![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XV5THMXHDFBWFEQUF6ILKUYUYQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=d02226eca2cafd43f105b2a1b8a7c2aef0a0383321882fd58c351ebde858d09b&width=400&height=225)
Robert Downey Jr, left, as Lewis Strauss and Matthew Modine as Vannevar Bush
Cillian Murphy plays the titular J Robert Oppenheimer in the film written, produced and directed by Christopher Nolan. All Photos: Universal Pictures
Matt Damon plays Leslie Groves in Oppenheimer
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WLHQO7L4QFFMHFB4EMJIAMGVWE.jpg?smart=true&auth=93e2ccf09a074df95a31eb94884b50d3476f423412e8cc607b0931cb963aedcf&width=400&height=225)
Damon, left, and Murphy in the film
Florence Pugh as Jean Tatlock and Murphy
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VZULOWE72NG35KYJS6XEM2QPT4.jpg?smart=true&auth=0fedee616bcb99b5f69714979cd34e0b45d589e6e1fb4f2eeba41f8ac66df3ab&width=400&height=225)
Robert Downey Jr plays Lewis Strauss
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JCRXYUTK25E4RLLPSSTX23DB5Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=f231d6ddbc80c15c70fea7d856b418dd0318ecb211c6cfc8d44430138f2c3e32&width=400&height=225)
Josh Hartnett as Ernest Lawrence
Emily Blunt as Kitty Oppenheimer
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MLX6KCPUOBGKXEXFHYM2JEW2CY.jpg?smart=true&auth=00adb07306d900c2a35a930a02e16330cfd8369e2f26a88bb74919a6d10cbc1f&width=400&height=225)
From left, Murphy, Olli Haaskivi as Edward Condon, Damon and Dane DeHaan as Kenneth Nichols
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LAQAZPP3VNAMTCFU7MKDHPICH4.jpg?smart=true&auth=1e759bfc57c4671b897c1a1c19062261e8d02344fd48c743f7b558b493a80ec4&width=400&height=225)
DeHaan in the film
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DCCPECIFAFGWVKY4SPRU3MBODI.jpg?smart=true&auth=8c813555e448cbce60c2ed340eba4975e7136b2d82bf5808bca6869ddd73a635&width=400&height=225)
Jason Clarke as Roger Robb
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XV5THMXHDFBWFEQUF6ILKUYUYQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=d02226eca2cafd43f105b2a1b8a7c2aef0a0383321882fd58c351ebde858d09b&width=400&height=225)
Robert Downey Jr, left, as Lewis Strauss and Matthew Modine as Vannevar Bush
Cillian Murphy plays the titular J Robert Oppenheimer in the film written, produced and directed by Christopher Nolan. All Photos: Universal Pictures
Matt Damon plays Leslie Groves in Oppenheimer
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WLHQO7L4QFFMHFB4EMJIAMGVWE.jpg?smart=true&auth=93e2ccf09a074df95a31eb94884b50d3476f423412e8cc607b0931cb963aedcf&width=400&height=225)
Damon, left, and Murphy in the film
Florence Pugh as Jean Tatlock and Murphy
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VZULOWE72NG35KYJS6XEM2QPT4.jpg?smart=true&auth=0fedee616bcb99b5f69714979cd34e0b45d589e6e1fb4f2eeba41f8ac66df3ab&width=400&height=225)
Robert Downey Jr plays Lewis Strauss
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JCRXYUTK25E4RLLPSSTX23DB5Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=f231d6ddbc80c15c70fea7d856b418dd0318ecb211c6cfc8d44430138f2c3e32&width=400&height=225)
Josh Hartnett as Ernest Lawrence
Emily Blunt as Kitty Oppenheimer
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MLX6KCPUOBGKXEXFHYM2JEW2CY.jpg?smart=true&auth=00adb07306d900c2a35a930a02e16330cfd8369e2f26a88bb74919a6d10cbc1f&width=400&height=225)
From left, Murphy, Olli Haaskivi as Edward Condon, Damon and Dane DeHaan as Kenneth Nichols
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LAQAZPP3VNAMTCFU7MKDHPICH4.jpg?smart=true&auth=1e759bfc57c4671b897c1a1c19062261e8d02344fd48c743f7b558b493a80ec4&width=400&height=225)
DeHaan in the film
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DCCPECIFAFGWVKY4SPRU3MBODI.jpg?smart=true&auth=8c813555e448cbce60c2ed340eba4975e7136b2d82bf5808bca6869ddd73a635&width=400&height=225)
Jason Clarke as Roger Robb
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XV5THMXHDFBWFEQUF6ILKUYUYQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=d02226eca2cafd43f105b2a1b8a7c2aef0a0383321882fd58c351ebde858d09b&width=400&height=225)
Robert Downey Jr, left, as Lewis Strauss and Matthew Modine as Vannevar Bush
In a world falling apart, Hollywood is showing us how to keep it together
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Gavin Esler is an author and broadcaster, and a UK affairs columnist for The National
23 January, 2024