Christopher Nolan has finally got the Academy’s attention. After falling short for his work on Dunkirk in 2018, the influential filmmaker has finally nabbed Best Director honours and what’s more, it was a clean sweep. At the 2024 Academy Awards in Los Angeles, Nolan’s historic biopic Oppenheimer scooped the pool, securing a whopping seven awards, including Best Actor for Cillian Murphy, Best Supporting Actor for Robert Downey Jr and Best Picture. The monumental success story wasn’t the only memorable moment from the event, which delivered a series of surprises, snubs and a music performance that will go down in history.
Table of Contents
- 2024 Oscar Winners: Full List Revealed
- Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
- Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
- Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
- Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
- Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
- Achievement in Cinematography
- Achievement in Costume Design
- Achievement in Directing
- Best Documentary Feature Film
- Best Documentary Short Film
- Achievement in Film Editing
- Best International Feature Film of the Year
- Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling
- Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score)
- Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song)
- Best Motion Picture of the Year
- Achievement in Production Design
- Best Animated Short Film
- Best Live Action Short Film
- Achievement in Sound
- Achievement in Visual Effects
- Adapted Screenplay
- Original Screenplay
- 2024 Oscars FAQs
For many, Oppenheimer‘s success at the 2024 Oscars was far from unexpected. The film, which sees Cillian Murphy as Robert J. Oppenheimer, the physicist responsible for making the atomic bomb a reality, was widely expected to secure a number of wins, courtesy of its remarkable direction, acting performances and design.
In his acceptance speech, Nolan acknowledged that Oppenheimer had not always been an easy film to make, thanking the entire cast and crew for their efforts. Over the past 12 months, the industry has faced a barrage of challenges, with a stalemate between studios and the writers’ and actors’ unions causing a shutdown for all new productions. Thankfully, negotiations have been positive and the film sector is back firing on all cylinders, just in time for its loudest and proudest night.
As mentioned, Cillian Murphy took home the award for Best Actor for his portrayal of the pioneering, albeit tortured nuclear scientist. The win marks Murphy the first Irish-born winner of the award, a fact that he referenced in his acceptance speech, stating “I’m a very proud Irishman standing here tonight”. The actor then praised the cast and crew before making a powerful statement for peace.
“We made a film about the man who created the atomic bomb, and for better or for worse, we are all living in Oppenheimer’s world, so I’d like to dedicate this to the peacemakers everywhere.”
Fellow cast member Robert Downey Jr capped off his post-Marvel renaissance with a stunning victory in the Best Supporting Actor category. The former Iron Man star was critically lauded for his portrayal of US government official Lewis Strauss in Nolan’s epic, more than thirty years after the Academy first acknowledged his talent in the 1993 film Chaplin. Downey Jr’s long and storied battle with addiction saw him blacklisted from the industry for several years, but with an Oscar now in his grasp, the reinvention is complete.
“I’d like to thank my terrible childhood, and the Academy, in that order,” Downey Jr joked in his acceptance speech. “I needed this job more than it needed me. I stand here before you a better man because of it… What we do is meaningful and what we decide to make is important.”
Elsewhere, the unique Frankenstein story Poor Things took home four awards, including Best Actress for Emma Stone, while the Holocaust drama The Zone of Interest scored two. Stone, who appeared shocked by the win, had been neck and neck with Killers of the Flower Moon‘s Lily Gladstone for the accolade in the lead-up to the ceremony. However, her role in Yorgos Lanthimos’ bizarre film, where she played an infant whose brain has been implanted into the body of an adult woman, proved to be the standout according to the Academy.
It wasn’t the only disappointment for Killers of the Flower Moon. The Martin Scorsese drama about a string of Osage murders in the 1920s went home empty-handed, despite being nominated in 10 categories.
Remarkably, the year’s highest-grossing film, Barbie received only one award despite its eight nominations and while it may have been the gong fans were expecting, it wasn’t for the reason they predicted. On a night that saw Ryan Gosling perform his breakout smash I’m Just Ken live for the first time, another song from the Barbie soundtrack took home the chocolates with the Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell-penned piece What Was I Made For? securing the Best Original Song award.
“Thank you so much to the Academy, I was not expecting this, I feel so incredibly lucky and honoured,” Eilish said as she accepted the award with her brother and collaborator Finneas O’Connell.
Amid the 2024 Oscars snubbings and drubbings, however, there were a few standout stories. The Zone of Interest became the first British film ever to win Best International Feature, while the eye-opening Ukrainian war documentary 20 Days In Mariupol was acknowledged as the year’s best. With that title, director Mstyslav Chernov officially became the first Ukrainian Oscar winner, however, noted that his success had not come without heartache. His film depicts the Russian invasion of Ukraine in stunning detail. Following a team of Ukrainian journalists trapped in the besieged city of Mariupol, 20 Days In Mariupol explores the struggles to survive and document the war’s atrocities.
