Oppenheimer (film) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Oppenheimer (film)
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Christopher Nolan
Produced by	Emma Thomas Charles Roven Christopher Nolan
Screenplay by	Christopher Nolan
Starring	Cillian Murphy Emily Blunt Matt Damon Robert Downey Jr. Florence Pugh Josh Hartnett Casey Affleck Rami Malek Kenneth Branagh
Music by	Ludwig Göransson
Cinematography	Hoyte van Hoytema
Editing by	Jennifer Lame
Studio	Syncopy Atlas Entertainment
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date(s)	July 11, 2023 (2023-07-11) (Le Grand Rex) July 21, 2023 (2023-07-21) (United States and United Kingdom)
Running time	180 minutes
Country	United States United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	$100 million
Money made	$960.8 million

Oppenheimer is an exciting 2023 movie about the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer. He was an American scientist known as the "father of the atomic bomb." The film was written, directed, and produced by Christopher Nolan. Cillian Murphy plays Oppenheimer.

The movie tells the story of Oppenheimer's life. It shows his studies and his work leading the Los Alamos Laboratory. This was a secret lab during World War II where the first nuclear weapons were developed. This project was called the Manhattan Project. The film also covers the challenges Oppenheimer faced after the war.

The movie is based on a book called American Prometheus. It also stars Emily Blunt as Oppenheimer's wife, Kitty. Matt Damon plays Leslie Groves, who led the Manhattan Project. Robert Downey Jr. plays Lewis Strauss, a member of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. Other famous actors in the film include Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Rami Malek, and Kenneth Branagh.

Oppenheimer was first announced in September 2021. Many film studios wanted to make Nolan's movie. This was Nolan's first film not released by Warner Bros. Pictures since 2000. This was because of disagreements about how movies should be released. Cillian Murphy was the first actor to join the cast. The rest of the actors joined between November 2021 and April 2022. Filming took place from February to May 2022.

The movie was filmed using special IMAX cameras. Some scenes were even shot in black-and-white for the first time in IMAX. Director Christopher Nolan used many real effects instead of computer graphics. Oppenheimer was released in theaters on July 11, 2023, in Paris. It came out in the United States and the United Kingdom ten days later.

The film was released at the same time as the movie Barbie. This led to a fun trend called "Barbenheimer." Many people watched both movies as a double feature. Oppenheimer earned over $960 million worldwide. It became one of the highest-grossing films of 2023. It was also the highest-grossing film about World War II. Critics praised the movie for its story, music, visuals, and acting.

Oppenheimer won many important awards. It was named one of the top ten films of 2023. It won five 81st Golden Globe Awards, including Best Motion Picture – Drama. It also won seven 77th British Academy Film Awards, including Best Film. The movie won three 30th Screen Actors Guild Awards, including Best Ensemble. At the 96th Academy Awards, it received 13 nominations. It won seven Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director. Cillian Murphy won Best Actor, and Robert Downey Jr. won Best Supporting Actor.

Meet the Cast and Characters
Making the Movie
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Meet the Cast and Characters

Cillian Murphy (L) plays J. Robert Oppenheimer (R).

The movie features a talented group of actors. They bring to life the real people involved in the Manhattan Project.

Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer: The brilliant physicist who led the effort to build the atomic bomb.
Emily Blunt as Katherine "Kitty" Oppenheimer: Oppenheimer's wife.
Matt Damon as Leslie Groves: The military general who managed the Manhattan Project.
Robert Downey Jr. as Lewis Strauss: A powerful government official who later questioned Oppenheimer.
Florence Pugh as Jean Tatlock: A doctor and Oppenheimer's friend.
Josh Hartnett as Ernest Lawrence: A Nobel Prize-winning scientist.
Casey Affleck as Boris Pash: A military intelligence officer.
Rami Malek as David Hill: A scientist who worked with Oppenheimer.
Kenneth Branagh as Niels Bohr: A famous Danish physicist.
Tom Conti as Albert Einstein: The world-renowned physicist.

Making the Movie

Oppenheimer is the most complex character I've ever worked with.

Total Film

Director Christopher Nolan wrote the script for Oppenheimer in a special way. He wrote it from Oppenheimer's point of view. This helps the audience understand Oppenheimer's thoughts and feelings. Nolan also used both color and black-and-white scenes. This was to show different parts of the story.

Nolan wanted to show Oppenheimer's ideas about the quantum world. This is the world of tiny particles and energy. He also wanted to show the challenges in Oppenheimer's life. Nolan was also inspired by his own concerns about nuclear weapons. He grew up during protests against nuclear weapons. Actress Emily Blunt said the script felt very "emotional" and like a "thriller." She felt Nolan made a true story feel like an exciting thriller.

Choosing the Actors

Oppenheimer is the sixth movie Christopher Nolan and Cillian Murphy have worked on together. But it's the first time Murphy plays the main character. To get ready for the role, Murphy read many books about Oppenheimer's life. Nolan asked Murphy to play the part, and Murphy was very excited. He quickly said yes to the role.

The casting process was very secret. Some actors didn't even know which role they would play until they agreed to be in the movie. Famous actors like Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, and Emily Blunt even accepted less money to work on this film.

Filming the Scenes

Filming took place at the University of California, Berkeley in May 2022.

Filming began in New Mexico in early 2022. They held casting calls for people to play local residents and scientists. Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema filmed the movie. Director Nolan's oldest daughter, Flora, even had a small role. She played a young woman in an explosion scene. Nolan included this to show that powerful weapons can harm everyone.

The movie used a mix of special large-format film. It was the first film to shoot some parts in IMAX black and white film. Filming also happened at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. Scenes were also shot around the campus of the University of California, Berkeley in California. Filming finished after four months in May 2022.

One amazing part of the filming was recreating the Trinity nuclear test. This was the first time an atomic bomb was tested. The filmmakers used real explosives instead of computer graphics. They built a special set using gasoline, propane, and metal powders. They also used large models, which they called "big-atures." A whole 1940s-style town was also built just for the movie.

Finishing the Movie

After filming, the movie went into post-production. Jennifer Lame edited the film. This was her second time working with Nolan. Visual effects were handled by DNEG. This company has worked with Nolan on many of his films. Andrew Jackson was the visual effects supervisor.