Summer blockbuster biopic Oppenheimer took home seven Academy Awards including the top prize Best Picture. The biopic tells the story behind the “father of the atomic bomb,” J. Robert Oppenheimer played by Cillian Murphy.
Best Picture
The blockbuster lost the box office battle to Barbie during last summer’s Barbenheimer showdown. But Oppenheimer has now won all the awards with Greta Gerwig’s Barbie only winning just one Oscar for Best Original Song.
Oppenheimer’s win marked them as the highest-grossing film for Best Picture since ‘Lord of the Rings.’ Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece brought in a whopping $953.8 million globally. Emma Thomas, the producer for Oppenheimer and wife to Christopher Nolan accepted the award for Best Picture.
Best Actor Cillian Murphy
Cillian Murphy was named Best Actor for his performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer. It was his first nomination and win. Murphy beat out Paul Giamatti, Bradley Cooper, Colman Domingo, and Jeffrey Wright. Murphy dedicated the award “to the peacemakers everywhere.”
Best Supporting Actor Robert Downey Jr.
Murphy’s co-star Robert Downey Jr. was named Best Supporting Actor this year. He beat out Robert De Niro, Ryan Gosling, Mark Ruffalo, and Sterling K. Brown. This was Downey Jr.’s first Oscar win after being nominated two times prior for his performance in Chaplin and Tropic Thunder.
“I’d like to thank my terrible childhood and the Academy in that order,” he joked before adding “I needed this job more than it needed me.”
Best Director Christopher Nolan
Later in the night, the talented Christopher Nolan won his first Oscar for Best Director. Nolan was previously nominated for Dunkirk but lost to legendary director Martin Scorsese. Nolan thanked his wife, Emma Thomas, and the Academy.
“We don’t know where this incredible journey is going from here but to know that you think I’m a meaningful part of it means the world to me.”
Oppenheimer also won Oscars for editing, cinematography, and score.
For a full list of the winners at the 2024 Oscars, click here. What did you think of Oppenheimer?
