Oppenheimer

TV Mini Series
1980
Not Rated
7h

IMDb RATING

8.1/10

756

YOUR RATING

A montage of images in this abstract trailer for the BBC miniseries detailing the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer

Play trailer0:46

2 Videos

1 Photo

Biography Drama History War

Biography of the American physicist who led the U.S. effort to develop the atomic bomb during World War II, only to find himself suspected as a security risk in the 1950s.Biography of the American physicist who led the U.S. effort to develop the atomic bomb during World War II, only to find himself suspected as a security risk in the 1950s.Biography of the American physicist who led the U.S. effort to develop the atomic bomb during World War II, only to find himself suspected as a security risk in the 1950s.

Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.1/10

756

YOUR RATING

Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys
- 3 wins & 7 nominations total

Episodes7

Browse episodes

TopTop-rated 1 Season 1982

Videos2

Photos

Trivia
Sam Waterston and Christopher Muncke worked together again in 1989's "The Nightmare Years (1989)" in which Sam Waterston played William L. Shirer and Christopher Muncke played Peter Butler.

Goofs
In the final scene of the series, set in Oppenheimer's garden in the USA, there is a lot of birdsong, all of it recognisably European. Prominent are the songs of blackbird and willow warbler, two species which are not present in the Americas.

Quotes
J. Robert Oppenheimer: I am Become Death, the Destroyer of Worlds
J. Robert Oppenheimer: I feel we have blood on our hands

Connections
Featured in The 34th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1982)

User reviews28

Review

Featured review

10/10

Brilliant and now available on BBC iPlayer

Firstly let me say that I have not yet watched the 2023 Christopher Nolan film so no comparisons from me. All I will say is that I binge watched all 7 episodes over a 24 hrs period. Compared to modern day offerings the production values from 1980 seem positively prehistoric but the series loses nothing and the superb script and acting more than makes up for it. If you're after CGI action and big bangs look elsewhere. If you want an intelligent script that doesn't treat the viewer as an idiot then this is for you. I'm not sure I want to watch the 2023 film anymore to be honest. Once finished I read the Wiki page on Robert Oppenheimer to find out even more, the script appears to be a truthful telling of the tale. Thoroughly recommended.