LOS ANGELES—”Oppenheimer,” the blockbuster biopic about the race to build the first atomic bomb, claimed the prestigious best picture trophy at the Academy Awards on Sunday.
Director Christopher Nolan’s film starred Irish actor Cillian Murphy as theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, leader of the U.S. effort in the 1940s to create a weapon devastating enough to end World War II.
Mr. Murphy won the best actor trophy, and Mr. Nolan was named best director. Emma Stone won best actress for “Poor Things.”
A three-hour historical drama about science and politics, “Oppenheimer” became an unlikely box office hit and grossed $953.8 million, in addition to widespread critical praise.
It was the first of Mr. Nolan’s films to win best picture. The director has previously won acclaim for “The Dark Knight” Batman trilogy, “Inception,” “Memento,” and other movies.
In supporting actor categories, Robert Downey Jr. of “Oppenheimer” and “The Holdovers” star Da’Vine Joy Randolph claimed their first Academy Awards.
Mr. Downey, who was nominated for an Oscar in 1993 before his career was derailed by drug use, won his honor for playing Oppenheimer’s professional nemesis.
“I’d like to thank my terrible childhood and the Academy, in that order,” Mr. Downey joked before he saluted his wife Susan, who he said found him as a “snarly rescue pet” and “loved him back to life.”
Ms. Randolph won the best supporting actress trophy for playing a grieving mother and cafeteria worker in the comedy set in a New England boarding school. She shed tears as she accepted her award.
“For so long, I always wanted to be different, and now I realize I just need to be myself,” she said. “I thank you for seeing me.”
British Holocaust drama “The Zone of Interest” was named best international feature. Director Jonathan Glazer addressed the Israel–Gaza conflict in his acceptance speech.
“The Boy and the Heron,” Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki’s semi-autobiographical film about grief, was named best animated feature.
Winners were chosen by the roughly 10,500 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.
Full List of Oscar Winners
The following is a complete list of Oscar winners at the 96th Academy Awards on Sunday.
Best Picture
“Oppenheimer”
Best Actor
Cillian Murphy, “Oppenheimer”
Best Actress
Emma Stone, “Poor Things”
Best Director
Christopher Nolan, “Oppenheimer”
Best Supporting Actor
Robert Downey Jr., “oppenheimer”
Best Supporting Actress
Da’vine Joy Randolph, “The Holdovers”
Best Adapted Screenplay
“American Fiction”
Best Original Screenplay
“Anatomy of a Fall”
Best Animated Feature Film
“The Boy and the Heron”
Best Animated Short
“War is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko”
Best International Feature
“The Zone of Interest,” United Kingdom
Best Documentary Feature
“20 Days in Mariupol”
Best Documentary Short
“The Last Repair Shop”
Best Original Score
“Oppenheimer”
Best Original Song
“What Was I Made for?,” “Barbie”
Best Sound
“The Zone of Interest”
Best Production Design
“Poor Things”
Best Live Action Short
“The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar”
Best Cinematography
“Oppenheimer”
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
“Poor Things”
Best Costume Design
“Poor Things”
Best Visual Effects
“Godzilla Minus One”
Best Film Editing
“Oppenheimer”
