Barbenheimer has finally come! Last weekend saw record-setting numbers at the box office, and we have no doubt thatOppenheimerandBarbiewill continue to dominate theaters across the world for the foreseeable future. Christopher Nolan isresponsible forOppenheimer, and his acclaimed films usually feature a stacked cast of A-listers. His latest effort centers on World War II, when physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer is tapped to work on the top-secret Manhattan Project with hopes of stopping the Nazis and Japan. It was a long ordeal creating the infamous atomic bomb, as evidenced inOppenheimer’s three-hour duration.
A handful of A-list actors play the folks who assisted with making the bomb that dropped on Hiroshima. Since there are so many of them in the film, we took the time to list the finest performances in descending order. Spoilers below!
10David Krumholtz as Isidor Isaac Rabi
Anyone who sawThe Slums of Beverly HillsandThe Santa ClauseknewDavid Krumholtzwas a star in the making during the 1990s. Decades later, he’s working with Hollywood’s finest directors, including the Coen brothers (Hail Caesar!) and now Christopher Nolan. Krumholtz nails the role as colleague and friend of Oppenheimer’s, and his scenes with Culkin Murphy are fun and breezy — even with things get serious. He’s always reminding the ever-stressed out physicist to eat, and these moments provide a bit of comic reliief throughout the otherwise grim tale.
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9Benny Safdie as Edward Teller
Behind the camera,Benny Safdieand his brother are responsible for hit indie films likeUncut GemsandGood Time, the latter of which Safdie also starred in. Since then, he’s taken on plenty of other juicy roles, includingPieces of a WomanandAre You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. InOppenheimer, he dons a thick Hungarian accent as Edward Teller, a physicist who some might remember as “the father of the hydrogen bomb.” Safdie has some pretty dramatic moments amid the atomic bomb aftermath.
8Tom Conti as Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein on the big screen! LookalikeTom Continailed his few scenes as the genius who played a part in Oppenheimer’satomic bomb creation. His on-screen colleague-like chemistry with co-star Cillian Murphy are some of the most powerful across the film’s three-hour duration.
7Josh Hartnett as Ernest Lawrence
He’s back! After years away from the spotlight, American actorJosh Hartnett(now 45 years old) has been slowly making his way back into Tinseltown. After a couple of recent Guy Ritchie projects and an interstellar episode ofBlack Mirror, Hartnett plays a juicy role inOppenheimeralongside Cillian Murphy, as their characters' team gradually makes their way toward the Manhattan Project’s ultimate goal that is the atomic bomb. Hartnett looks the part and so much more. Good to see you again, sir!
6Gary Oldman as President Harry S. Truman
You may have heard by now that Oscar winnerGary Oldmanmakes a stellar cameo inOppenheimer— or maybe you’ve just seen it for yourself. His White House appearance as President Truman will quickly remind you why he’s such an iconic actor. Pictured above is Oldman’s previous role in a Christopher Nolan film, from theDark Knighttrilogy. WithOppenheimer, we remember how Oldman is also quite skilled in playing villainous roles. In his lone scene, Oldman’s Truman faces off against the titular character in, essentially, a game of verbal chicken. You’ll see what I mean…
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5Florence Pugh as Jean Tatlock
Florence Pugh’s sex sceneswith Murphy are making headlines at the moment. InOppenheimer, the Academy Award-nominated actress plays Jean, an on-again, off-again love interest throughout the film whose mentally-conflicted character ultimately has a tragic ending. Pugh continues to take Hollywood by storm following her other talked-about film from last year,Don’t Worry Darling. “Don’t get me flowers” is perhaps her most memorable line inOppenheimer, as she repeatedly tries in vain to turn away the temptations of Murphy’s persona during the film.
4Matt Damon as Leslie Groves
Make thattwoawards-caliber roles forMatt Damonthis year. First came Ben Affleck’sAir, where Damon played the Nike guy responsible for signing Michael Jordan himself. WithOppenheimer, Damon tackles a supporting role that was perhaps even more fun to perform, as the wise-cracking U.S. military man who coordinates the New Mexico breeding ground for WWII’s atomic bomb. “‘Zero’ would be nice,” he tells Oppenheimer when told that the chances of the whole world ending are slim when they try detonating the atomic bomb.
3Robert Downey Jr. as Lewis Strauss
This isRobert Downey Jr.’s best role in years, and it won’t be surprising if he gets an Oscar nomination or win for Best Supporting Actor in the upcoming race. Here, theIron Manactor plays Lewis Strauss, who’s often regarded as a villain in American history thanks to the controversial Oppenheimer security clearance hearings following the atomic-bomb dropping. Thank goodness for a role like this, so that Downey Jr. doesn’t remain pigeonholed as Tony Stark forever. His monochromatic scenes are some of the film’s most tense and rewarding alongside co-star Alden Ehrenreich.
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2Emily Blunt as Kitty Oppenheimer
Oppenheimeris certainly dominated by male personalities, but that doesn’t mean A-listers likeEmily Blunt— in addition to Florence Pugh — can’t shine as well. Blunt plays Oppenheimer’s wife Kitty, who we see spiral into alcoholism as she juggles parenting with a high-maintenance chap like J. Roger.
She may get a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her work here, and the scene that would seal the deal comes in the third act when she’s interrogated by Roger Robb (Jason Clarke) during her husband’s security-clearance hearings. It’s her moment of utter glory and serves as a fresh reminder why Blunt just cannot be stopped. We can’t wait for her starring role in the nextA Quiet Placeinstallment, of course!
1Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer
And then there’s the man himself, Thomas Shelby — oh wait, that’s another beloved Cillian Murphy project, akaPeaky Blinders. Murphy finally gets a lead role in a Christopher Nolan feature withOppenheimer. Not only is he just the titular role, but he virtually swallows the entire movie whole withhis dominating performance— and that’s saying something for a film that’s overstuffed with a plethora of other famous actors.
He’s slimmed down, and you simply cannot look away from those piercing eyes radiating knowledge and terror. If Murphy doesn’t get showered in nominations come award season, I will be surprised, to say the least.
