“Oppenheimer,” a solemn three-hour historical epic that became an unlikely billion-dollar box-office sensation, was crowned best picture at a 96th Academy Awards that doubled as a coronation for Christopher Nolan.
After passing over Hollywood’s big-screen auteur for years, the Oscars made up for lost time by heaping seven awards on Nolan’s blockbuster film, including best actor for Cillian Murphy, best supporting actor for Robert Downey Jr. and best director for Nolan.
Besides “Oppenheimer,” the only other movies to win multiple awards were the dark comedy “Poor Things” (4) and the art-house drama “The Zone of Interest” (2).
In anointing “Oppenheimer,” the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences did something it hasn’t done for more than a decade: hand its top prize to a widely seen, big-budget studio film. In a film industry where a cape, dinosaur or Tom Cruise has often been a requirement for such box office, “Oppenheimer” brought droves of moviegoers to theaters with a complex, fission-filled drama about J. Robert Oppenheimer and the creation of the atomic bomb.
“For better or worse, we’re all living in Oppenheimer’s world,” said Murphy in his acceptance speech. “I’d like to dedicate this to the peacemakers.”
“Oppenheimer” also took home awards for cinematography, film editing, and original score.
Nolan has had many movies in the Oscar mix before, including “Inception,” “Dunkirk” and “The Dark Knight.” But his win Sunday for direction is the first Academy Award for the 53-year-old filmmaker. Addressing the crowd, Nolan noted cinema is just over a hundred years old.
“Imagine being there 100 years into painting or theater,” said Nolan, who shared the best-picture award with Emma Thomas, his wife and producer. “We don’t know where this incredible journey is going from here. But to know that you think that I’m a meaningful part of it means the world to me.”
Downey, nominated twice before (for “Chaplin” and “Tropic Thunder”), also notched his first Oscar, crowning the illustrious second act of his up-and-down career.
“I’d like to thank my terrible childhood and the academy, in that order,” said Downey, the son of filmmaker Robert Downey Sr.
The most closely watched contest went to Emma Stone, who won best best actress for her performance as Bella Baxter in “Poor Things.” In what was seen as the night’s most nail-biting category, Stone won over Lily Gladstone of “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Gladstone would have become the first Native American to win an Academy Award.
Instead, Oscar voters couldn’t resist the full-bodied extremes of Stone’s “Poor Things” performance. The win for Stone, her second best actress Oscar following her 2017 win for “La La Land,” confirmed the 35-year-old as arguably the preeminent big-screen actress of her generation. The list of people to win best actress two or more times is illustrious, including Katharine Hepburn, Frances McDormand, Ingrid Bergman and Bette Davis.
“Oh, boy, this is really overwhelming,” said Stone, who fought back tears and a broken dress during her speech.
The night’s first award was one of its most predictable: Da’Vine Joy Randolph for best supporting actress, for her performance in Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers.” An emotional Randolph was accompanied to the stage by her “Holdovers” co-star Paul Giamatti.
“For so long I’ve always wanted to be different,” said Randolph. “And now I realize I just need to be myself.”
Best original screenplay went to “Anatomy of a Fall,” which, like “Barbie,” was penned by a couple: director Justine Triet and Arthur Harari. “This will help me through my midlife crisis, I think,” said Triet.
In adapted screenplay, where “Barbie” was nominated — and where some suspected Greta Gerwig would win after being overlooked for director — the Oscar went to Cord Jefferson, who wrote and directed his feature film debut “American Fiction.” He pleaded for executives to take risks on young filmmakers like himself.
“Instead of making a $200 million movie, try making 20 $10 million movies,” said Jefferson, previously an award-winning TV writer.
“Barbie” produced one award, as singer Billie Eilish won best original song for “What Was I Made For?” It’s Eilish’s second Oscar, two years after winning for the James Bond theme, “No Time to Die.”
But protest and politics intruded on an election-year Academy Awards. Late during the show, host Jimmy Kimmel read a critical social media post from former president Donald Trump.
“Thank you for watching,” said Kimmel. “Isn’t it past your jail time?”
Take a look at the full list of winners —
BEST PICTURE: “Oppenheimer”
BEST ACTRESS: Emma Stone, “Poor Things”
BEST ACTOR: Cillian Murphy, “Oppenheimer”
SUPPORTING ACTOR: Robert Downey Jr., “Oppenheimer”
SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Da’Vine Joy Randolph, “The Holdovers”
DIRECTOR: Christopher Nolan, “Oppenheimer”
LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM: “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar”
SOUND: “The Zone of Interest,” Tarn Willers and Johnnie Burn
ORIGINAL SCORE: “Oppenheimer,” Ludwig Göransson
ORIGINAL SONG: “What Was I Made For?” from “Barbie”
VISUAL EFFECTS: “Godzilla Minus One”
FILM EDITING: “Oppenheimer,” Jennifer Lame
DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM: “The Last Repair Shop”
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: “20 Days in Mariupol”
CINEMATOGRAPHY: “Oppenheimer,” Hoyte Van Hoytema
ANIMATED SHORT FILM: “WAR IS OVER! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko”
ANIMATED FILM: “The Boy and the Heron”
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: “Anatomy of a Fall,” Justine Triet and Arthur Harari
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: “American Fiction,” Cord Jefferson
MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING: “Poor Things,” Nadia Stacey, Mark Coulier and Josh Weston
PRODUCTION DESIGN: “Poor Things,” James Price, Shona Heath and Zsuzsa Mihalek
COSTUME DESIGN: “Poor Things,” Holly Waddington
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM: “The Zone of Interest” (United Kingdom)
The Associated Press contributed to this article.