The 96th Academy Awards belonged to Christopher Nolan’s critically-acclaimed historical drama Oppenheimer. The film dominated the ceremony, winning 7 Oscars including the most coveted prize – Best Picture. Oppenheimer’s impressive haul also included Best Director for Nolan, Best Actor for Cillian Murphy’s haunting performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer, and Best Supporting Actor for Robert Downey Jr. The movie was also honored for its impeccable craft in categories like Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Score, making it one of the world’s best films.

With a staggering 13 total nominations, Oppenheimer went into the night as the clear frontrunner. Its Best Movie award victory capped off an awards season sweep that saw Murphy take home the Academy Award for Best Actor at the Oscar Awards 2024. He won the prestigious Oscars after winning awards at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and Screen Actors Guild Awards for his searing portrayal of the theoretical physicist who was instrumental in developing the world’s first nuclear weapons during WWII.

In his acceptance speech, Murphy reflected on the film’s sobering resonance, saying “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.”

For Nolan, the award for Best Director marked his first Oscar after being nominated several times previously for modern classics like Memento, Inception, and Dunkirk. The Academy famously snubbed his 2008 comic book sequel The Dark Knight in major categories, a decision that helped prompt expanding the Best Picture lineup from 5 to 10 nominees. This sweep by Oppenheimer made it the best Hollywood film this year.

“Movies are just a little bit over 100 years old,” Nolan said. “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.”

While Oppenheimer reigned supreme, there were several other big Oscar award-winning movies throughout the evening as well.

Emma Stone’s Transformation Leads to the Best Actress Oscar

After winning the best actress Academy Award for “La La Land” Emma Stone earned her second Best Actress Oscar for her transformative role in the unique sci-fi fable Poor Things from director Yorgos Lanthimos. Stone played Bella Baxter, a young woman reanimated as an artificial being who goes on a journey of self-discovery.

“The best part about making movies is all of us together,” Stone said in her acceptance speech. “I am so deeply honored to share this with every cast member, every crew member, every single person who poured their love and care and brilliance into making this film.”

Poor Things won the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Production Design, and Costume Design, in addition to Ston’s win. The acclaimed independent film’s quartet of wins was a surprise over heavyweights like Killers of the Flower Moon, Tár, and The Fabelmans.

20 Days in Mariupol: Best Documentary Feature

The powerful Ukrainian documentary 20 Days in Mariupol capturing the horrific Russian siege of the city last year won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film. Its director Mstyslav Chernov used his speech to denounce the ongoing invasion.

“Russians are killing tens of thousands of my fellow Ukrainians,” Chernov said. “I wish I had never made this film. I wish to be able to exchange this to Russia never attacking Ukraine, never occupying our cities.”

Other Notable Movies that have Won Oscars

Several other academy award winning movies emerged as multiple winners on the night:

• Adapted from John Boyne’s novel, the World War II drama – The Zone of Interest won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film and Best Sound.
• Hayao Miyazaki’s beautiful animated film The Boy and the Heron earned the 83-year-old filmmaker his second Oscars and won the Best Animation Feature Movie award.
• At just 22, Billie Eilish made history as the youngest two-time winner, taking Best Original Song for her Barbie track “What Was I Made For?”.
  Oppenheimer’s melancholy musical score by composer Ludwig Göransson won Best Original Score.

First-time Oscar Awards Winners in Writing and Supporting Categories

There were several first-time winners in major Oscar Awards categories as well:

• In the screenplay category, Cord Jefferson won the Best Adapted Screenplay for his sharp satirical script American Fiction, while French director Justine Triet took home the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for her gripping courtroom drama Anatomy of a Fall.
• Da’Vine Joy Randolph winning the Best Supporting Actress for her powerful role in The Holdovers as a grieving cafeteria manager was a surprise for all.
• After many iconic roles, Robert Downey Jr. finally won an Oscar for his supporting part as a vengeful government bureaucrat in Oppenheimer. “Here’s my little secret: I needed this job more than it needed me,” he said.

Overall, the Academy Awards 2024 night represented a celebration of cinema across genres, honoring everything from grand historical epics and sharp satires to eye-opening documentaries. And while Oppenheimer emerged as the clear leader, acclaimed films as diverse as Poor Things, Barbie, American Fiction, and 20 Days in Mariupol all had their moments.

Great filmmaking came in all shapes and sizes over the past year, as the impressive array of Oscars 2024 winners made clear. Even on a night dominated by the solemn legacy of the atomic bomb, the Oscars showcased the incredible range of artistry and creativity thriving in Hollywood.

Here is the complete list of Oscar-winning movies across all 23 categories:

• Academy Award for Best Picture: – Oppenheimer
• Academy Award for Best Director: Christopher Nolan – Oppenheimer
• Academy Award for Best Actor: Cillian Murphy – Oppenheimer
• Academy Award for Best Actress: Emma Stone – Poor Things
• Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor: Robert Downey Jr. – Oppenheimer
• Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress: Da’Vine Joy Randolph – The Holdovers
• Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay: Anatomy of a Fall
• Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay: American Fiction
• Academy Award for Best Animated Feature: The Boy and the Heron
• Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film: War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko
• Academy Award for Best International Feature Film: The Zone of Interest (UK)
• Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature: 20 Days in Mariupol
• Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film: The Last Repair Shop
• Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film: The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
• Academy Award for Best Original Score: Oppenheimer
• Academy Award for Best Original Song: “What Was I Made For?” from Barbie
• Academy Award for Best Sound: The Zone of Interest
• Academy Award for Best Production Design: Poor Things
• Academy Award for Best Cinematography: Oppenheimer
• Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Poor Things
• Academy Award for Best Costume Design: Poor Things
• Academy Award for Best Film Editing: Oppenheimer
• Academy Award for Best Visual Effects: Godzilla Minus One

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