“I’m probably the first director on this stage to say I wish I would never have made this film,” he told audiences during his acceptance speech.
2024 Oscar Winners: Full List Revealed
As per the official rules, Academy members from each of the 18 branches vote to determine the winners in their respective categories. This group is comprised of a collection of peers, with actors nominating actors, film editors nominating film editors, and so forth. All voting members are eligible to select the Best Picture nominees. This year, voter participation was at an all-time high, with members submitting ballots from a record 93 countries.
The Academy Awards were held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on Sunday, March 10. For a full list of winners and categories, see below.
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
- Bradley Cooper in “Maestro”
- Colman Domingo in “Rustin”
- Paul Giamatti in “The Holdovers”
- Cillian Murphy in “Oppenheimer” – WINNER
- Jeffrey Wright in “American Fiction”
Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
- Sterling K. Brown in “American Fiction”
- Robert De Niro in “Killers of the Flower Moon”
- Robert Downey Jr. in “Oppenheimer” – WINNER
- Ryan Gosling in “Barbie”
- Mark Ruffalo in “Poor Things”
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
- Annette Bening in “Nyad”
- Lily Gladstone in “Killers of the Flower Moon”
- Sandra Hüller in “Anatomy of a Fall”
- Carey Mulligan in “Maestro”
- Emma Stone in “Poor Things” – WINNER
Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
- Emily Blunt in “Oppenheimer”
- Danielle Brooks in “The Color Purple”
- America Ferrera in “Barbie”
- Jodie Foster in “Nyad”
- Da’Vine Joy Randolph in “The Holdovers” – WINNER
Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
- “The Boy and the Heron” – Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki – WINNER
- “Elemental” – Peter Sohn and Denise Ream
- “Nimona” – Nick Bruno, Troy Quane, Karen Ryan and Julie Zackary
- “Robot Dreams” – Pablo Berger, Ibon Cormenzana, Ignasi Estapé and Sandra Tapia Díaz
- “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” – Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Amy Pascal
Achievement in Cinematography
- “El Conde” – Edward Lachman
- “Killers of the Flower Moon” – Rodrigo Prieto
- “Maestro” – Matthew Libatique
- “Oppenheimer” – Hoyte van Hoytema – WINNER
- “Poor Things” – Robbie Ryan
Achievement in Costume Design
- “Barbie” – Jacqueline Durran
- “Killers of the Flower Moon” – Jacqueline West
- “Napoleon” – Janty Yates and Dave Crossman
- “Oppenheimer” – Ellen Mirojnick
- “Poor Things” – Holly Waddington – WINNER
Achievement in Directing
- “Anatomy of a Fall” – Justine Triet
- “Killers of the Flower Moon” – Martin Scorsese
- “Oppenheimer” – Christopher Nolan – WINNER
- “Poor Things” – Yorgos Lanthimos
- “The Zone of Interest” – Jonathan Glazer
Best Documentary Feature Film
- “Bobi Wine: The People’s President” – Moses Bwayo, Christopher Sharp and John Battsek
- “The Eternal Memory” – Nominees to be determined
- “Four Daughters” – Kaouther Ben Hania and Nadim Cheikhrouha
- “To Kill a Tiger” – Nisha Pahuja, Cornelia Principe and David Oppenheim
- “20 Days in Mariupol” – Mstyslav Chernov, Michelle Mizner and Raney Aronson-Rath – WINNER
Best Documentary Short Film
- “The ABCs of Book Banning” – Sheila Nevins and Trish Adlesic
- “The Barber of Little Rock” – John Hoffman and Christine Turner
- “Island in Between” – S. Leo Chiang and Jean Tsien
- “The Last Repair Shop” – Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers – WINNER
- “Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó” – Sean Wang and Sam Davis
Achievement in Film Editing
- “Anatomy of a Fall” – Laurent Sénéchal
- “The Holdovers” – Kevin Tent
- “Killers of the Flower Moon” – Thelma Schoonmaker
- “Oppenheimer” – Jennifer Lame – WINNER
- “Poor Things” – Yorgos Mavropsaridis
Best International Feature Film of the Year
- “Io Capitano” – Italy
- “Perfect Days” – Japan
- “Society of the Snow” – Spain
- “The Teachers’ Lounge” – Germany
- “The Zone of Interest” – United Kingdom – WINNER
Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling
- “Golda” – Karen Hartley Thomas, Suzi Battersby and Ashra Kelly-Blue
- “Maestro” – Kazu Hiro, Kay Georgiou and Lori McCoy-Bell
- “Oppenheimer” – Luisa Abel
- “Poor Things” – Nadia Stacey, Mark Coulier and Josh Weston – WINNER
- “Society of the Snow” – Ana López-Puigcerver, David Martí and Montse Ribé
Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score)
- “American Fiction” – Laura Karpman
- “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” – John Williams
- “Killers of the Flower Moon” – Robbie Robertson
- “Oppenheimer” – Ludwig Göransson
- “Poor Things” – Jerskin Fendrix
Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song)
