At the 96th Academy Awards, “Oppenheimer,” Christopher Nolan’s movie about the man behind the atomic bomb, took home the top prize for Best Picture along with six other awards. It was a big night for the movie, as it also won Best Director for Nolan, Best Actor for Cillian Murphy, Best Supporting Actor for Robert Downey Jr., Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Score.
Nolan, in his acceptance speech for Best Director, expressed his gratitude, saying, “Movies are just a little bit over 100 years old. Imagine being there 100 years into painting or theater. We don’t know where this incredible journey is going from here. But to know that you think that I’m a meaningful part of it means the world to me.”
“Oppenheimer” had been a favorite throughout the awards season, winning best picture trophies at the Golden Globes and the Producers Guild of America. The movie, distributed by Universal Pictures, earned more than $957 million worldwide, making it a massive success at the box office.
This victory solidifies Nolan’s status as one of the top directors in Hollywood. He’s already known for his work on films like the “Dark Knight” trilogy, “Inception,” and “Dunkirk.”
The movie beat out tough competition, including Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” part of the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon. Both movies helped bring people back to theaters during the streaming era.
“Oppenheimer” tells the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer and his development of the atomic bomb during World War II. It also explores his complicated relationship with Lewis Strauss, a bureaucrat who tried to strip Oppenheimer of his security clearance during the McCarthy era.
Nolan wrote the script, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography “American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer.” The movie portrays Oppenheimer as a brilliant scientist who struggled with the moral implications of his invention.
The cast includes Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Matt Damon, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Benny Safdie, Jason Clarke, Rami Malek, and Kenneth Branagh. Emma Stone won Best Actress for her role in “Poor Things,” and Da’Vine Joy Randolph won Best Supporting Actress for “The Holdovers.”
Overall, “Oppenheimer” dominated the Oscars and left a lasting impression on audiences worldwide.
