A ‘breathtaking’ multi-award winning movie that is the highest grossing film based on World War Two had enthralled fans gripped throughout and stayed with them long after
08:00, 21 Dec 2025
It was the most successful World War Two film ever made and was nominated for 13 Oscars - and now it's being shown on the BBC.
The biographical thriller Oppenheimer starring Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr with a huge ensemble cast of leading Hollywood names is on BBC tonight.
With support from the likes of Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Kenneth Branagh and Rami Malek, the talented Murphy plays American theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer who was pivotal in developing the first ever nuclear weapons. Set during World War Two, the film was a massive critical and commercial success on its release and won numerous prestigious accolades. Fans believe it is a "masterpiece" in cinematography which "grabs you by the heart and mind".
The film follows Oppenheimer as he achieves a PhD, travels and sets up a quantum physics department at Berkeley research University in California. There he meets members of the communist party, including psychologist Jean Tatlock (Pugh) who he has a long and passionate affair with before marrying biologist ‘Kitty’ Puening (Blunt).
He is enlisted in World War Two’s Manhattan Project, which is the US’s attempt to develop an atomic bomb before the Nazis. Oppenheimer struggles with his morals over creating a weapon of mass destruction and is further traumatised when he is labelled a hero after the US drops two bombs on Japan killing thousands of civilians. His involvement and the hearing into his communist connections are also explored as he battles his ethics.
Based on the 2005 biography American Prometheus, Oppenheimer was written, co-produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan. It won huge critical acclaim on its 2023 release and was the third most successful film at the box office that year. It is also the highest grossing World War Two film ever and won seven Academy Awards out of the 13 it was nominated for, including Best Actor for Murphy, Best Picture and Director for Nolan and Best Supporting Actor for Downey. Five Golden Globes and seven BAFTAs followed.
Fans of the film couldn’t agree more with its numerous accolades and describe it as a "masterpiece". Posting on Rotten Tomatoes where it scores 93%, one raved: "Oppenheimer blew me away - it’s a masterpiece of cinema. From the breathtaking visuals and haunting score to the intense performances and heavy-hitting story, this film grabs you by the heart and mind and doesn’t let go. It’s more than just a movie - it’s an unforgettable experience that makes you think, feel, and question. If you want a film that truly shakes you, challenges you, and stays with you long after it ends, Oppenheimer is 5 out of 5, no doubt."
Another was hooked throughout: "An absolute gem of a movie by Christopher Nolan. Not a single dull moment in the entire movie," they wrote. "The protagonist acted fabulously to portray the complex character of Oppenheimer. Loved the ending of the movie which provokes deep introspection - especially the scene between Einstein and Oppenheimer."
A third thought it was an all-round blockbuster: "With excellent performances, excellent cinematography, excellent score, and excellent effects, Oppenheimer is Nolan at the top of his technical game. Balancing out the spectacle, the film brings equally hard hitting character moments and ethical quandaries which will stick with you long after the credits roll."
Oppenheimer airs on BBC2 at 9pm tonight, Sunday 21 December.