The 96th Academy Awards ceremony on March 10, 2024, was dominated by Christopher Nolan's biographical epic "Oppenheimer." The highly anticipated film, chronicling the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the "father of the atomic bomb," not only secured the most nominations (13) but also walked away with a staggering seven awards, solidifying its status as a critical and commercial darling.
Oppenheimer's dominance began with technical accolades. The film's meticulously crafted visuals earned it the coveted Best Cinematography award. The haunting score, perfectly complementing the film's emotional core, resonated with the Academy and secured the win for Best Original Score. The masterful editing, seamlessly weaving in the complexities of the narrative, was recognized with the Best Film Editing award.
The momentum continued with Christopher Nolan, a perennial Academy Award nominee, finally receiving the recognition he deserved. Nolan's masterful direction, bringing Oppenheimer's story to life with historical accuracy and dramatic flair, culminated in the prestigious Best Director award. This marked a significant milestone in his illustrious career.
Oppenheimer Triumphs at 96th Academy Awards
Cinema: "Oppenheimer" boasts a stellar cast delivering powerful performances. The film's supporting cast member playing Oppenheimer's confidante received the well-deserved Best Supporting Actor award, further solidifying the film's dominance in the acting categories.
The night's biggest acting honors were reserved for the central character. The lead actor, embodying the complex persona of J. Robert Oppenheimer, delivered a tour-de-force performance, captivating audiences and critics alike. His portrayal earned him the coveted Best Actor award, cementing his place among Hollywood's elite.
Finally, the night culminated in the biggest award – Best Picture. With anticipation hanging thick in the air, the presenter declared "Oppenheimer" the victor. The roar of the audience confirmed the film's undeniable success. This win underscored the film's ability to entertain, provoke thought, and spark important conversations about science, ethics, and the lasting impact of historical events.
"Oppenheimer's" triumph at the 96th Academy Awards signifies its place as a cinematic masterpiece. The film's success is a testament to the collective effort of a talented cast and crew, all under the visionary direction of Christopher Nolan. The night belonged to "Oppenheimer," a film destined to leave a lasting mark on cinema history.
Check out the full list of winners below, indicated in bold.
Best Picture
“American Fiction”
“Anatomy of a Fall”
“Barbie”
“The Holdovers”
“Killers of the Flower Moon”
“Maestro”
“Oppenheimer” (WINNER)
“Past Lives”
“Poor Things”
“The Zone of Interest”
Best Director
Jonathan Glazer (“The Zone of Interest”)
Yorgos Lanthimos (“Poor Things”)
Christopher Nolan (“Oppenheimer”) (Winner)
Justine Triet (“Anatomy of a Fall”)
Martin Scorsese (“Killers of the Flower Moon”)
Best Actress
Annette Bening (“Nyad”)
Lily Gladstone (“Killers of the Flower Moon”)
Sandra Hüller (“Anatomy of a Fall”)
Carey Mulligan (“Maestro”)
Emma Stone (“Poor Things”) (WINNER)
Best Actor
Bradley Cooper (“Maestro”)
Colman Domingo (“Rustin”)
Paul Giamatti (“The Holdovers”)
Cillian Murphy (“Oppenheimer”) (WINNER)
Jeffrey Wright (“American Fiction”)
Best Supporting Actor
Sterling K. Brown (“American Fiction”)
Robert De Niro (“Killers of the Flower Moon”)
Robert Downey Jr. (“Oppenheimer”) (WINNER)
Ryan Gosling (“Barbie”)
Mark Ruffalo (“Poor Things”)
Best Supporting Actress
Emily Blunt (“Oppenheimer”)
Danielle Brooks (“The Color Purple”)
America Ferrera (“Barbie”)
Jodie Foster (“Nyad”)
Da’Vine Joy Randolph (“The Holdovers”) (WINNER)
Best International Feature Film
“Io Capitano” (Matteo Garrone, Italy)
“Society of the Snow” (J.A. Bayona, Spain)
“The Teachers’ Lounge” (İlker Çatak, Germany)
“The Zone of Interest” (Jonathan Glazer, United Kingdom) (WINNER)
“Perfect Days” (Wim Wenders, Japan)
Best Cinematography
Ed Lachman (“El Conde”)
Matthew Libatique (“Maestro”)
Rodrigo Prieto (“Killers of the Flower Moon”)
Robbie Ryan (“Poor Things”)
Hoyte van Hoytema (“Oppenheimer”) (WINNER)
Best Adapted Screenplay
Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig (“Barbie”)
Jonathan Glazer (“The Zone of Interest”)
Cord Jefferson (“American Fiction”) (WINNER)
Tony McNamara (“Poor Things”)
Christopher Nolan (“Oppenheimer)
Best Original Screenplay
Samy Burch and Alex Mechanik (“May December”)
Bradley Cooper and Josh Singer (“Maestro”)
Arthur Harari and Justine Triet (“Anatomy of a Fall”) (WINNER)
David Hemingson (“The Holdovers”)
Celine Song (“Past Lives”)
Best Animated Feature
“The Boy and the Heron” (WINNER)
“Elemental”
“Nimona”
“Robot Dreams”
“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”
Best Visual Effects
“The Creator”; Jay Cooper, Ian Comley, Andrew Roberts and Neil Corbould
“Godzilla Minus One”; Takashi Yamazaki, Kiyoko Shibuya, Masaki Takahashi and Tatsuji Nojima (WINNER)
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”; Theo Bialek, Stephanie Ceretti, Alexis Wajsbrot & Guy Williams
“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One”; Alex Wuttke, Simone Coco, Jeff Sutherland and Neil Corbould
“Napoleon”; Charley Henley, Luc-Ewen Martin-Fenouillet, Simone Coco and Neil Corbould
Best editing.
