pictures Classics' release of “Nuremberg” has impressively garnered $46 million worldwide. This figure positions it as a surprising triumph compared to several other award-season hopefuls. For context, “The Smashing Machine,” despite featuring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt and receiving some positive critical feedback, only managed $21.1 million globally. Even higher-profile projects like “Bugonia” and “The Phoenician Scheme” struggled, barely surpassing $40 million each. Of course, everyone expected those films to be under the shadow of “Marty Supreme,” which has earned $79.5 million globally.
But here's where it gets interesting: "Nuremberg" has resonated particularly strongly with international audiences. Its overseas grosses have already doubled its domestic box office revenue, showcasing its broad appeal. The film has earned over $31 million internationally, and it's still awaiting releases in major markets like France and Germany. In Italy alone, "Nuremberg" has grossed over $8 million, exceeding last year's significant awards contender, "Conclave," which earned $6.9 million. The film's success isn't limited to Italy; it also outstripped "Conclave" in the Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, Greece, Portugal, and Romania, demonstrating its widespread popularity across Europe.
Directed by James Vanderbilt, "Nuremberg" delves into the aftermath of World War II, following U.S. Army psychiatrist Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek) as he examines Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe) and other high-ranking Nazi officials during the historic Nuremberg trials. Crowe's portrayal of Göring, Hitler's second-in-command, has been lauded as a performance of “consummate command,” even featuring dialogue delivered in German. Variety praised Crowe's commitment and intensity, highlighting his ability to capture the complex and chilling nature of Göring's personality.
"Nuremberg" premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, followed by its theatrical release in November. Despite being largely overlooked during the initial award season buzz, the film has secured six spots on BAFTA longlists, including nominations for Best Film and Leading Actor for Crowe. It also earned two spots on the Academy Award shortlists. And this is the part most people miss: the film has resonated profoundly with audiences. The two-and-a-half-hour drama boasts a remarkable 95% to 96% Rotten Tomatoes audience score. After its premium video-on-demand release on December 23rd, it quickly rose to become the second most popular movie on both Amazon and Apple TV.
With its upcoming releases in France (end of January) and Germany (April), "Nuremberg's" global box office total is poised to continue its upward trajectory. But here's the million-dollar question: will this commercial success translate into Oscar nominations when they are announced next week? Some argue that box office performance shouldn't dictate awards recognition, while others believe it's a valid indicator of a film's impact and resonance.
This is where opinions often diverge: Does a film's box office success influence your perception of its artistic merit? Should awards season prioritize commercially successful films, or should it focus solely on artistic and critical acclaim, regardless of audience turnout? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
