‘Riveting’ war film on Netflix is a ‘stunning masterpiece’ | Films | Entertainment

There are few who wouldn’t have heard of Christopher Nolan’s 2023 masterpiece Oppenheimer, however fans are in for a rude awakening. 

The mega blockbuster period war drama currently available on Netflix will depart from the streamer on January 12, 2026.

The epic biographical thriller, written, directed, and co-produced by Nolan, is adapted from Kai Bird and Martin J Sherwin’s 2005 Pulitzer Prize-winning biography American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer and is a dramatic recreation of Oppenheimer’s life and work.

Starring Cillian Murphy in the lead as Oppenheimer, the Irish actor is joined by Robert Downey Jr, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Rami Malek, and Kenneth Branagh to round out a brilliant cast.

The movie’s official plot reads: “During World War II, Lt. Gen. Leslie Groves Jr. appoints physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer to work on the top-secret Manhattan Project. Oppenheimer and a team of scientists spend years developing and designing the atomic bomb. Their work comes to fruition on July 16, 1945, as they witness the world’s first nuclear explosion, forever changing the course of history.”

Mounted on a reported production budget of $100 million, the film went on to garner a staggering $975 million at the global box office, making it the highest-grossing World War II film and highest-grossing biographical film at the time. It was also the third-highest grossing movie of 2023. And commercial success wasn’t its only achievement.

Oppenheimer was nominated for 13 Academy Awards out of which it bagged seven, including Best Picture, Best Director (Nolan), Best Actor (Murphy), and Best Supporting Actor (Downey). It also received five Golden Globe Awards and seven BAFTAs, making it a darling of critics and viewers alike.

Boasting a smashing 93 per cent critics approval rating and 91 per cent audience score on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, Nolan’s offering impressed everyone across the board, with one critic calling it: “A heady, thematically complicated picture that also happens to have some of the most riveting blockbuster sequences of 2023 so far.”

Another reviewer said of the film: “A powerful, visually spectacular drama that demands your full concentration, Oppenheimer is unmistakably the work of writer-director Christopher Nolan.”

While a third critic said: “The film includes amazing editing, cinematography, and music, staples of a good Nolan film. Don’t let the lengthy runtime fool you, Oppenheimer is worth every bit of your attention.”

Yet another impressed reviewer said: “Oppenheimer is a stunning masterpiece that keeps its audience engaged for the entirety of its seemingly daunting runtime, despite its heavy subject matter.”

Fans were equally impressed, with one glowing audience review stating: “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.”

While another happy viewer said: “I have a question: What is this brilliance, Nolan? I wasn’t bored at all. The cinematography was superb, the directing legendary, and the team’s creativity was astonishing, especially the brilliant actor Cillian Murphy. I want to thank everyone who contributed to the production of this masterpiece. It definitely deserves an Oscar. Thank you for the most wonderful three hours. I didn’t expect it to be this amazing, a true work of art. This film has reached perfect perfection.”

Yet another fan, gushing over Nolan’s brilliance, wrote: “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 is currently available to watch on Netflix and will depart from the streamer on January 12, 2026.

For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new Everything Gossip website’