Jennifer Lame (“Oppenheimer”) (WINNER)
Yorgos Mavropsaridis (“Poor Things”)
Thelma Schoonmaker (“Killers of the Flower Moon”)
Laurent Sénéchal ("The Anatomy of a Fall”)
Kevin Tent (“The Holdovers”)
Best production design
Ruth De Jong and Claire Kaufman ("Oppenheimer").
Jack Fisk and Adam Willis (“Killers of the Flower Moon”)
Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer (“Barbie”)
Elli Griff and Arthur Max (“Napoleon”)
Shona Heath, Szusza Mihalek, and James Price (“Poor Things”) (WINNER)
Best makeup and hair styling
Luisa Abel, Jason Hamer, Jaime Leigh McIntosh, and Ahou Mofid (“Oppenheimer”)
Mark Coulier, Nadia Stacey, and Josh Weston (“Poor Things”) (WINNER)
Kay Georgiou, Sian Grigg, Kazu Hiro, and Lori McCoy-Bell (“Maestro”)
Karen Hartley and Suzi Battersby (“Golda”)
Ana López-Puigcerver, Belén López-Puigcerver, David Martí, and Montse Ribé (“Society of the Snow”)
Best costume design
Jacqueline Durran (“Barbie”)
Ellen Mirojnick (“Oppenheimer”)
Holly Waddington (“Poor Things”) (WINNER)
Jacqueline West (“Killers of the Flower Moon”)
Janty Yates and David Crossman (“Napoleon”)
Best sound.
“The Creator”; Ian Voigt, Erik Aadahl, Ethan Van der Ryn, Tom Ozanich and Dean Zupancic
“Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One”; Chris Munro, James H. Mather, Chris Burdon and Mark Taylor
“The Zone of Interest”; Johnnie Burns and Tarn Willers (WINNER)
“Oppenheimer”; Willie Burton, Richard King, Kevin O’Connell, and Gary A. Rizzo
“Maestro”; Richard King, Steve Morrow, Tom Ozanich, Jason Ruder, and Dean Zupancic
Best documentary feature
“Bobi Wine: The People’s President”
“The eternal memory"
“Four Daughters”
“To Kill a Tiger”
“20 Days in Mariupol” (WINNER)
Best documentary short subject
“The ABCs of Book Banning”
“The Barber of Little Rock”
“Island in Between”
“The Last Repair Shop” (WINNER)
“Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó”
Best live action short
“The After”
“Invincible”
"The Knight of Fortune”
“Red, White and Blue”
“The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar” (WINNER)
Best animated short
“Letter to a Pig”
“Ninety-Five Senses”
“Our Uniform”
“Pachyderme”
“War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko” (WINNER)
Best Original Song
“It Never Went Away" - Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson (“American Symphony”)
“What Was I Made For?”— Billie Eilish and Finneas (“Barbie”) (WINNER)
“Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People)-The Osage Tribe (“Killers of the Flower Moon”)
“I’m Just Ken”— Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt (“Barbie”)
“The Fire Inside" - Diane Warren (“Flamin’ Hot”)
Best Original Score
Jerskin Fendrix (“Poor Things”)
Ludwig Göransson (“Oppenheimer”) (WINNER)
Laura Karpman (“American Fiction”)
Robbie Robertson (“Killers of the Flower Moon”)
John Williams (“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny”)