Oppenheimer has consistently been the standout and strongest contender of this award season, and the SAG Awards were no exception to its dominance. With Cillian Murphy’s triumph as Best Actor and Robert Downey Jr.’s stellar performance earning him Best Supporting Actor, Oppenheimer has now taken home the top ensemble award at the 30th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. This was one of three remarkable wins for the 2023 blockbuster portraying the father of the atomic bomb.

Despite sweeping all the major awards, Emily Blunt’s snub from the Best Actress category was a bummer for Oppenheimer fans. These wins do not leave too many guesses for fans as to who has the best shot at the 2024 Oscars. Nevertheless, hopes always ran high for Christopher Nolan’s movie. The studio was certain of its brilliance and box office appeal. But no one in the industry expected that a lengthy, talkative, R-rated drama would fetch over $900 million in ticket sales.

Given the dedication of the individuals involved in the movie, particularly Cillian Murphy, to realize Nolan’s vision, the success of the film was truly earned. Recently, during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel’s talk show, Murphy recounted the extreme measures Nolan took to accurately portray J. Robert Oppenheimer’s silhouette. But what makes it so potent that everyone is betting the farm on its Oscar win weeks before the big night?

Despite having nine strong contenders in the Best Picture category at the Oscars, there are a few factors making the movie’s fate shine brighter than everyone else’s at the 96th ceremony.

What makes Oppenheimer an Oscar favorite?

Oppenheimer did not just pull in the crowds. It also became a hot contender for the awards season purely on its own merits. The movie had a cast so authentic that they practically walked off the screen, which also made Cillian Murphy’s performance even better. It seamlessly delivered information across its three distinct story arcs without ever losing momentum, unlike the other lengthy releases this year, including Martin Scorsese’s middle section in Killers of the Flower Moon.

From a technical angle, Oppenheimer is leaps and bounds ahead of its peers. The editing is simply unbeatable. And with Nolan delivering a movie that is both Oscar-worthy and resonates with audiences worldwide, the Academy could really be onto something good by awarding it. Last but not least, Oppenheimer swept all the major awards this season, showing it is clearly the darling of the judges and panels. With that kind of track record, an Oscar win for the 2023 movie seems even more likely.

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