Christopher Nolan Triumphs as Best Director for 'Oppenheimer' at the 2024 Academy Awards
Amidst tough competition from renowned directors like Martin Scorsese, Yorgos Lanthimos, Justine Triet, and Jonathan Glazer, Christopher Nolan emerges victorious as the Best Director at the prestigious 2024 Oscars ceremony.
Christopher Nolan Wins best director 2024 Oscars
PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images
Christopher Nolan won his first Best Director award at the 2024 Oscars. During his acceptance speech at the awards show on Sunday, March 10, the 53-year-old Nolan expressed his gratitude and thanked many people. He won the Best Director award for his 2023 film Oppenheimer.
Nolan praised the film's "incredible cast" which includes Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, and Cillian Murphy. Murphy won Best Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of J. Robert Oppenheimer.
Nolan also expressed his gratitude towards the crew, some of whom were recognized that night. He emphasized the importance of the talented crew that worked on the film and extended thanks to Universal and the authors of American Prometheus, Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin, whose book inspired the film.
He wrapped up his speech by expressing gratitude to his wife, Emma Thomas, whom he described as an amazing producer for all their films and children. The couple, who got married in 1997, have four children together.
Nolan closed his speech by acknowledging the Academy and reflecting on the relatively short history of movies. He compared it to the long-established fields of painting and theater, highlighting the uncertainty of where the film industry is headed. Despite this, he was deeply touched by the recognition and appreciation from the Academy, emphasizing how much it meant to him.
Oppenheimer took home seven Oscars out of its 13 nominations. This included awards for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for Downey Jr., Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, and Best Film Editing.
At the awards show, Nolan was nominated alongside Justine Triet for Anatomy of a Fall, Martin Scorsese for Killers of the Flower Moon, Yorgos Lanthimos for Poor Things, and Jonathan Glazer for The Zone of Interest. The event took place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Prior to the Academy Awards, Scorsese, 81, was the only Oscar winner in the category. Throughout his career, he has received a total of 16 nominations, with 10 being for Best Director. He won the award for The Departed in 2006, and his other nominated films include Raging Bull, The Last Temptation of Christ, Goodfellas, Gangs of New York, The Aviator, Hugo, The Wolf of Wall Street, and The Irishman.
Nolan has been nominated for the Oscars eight times in his career, including nods for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay for Oppenheimer and Best Director for Dunkirk in 2018. Lanthimos, 50, has also received six nominations over the years, including a Best Picture nomination for Poor Things and a Best Director nod for The Favourite in 2019.
This year, Triet and Glazer received their first-ever Oscar nominations. Triet made history as the first female French filmmaker to be nominated for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for Anatomy of a Fall. Meanwhile, Glazer was also nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Zone of Interest.
In January, Nolan emerged victorious at the 2024 Golden Globe Awards, winning Best Director – Motion Picture. He surpassed Scorsese, Lanthimos, Barbie’s Greta Gerwig, Maestro’s Bradley Cooper, and Past Lives’ Celine Song to claim the prestigious award.
When the Oscar nominations were announced in January, many were surprised that Greta Gerwig, aged 40, was not nominated for Best Director despite her work on Barbie, which received eight Academy Award nominations. Gerwig shared her thoughts on her exclusion in her TIME 2024 Women of the Year profile the next month.
"I really wanted it for Margot [Robbie]," Gerwig expressed, referring to Robbie's absence from the Best Actress in a Leading Role category. "But I'm just grateful that we can all experience it together."
Gerwig, who was nominated for Best Director for Lady Bird in 2018, did receive a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for Barbie. She shared a funny story about a friend's mom who was surprised she didn't get nominated. When Gerwig told her about the Oscar nomination, the friend's mom was happy and congratulated her. Gerwig was also excited about the nomination.
Editor's P/S:
The 2024 Oscars ceremony witnessed a historic moment as Christopher Nolan finally clinched his first Best Director award for "Oppenheimer." Throughout his acceptance speech, Nolan exuded gratitude towards his cast, crew, and family, recognizing the immense contributions of each individual involved in bringing the film to life. The win marked a significant milestone in Nolan's illustrious career, solidifying his status as one of the most acclaimed filmmakers of our time.
Despite the absence of Greta Gerwig's "Barbie" in the Best Director category, the ceremony recognized the film's achievements with eight nominations. Gerwig's grace and humility in addressing her exclusion highlighted the camaraderie and mutual respect within the film industry. The event celebrated the diverse talents of filmmakers, with first-time nominees Justine Triet and Jonathan Glazer receiving recognition for their exceptional work. The Oscars continue to serve as a platform for honoring cinematic excellence, fostering creativity, and inspiring future generations of filmmakers.
