The biopic about the "father of the atomic bomb" is this year's big winner at the Oscars, winning seven awards including best picture and best director. Chinese moviegoers can view a re-release of the film now with other Oscar winners also seeing screenings in the country soon.

A congratulatory poster celebrating the Oscar wins of "Oppenheimer." [Image courtesy of Universal Pictures]

Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" dominated the 96th Academy Awards on March 10 (local time) in Los Angeles, winning best picture, best director, best actor, best supporting actor, best film editing, best cinematography and best score. The ceremony was broadcast live from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, a shopping, dining and entertainment venue in downtown Los Angeles.

"I think any of us who make movies know that you kind of dream of this moment," said Nolan's wife and producer, Emma Thomas, after going on stage with the cast and crew to accept best picture. She thanked the "Oppenheimer" team, Universal Pictures and notably IMAX for "believing in this movie when it maybe didn't make that much sense to do so." The film was shot using IMAX technology.

"Movies are just a little bit over 100 years old," director Nolan said when he accepted the award for best director. "I would imagine being 100 years into painting or theater. 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."

Nolan's recognition came after an uneasy and tangled relationship with the Oscars – he had received seven nominations previously, including for directing "Dunkirk" and for his contributions to films such as "Memento" and "Inception." However, his biggest success, "The Dark Knight," was notably snubbed by the Academy for both best picture and director. His eventual win this time finally satisfied millions of fans and moviegoers.

"Oppenheimer" is a three-hour biography about J. Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist behind the Manhattan Project, and was one of the most popular foreign films in the Chinese market in 2023. In September of last year, Nolan made a rare promotional trip to China to attend events in Beijing and Shanghai, marking his first visit since the COVID-19 pandemic and causing frenzies. The film has grossed 452 million yuan ($63 million) in China so far, contributing to its $957 million worldwide total. It also began a re-screening this year on March 1.

"We made a film about the man who created the atomic bomb, and for better or for worse, we're all living in Oppenheimer's world," Cillian Murphy said in his acceptance speech for best actor for his performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer. "So, I'd really like to dedicate this to the peacemakers everywhere." This was Murphy's first Oscar win. 

Two posters for Oscar-winners "The Boy and the Heron" and "Anatomy of a Fall," both of which will be available in the Chinese film market soon. [Image courtesy of Alibaba Pictures and Road Pictures]

Some other Oscar-winning films are set to be introduced into the Chinese market. For example, legendary 83-year-old Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki, who just became the oldest winner for best animated feature for his film "The Boy and the Heron," will soon see this latest work on China's silver screens, according to information provided by Alibaba Pictures, Miyazaki's studio's Chinese partner. Another Oscar-winner ready to enter the Chinese market is courtroom drama "Anatomy of a Fall." This highly acclaimed film won the Oscar for best original screenplay and had previously won 204 other awards globally, including the prestigious Palme d'Or prize at the Cannes Film Festival last year. "Anatomy of a Fall" is set to be released in China on March 29.

Other notable winners at this year's Oscars include: Emma Stone who won best actress for her role in "Poor Things." This was her second Oscar win after "La La Land" in 2017. Da'Vine Joy Randolph won best supporting actress for "The Holdovers." "The Zone of Interest" by Jonathan Glazer clinched best international feature and best sound. "American Fiction" took home best adapted screenplay, while "Godzilla Minus One" made history as the first non-English film to win best visual effects.

Billie Eilish also made history by becoming the youngest two-time Oscar recipient at age 22 after winning best song for "What Was I Made For?", her ballad that was included in the soundtrack for the motion picture "Barbie." At the award ceremony, Eilish performed a duet of "What Was I Made For?" with her co-writer and brother, Finneas O' Connell. Additionally, Ryan Gosling rocked the Oscars stage with a quite energetic performance of "I'm Just Ken."

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