- “The Fire Inside” from “Flamin’ Hot” – Music and Lyric by Diane Warren
- “I’m Just Ken” from “Barbie” -Music and Lyric by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt
- “It Never Went Away” from “American Symphony” – Music and Lyric by Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson
- “Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)” from “Killers of the Flower Moon” – Music and Lyric by Scott George
- “What Was I Made For?” from “Barbie” – Music and Lyric by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell – WINNER
Best Motion Picture of the Year
- “American Fiction” – Ben LeClair, Nikos Karamigios, Cord Jefferson and Jermaine Johnson, Producers
- “Anatomy of a Fall” – Marie-Ange Luciani and David Thion, Producers
- “Barbie” – David Heyman, Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Robbie Brenner, Producers
- “The Holdovers” – Mark Johnson, Producer
- “Killers of the Flower Moon” – Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas, Martin Scorsese and Daniel Lupi, Producers
- “Maestro” – Bradley Cooper, Steven Spielberg, Fred Berner, Amy Durning and Kristie Macosko Krieger, Producers
- “Oppenheimer” – Emma Thomas, Charles Roven and Christopher Nolan, Producers – WINNER
- “Past Lives” – David Hinojosa, Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler, Producers
- “Poor Things” – Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone, Producers
- “The Zone of Interest” – James Wilson, Producer
Achievement in Production Design
- “Barbie” – Production Design: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
- “Killers of the Flower Moon” – Production Design: Jack Fisk; Set Decoration: Adam Willis
- “Napoleon” – Production Design: Arthur Max; Set Decoration: Elli Griff
- “Oppenheimer” – Production Design: Ruth De Jong; Set Decoration: Claire Kaufman
- “Poor Things” – Production Design: James Price and Shona Heath; Set Decoration: Zsuzsa Mihalek – WINNER
Best Animated Short Film
- “Letter to a Pig” – Tal Kantor and Amit R. Gicelter
- “Ninety-Five Senses” – Jerusha Hess and Jared Hess
- “Our Uniform” – Yegane Moghaddam
- “Pachyderme” – Stéphanie Clément and Marc Rius
- “WAR IS OVER! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko” – Dave Mullins and Brad Booker – WINNER
Best Live Action Short Film
- “The After” – Misan Harriman and Nicky Bentham
- “Invincible” – Vincent René-Lortie and Samuel Caron
- “Knight of Fortune” – Lasse Lyskjær Noer and Christian Norlyk
- “Red, White and Blue” – Nazrin Choudhury and Sara McFarlane
- “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar” – Wes Anderson and Steven Rales – WINNER
Achievement in Sound
- “The Creator” – Ian Voigt, Erik Aadahl, Ethan Van der Ryn, Tom Ozanich and Dean Zupancic
- “Maestro” – Steven A. Morrow, Richard King, Jason Ruder, Tom Ozanich and Dean Zupancic
- “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” – Chris Munro, James H. Mather, Chris Burdon and Mark Taylor
- “Oppenheimer” – Willie Burton, Richard King, Gary A. Rizzo and Kevin O’Connell – WINNER
- “The Zone of Interest” – Tarn Willers and Johnnie Burn
Achievement in Visual Effects
- “The Creator” – Jay Cooper, Ian Comley, Andrew Roberts and Neil Corbould
- “Godzilla Minus One” – Takashi Yamazaki, Kiyoko Shibuya, Masaki Takahashi and Tatsuji Nojima – WINNER
- “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” – Stephane Ceretti, Alexis Wajsbrot, Guy Williams and Theo Bialek
- “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” – Alex Wuttke, Simone Coco, Jeff Sutherland and Neil Corbould
- “Napoleon” – Charley Henley, Luc-Ewen Martin-Fenouillet, Simone Coco and Neil Corbould
Adapted Screenplay
- “American Fiction” – Written for the screen by Cord Jefferson – WINNER
- “Barbie” – Written by Greta Gerwig & Noah Baumbach
- “Oppenheimer” – Written for the screen by Christopher Nolan
- “Poor Things” – Screenplay by Tony McNamara
- “The Zone of Interest” – Written by Jonathan Glazer
Original Screenplay
- “Anatomy of a Fall” – Screenplay by Justine Triet and Arthur Harari – WINNER
- “The Holdovers” – Written by David Hemingson
- “Maestro” – Written by Bradley Cooper & Josh Singer
- “May December” – Screenplay by Samy Burch; Story by Samy Burch & Alex Mechanik
- “Past Lives” – Written by Celine Song
2024 Oscars FAQs
The 2024 Academy Awards will be held on March 10, 2024, traditionally known as Oscar Sunday.
The winners for the 2024 Oscars were announced, with Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’ leading all with seven nods. Following that was ‘Poor Things’ with four.
While it is always a competitive event, social media was ablaze with interest after Leonardo DiCaprio did not receive a nomination for his role in Martin Scorsese’s ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’.
