Yahoo Movies Oppenheimer wins big at the 2024 Oscars
The biopic won the awards for Best Film and more during the biggest night in Hollywood
Oppenheimer swept the board at this year's Oscars ceremony, winning seven awards including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor for Cillian Murphy.
Christopher Nolan's film tells the story of the father of the nuclear bomb J Robert Oppenheimer (Murphy) and the creation of the atomic weapon. It had 13 nominations at the 96th Academy Awards and was the big winner of the night.
The film became a worldwide sensation when it was released in summer 2023 on the same day as Barbie, a release schedule that created a cultural phenomenon: Barbenheimer.
No-one could have quite predicted the impact that this release would have, and the way it would help bring audiences to cinemas, but the Oscars was a good place to celebrate them.
🍿 Oscars 2024 recap
Which awards did Oppenheimer win at the 2024 Oscars?
The film's big wins were, as mentioned, Best Film, Best Actor, and Best Director, but the film's first big win of the night was for Best Supporting Actor for Robert Downey Jr. The actor won for his performance of Lewis Strauss, a high-ranking member of the US Atomic Energy Commission who resents Oppenheimer.
Downey Jr's speech was full of dark humour, saying: "I'd like to thank my terrible childhood and the Academy, in that order."
Read more: Oppenheimer: The true story behind the Christopher Nolan film
He added: "I'd like to thank ... my wife, Susan Downey, over there. [She] found me a snarling rescue pet and loved me back to life. That's why I'm here. Thank you."
He added that he "needed the job" more than it needed him and that he was a "better man" because of the film. The actor also thanked his publicist, in reference to Da'vine Joy Randolph's Oscars speech, and a few other members of his team as well, including his stylist and "entertainment lawyer of 40 years.
Downey Jr. was the subject of some of host Jimmy Kimmel's jabs in his opening monologue, which poked fun at his past substance abuse problems by commenting it wasn't his "highest moment".
Read more: The Oscars 2024 red carpet: The best and worst dressed stars
The film also went on to win for Film Editing for Jennifer Lame, who previously worked on films like Manchester By the Sea and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and Cinematography for Hoyte van Hoytema, who has collaborated with Nolan on several of his films including Dunkirk and Interstellar.
Composer Ludwig Göransson also won for Best Original Score, he has worked on a number of big productions including The Mandalorian.
Another big win of the night was for Murphy, who won his first Oscar for leading the production. In his speech, Murphy admitted he was "a little overwhelmed", but said he was a "very proud Irishman standing here tonight."
He also shared an important message: "We made a film about the man who created the atomic bomb, and for better or worse, we're all living in Oppenheimer's world. So I would like to dedicate this to the peacemakers everywhere."
It wasn't the only big first win either, as director Nolan won his first Academy Award of his career for the film.
In his speech, Nolan said: "Movies are just over 100 years old... we don't know where this incredible journey is going from here but to know you think I'm a meaningful part of it means the world to me."
The movie also went on to take the prize for Best Film, which was given by Al Pacino who announced the win in a nonchalant way. Nolan's wife Emma Thomas, who also produces all his films, said she had been "dreaming of this moment for so long", calling Nolan "singular" and "brilliant".
Oppenheimer is available to buy and rent digitally now. The Oscars ceremony is available to stream in the UK now via ITVX.
Watch highlights from the Oscars:
