Summary
- Nolan’s Oppenheimer shines at the Oscars with major wins and critical acclaim, solidifying his reputation as a versatile filmmaker.
- Surpassing box office expectations, Oppenheimer becomes the third-highest grossing movie of 2023, outperforming big blockbusters.
- Nolan’s use of practical effects over CGI in Oppenheimer makes a statement on the industry’s reliance on computer-generated visuals.
Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer has proven to be more than a sidekick to Barbie as it followed up its 2023 box office success with a huge win at the Academy Awards. The biographical drama has been building up to this moment over the last few months, with Nolan, Robert Downey Jr. and Cillian Murphy collecting numerous accolades at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs and more. Now, the film’s triumphant run has hit its peak.
Oppenheimer
5/5
- Release Date
- July 21, 2023
- Cast
- Cillian Murphy , Matt Damon , Robert Downey Jr. , Emily Blunt , Florence Pugh , Gary Oldman , Josh Hartnett , Jack Quaid , Kenneth Branagh , Rami Malek , Alex Wolff , Matthew Modine
- Studio
- Universal Pictures, Atlas Entertainment, Syncopy
Oppenheimer has solidified Nolan’s reputation as one of the most versatile filmmakers in Hollywood. Although his latest movie did not include the kind of head-scratching moments of Tenet or Inception, or the comic book action of The Dark Knight, the movie delivered a complex analysis of moral and ethical issues, and the personal cost of advancement in science and technology. In the current world climate, this almost century-old story resonates more than ever.
The film’s success at the Oscars included wins for Best Picture, Best Director for Nolan, Best Actor for Murphy, and Best Supporting Actor for Downey Jr. along with several others to deliver a total haul of [INSERT TOTAL WINS].
Oppenheimer’s Success Goes Beyond Oscar Glory
Oppenheimer’s triumphant night at the Oscars is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the success of the movie. A film like Oppenheimer would usually do well in box office returns, but it would not often compete with big summer blockbusters to be one of the highest grossing movies of the year. Spurred on by its unexpected partnering with Margot Robbie-led Barbie, Oppenheimer became the third-highest grossing movie of 2023, taking more than the total grosses of Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania, The Flash, and The Marvels combined – something that could not have been foreseen a few years ago.
Outside the financial and critical success of Oppenheimer, Nolan’s dedication to the use of practical effects over CGI has also highlighted how the industry’s reliance on computer-generated visuals is not always necessary. Could anything seen in Oppenheimer have looked better if they had harnessed the power of CGI? Probably not, and that makes a statement all of its own.
Einstein and the Bomb Fills in the Blanks Oppenheimer Left Out
Even though Einstein is featured in Oppenheimer, there is much more backstory to the esteemed scientist than is shown in the award-winning movie.
Oppenheimer has changed the face of cinema in a way that is strangely parallel to how its titular scientist changed the face of nuclear weaponry. Nolan has put together a movie that, in other hands, could have become an overblown, CGI-laden dud. Instead, he had given life to the biographical drama genre, and advocated the use of practical effects to a world that seemed engrossed in what has become the most successful movie of his career in many areas.
Oppenheimer
is currently available to stream on Peacock Premium.
