Oppenheimer 2023

Movie · 180 min · English · July 11, 2023

Biographical drama Epic Historical thriller

Directed by Christopher NolanWritten by Christopher Nolan

Starring Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh

A 2023 epic biographical thriller film, Oppenheimer is written, co-produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan. The story centers on J. Robert Oppenheimer, an American theoretical physicist who led the creation of the first nuclear weapons during World War II. Based on the 2005 biography American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, the film portrays Oppenheimer's academic journey, his role in directing the Los Alamos Laboratory, and his 1954 security hearing. Cillian Murphy plays the lead role of Oppenheimer, supported by an ensemble cast including Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Rami Malek, and Kenneth Branagh.

The film was announced in September 2021. It marked Nolan’s first production not distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures since Memento (2000), a result of disagreements over the studio's release strategy involving simultaneous theatrical and HBO Max distribution. Murphy joined as the first actor, with others signing on between November 2021 and April 2022. Pre-production started by January 2022, and principal photography occurred from February through May. Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema employed a mix of IMAX 65 mm and 65 mm large-format film, including the first use of black-and-white IMAX for selected scenes. Nolan relied heavily on practical effects and claimed limited compositing; however, the final cut included several hundred VFX shots handled by an uncredited team of approximately 160.

Oppenheimer had its premiere at Le Grand Rex in Paris on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, and was released in the United States and the United Kingdom on July 21 by Universal Pictures. Its simultaneous release with Warner Bros.'s Barbie sparked the "Barbenheimer" trend, encouraging moviegoers to watch both films together. The film garnered wide critical praise and earned over $983 million globally, becoming the third-highest-grossing movie of 2023. It held the record as the top-grossing biographical film until being surpassed by Michael in 2026.

The film received numerous awards and honors. It was nominated for thirteen awards at the 96th Academy Awards, winning seven—including Best Picture, Best Director (Nolan), Best Actor (Murphy), and Best Supporting Actor (Downey). Additionally, it won five Golden Globe Awards, including Best Motion Picture – Drama, and seven British Academy Film Awards, such as Best Film. It was also named one of the top 10 films of 2023 by both the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute.