'Oppenheimer' dominates at the 2024 Oscars

By Tori B. Powell, Maureen Chowdhury, Lisa Respers France and Marianne Garvey, CNN

Updated 1:10 a.m. ET, March 11, 2024
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12:21 a.m. ET, March 11, 2024

Check out the best photos from the 2024 Academy Awards

From CNN's Will Lanzoni and Kyle Almond

"Oppenheimer," Christopher Nolan's epic take on the father of the atomic bomb, was the big winner at Sunday night's Academy Awards.

Emma Stone ("Poor Things") won best actress for the second time in her career. "Poor Things" also won Oscars for best production design, best costume design and best makeup and hairstyling.

See more photos from the show.

Emma Stone celebrates with presenters after winning the Oscar for best actress. "This is really overwhelming," said the "Poor Things" star while accepting her award. This is Stone's second Oscar for best actress. She also won in 2017 for "La La Land."
Emma Stone celebrates with presenters after winning the Oscar for best actress. "This is really overwhelming," said the "Poor Things" star while accepting her award. This is Stone's second Oscar for best actress. She also won in 2017 for "La La Land." Mike Blake/Reuters
Messi the dog, one of the stars of "Anatomy of a Fall," attends the show.
Messi the dog, one of the stars of "Anatomy of a Fall," attends the show. Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Robert Downey Jr. poses in the press room with the Oscar he won for best supporting actor. "I'd like to thank my terrible childhood and the Academy," he said in his acceptance speech. "In that order."
Robert Downey Jr. poses in the press room with the Oscar he won for best supporting actor. "I'd like to thank my terrible childhood and the Academy," he said in his acceptance speech. "In that order." Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images
John Cena and Holly Waddington talk backstage after Cena presented Waddington with the Oscar for best costume design ("Poor Things").
John Cena and Holly Waddington talk backstage after Cena presented Waddington with the Oscar for best costume design ("Poor Things"). Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images
Jon Batiste performs the Oscar-nominated song "It Never Went Away" from the film "American Symphony."
Jon Batiste performs the Oscar-nominated song "It Never Went Away" from the film "American Symphony." Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
Gosling and "Barbie" co-star Margot Robbie hold hands during the show.
Gosling and "Barbie" co-star Margot Robbie hold hands during the show. Jack Gruber/USA Today Network

11:34 p.m. ET, March 10, 2024

From Da'Vine Joy Randolph making us cry to "Oppenheimer" dominating, here's how the Academy Awards unfolded

From CNN's Lisa Respers France

Da’Vine Joy Randolph accepts the award for best supporting actress.
Da’Vine Joy Randolph accepts the award for best supporting actress. Frank Micelotta/Disney

What a night!

Raise your hand if you did not have naked John Cena on your Academy Awards bingo card.

This year's Oscars was a delightful — and surprisingly fast-moving — event.

From Da'Vine Joy Randolph making costar Paul Giamatti cry when she won the best supporting actress award to Al Pacino's unorthodox presentation of the best picture award, the show had moments of both heart and surprise. Not to mention, host Jimmy Kimmel's roasting of former President Donald Trump for his criticism of Kimmel on social media.

In between, we also got Ryan Gosling turning it up with the bravado performance of his song from the "Barbie" soundtrack and Wes Anderson finally winning his first Oscar.

Ryan Gosling, left, performs onstage with Slash.
Ryan Gosling, left, performs onstage with Slash. Chris Pizzello/AP

One not-very surprising moment was "Oppenheimer" winning best picture. It was completely expected, but still lovely to witness.

The BAFTA awards also continued its role of accurately predicting the best actress category.

Going into Sunday night, Lily Gladstone was expected to make history as the first Native American to win best actress. But Emma Stone won the BAFTA in that category, and also took home the Oscar.

The biggest surprise of the night may have been that it ended on time. Perhaps the producers may have been onto something starting an hour earlier this year.

Other award shows, take note.

11:01 p.m. ET, March 10, 2024

Jimmy Kimmel calls out Trump at the Oscars: "Isn't it past your jail time?"

From CNN's Kate Sullivan

Jimmy Kimmel speaks onstage.
Jimmy Kimmel speaks onstage. Rich Polk/Variety/Getty Images

Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel called out Donald Trump during the televised show on Sunday after the former president insulted the comedian on social media. 

“I was told we have like, an extra minute, and I’m really proud of something and I was wondering if I could share it with you. I just got a review,” Kimmel said, before, pulling out his phone to read Trump’s Truth Social post out loud.  

The post from Trump reads, “Has there EVER been a WORSE HOST than Jimmy Kimmel at The Oscars. His opening was that of a less than average person trying too hard to be something which he is not, and never can be. Get rid of Kimmel and perhaps replace him with another washed up, but cheap, ABC 'talent,' George Slopanopoulos. He would make everybody on stage look bigger, stronger, and more glamorous.”

Kimmel responded to Trump's post by saying, “Well, thank you President Trump. Thank you for watching, I’m surprised you’re still — isn’t it past your jail time?”

His comment prompted cheers and laughs from the audience. 

11:07 p.m. ET, March 10, 2024

Did Margot Robbie, America Ferrera and Greta Gerwig’s Oscar gowns have a hidden "Barbie" meaning?

From CNN's Jacqui Palumbo

Margot Robbie, America Ferrera and Greta Gerwig.
Margot Robbie, America Ferrera and Greta Gerwig. Mike Coppola/JC Olivera/Getty Images

The cast of “Barbie” will go down in red-carpet history for their dedication to method dressing, as stars Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling diligently showed up to press events, premieres and award shows in outfits that could have been borrowed straight from Barbie and Ken’s dollhouse closets.

But at the Academy Awards on Sunday, where the summer blockbuster was nominated for nine awards, including “Best Picture,” Robbie appeared to pass the pink torch to co-star America Ferrera, wearing a striking black (but decidedly non-Barbie-like) gown — while Ferrera arrived in shimmering hot pink.

Still, it seemed as if the actors’ dresses were connected, and linked to “Barbie” director Greta Gerwig’s too.

While Robbie and Ferrera’s dresses were polar opposites in color and mood, they were both courtesy of Versace and seemed to be made of the same chainmail fabric. (Robbie’s was fresh off the Fall-Winter 2024 runway, while Ferrera’s was custom-made.) Gerwig’s gown, meanwhile, was a sparkling Gucci number of crystal mesh that also had an armor-like feel.

The collection of feminine chainmail was a subtle play on power dressing — appropriate for the movie’s message of female empowerment. But they weren’t the only “Barbie” cast and team members to sparkle. With a touch of Ken’s flair for opulence, Gosling wore a custom Gucci black tuxedo suit lined with sparkling beading, while Simu Liu opted for a black jacket cinched with a glittering brooch clasp.

Read more.

10:59 p.m. ET, March 10, 2024

"Oppenheimer" wins the Oscar for best picture, sweeping the major awards tonight

Cast and crew of “Oppenheimer” accept the award for best picture.
Cast and crew of “Oppenheimer” accept the award for best picture. Kevin Winter/Getty Images

“Oppenheimer” wins the Oscar for best picture, sweeping the major awards tonight.

Producer Emma Thomas admitted that winning best picture was a dream come true and praised director — and her husband — Christopher Nolan for his talent.

"He is brilliant. He is singular," Thomas said. Thomas also thanked the cast and crew for their key collaboration in making the film.

“Oppenheimer” dominated the Academy Awards this year, picking up seven Oscars including best movie, acting honors for Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr., and best director for Christopher Nolan.

It has been an award season rich with success for "Oppenheimer,” which picked up dozens of awards across the major and guild awards shows before tonight.

A slightly halting presentation: Given that host Jimmy Kimmel joked about the "Moonlight"-"La La Land" best picture snafu from a few years ago, it was hard to tell if this year’s best picture presenter Al Pacino was being his usual “I have lots of things going on in my head at once” self, or if there was a hiccup in production.

The delivery felt somewhat anti-climactic, and some in the room seemed caught off-guard when the acting legend read the winner's name. That "Oppenheimer" was widely expected to take home the award likely helped everyone get with the program.

Christopher Nolan and Cillian Murphy embrace after winning the best picture award.
Christopher Nolan and Cillian Murphy embrace after winning the best picture award. Kevin Winter/Getty Images

The post has been updated with more details on "Oppenheimer."

10:55 p.m. ET, March 10, 2024

"This is overwhelming." Emma Stone wins best actress award for her daring role in "Poor Things"

Emma Stone accepts the best actress in a leading role award for "Poor Things.”
Emma Stone accepts the best actress in a leading role award for "Poor Things.” Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Emma Stone has won the Oscar for best actress in a leading role, thanks to her daring portrayal of Bella Baxter in "Poor Things."

"Oh boy, this is really overwhelming," an emotional Stone said while accepting her award.

She pointed out the other nominees within the lead actress category this year: Lily Gladstone for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Annette Bening for “Nyad,” Sandra Hüller for “Anatomy of a Fall” and Carey Mulligan for “Maestro.”  

"I share this with you. I'm in awe of you. And it has been such an honor to do all this together. I hope we get to keep doing more together," she said.

She thanked those who worked on the film and her family for the award. This was one of the few major races widely considered a toss-up heading into tonight.

Stone in “Poor Things.”
Stone in “Poor Things.” Courtesy of Searchight Pictures

This is Stone’s second Oscar for best actress in a leading role, after winning the award in 2017 for “La La Land.”    

In “Poor Things,” Stone plays a child-like woman who is reanimated by a mad professor-type using the brain of her unborn child.

The bizarre and outlandish film was nominated for 11 Oscars total this year. 

This post has been updated with details from Stone's speech and about the movie.

10:53 p.m. ET, March 10, 2024

Jimmy Kimmel jokes about tearing up envelope "so there's no confusion with Best Picture" after 2017 mix-up

From CNN's Marianne Garvey

Host Jimmy Kimmel speaks onstage.
Host Jimmy Kimmel speaks onstage. Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Jimmy Kimmel referenced the 2017 "Envelopegate" blunder as he introduced Al Pacino to announce the night's Best Picture winner. 

That year, before “Moonlight” won Best Picture, the winner was announced by Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway as “La La Land,” due to a mix-up.

The “La La Land” cast took the stage when they realized the mistake. 

Beatty came back to explain to the audience: “I want to tell you what happened. I opened the envelope and it said Emma Stone, ‘La La Land.’ That’s why I took such a long look at Faye. I wasn’t trying to be funny.”
10:35 p.m. ET, March 10, 2024

"Oppenheimer" is now dominating the Oscars with best director award for Christopher Nolan

Steven Spielberg presents Christopher Nolan with the Oscar for best director.
Steven Spielberg presents Christopher Nolan with the Oscar for best director. Mike Blake/Reuters

Christopher Nolan has won the best director Oscar for “Oppenheimer.”

Nolan thanked the cast and crew, with a special shoutout to his wife and producer on the film, Emma Thomas.

“The incredible Emma Thomas. Producer — producer of all our films and all our children. I love you," he said.

He then went on to give a heartfelt thanks to the Academy.  

“To the Academy, just to say, movies are just a little bit over 100 years old. I mean being there 100 years into painting or theater — we don’t know where this incredible journey is going from here, but to know that you think I’m a meaningful part of it means the world to me. Thank you very much," he said.

It has been an award season rich with success for "Oppenheimer,” which picked up dozens of awards across the major and guild awards shows, even before tonight.

11:07 p.m. ET, March 10, 2024

"Proud Irishman" Cillian Murphy wins best actor Oscar for role in "Oppenheimer"

Cillian Murphy accepts the award for best performance by an actor in a leading role for "Oppenheimer.”
Cillian Murphy accepts the award for best performance by an actor in a leading role for "Oppenheimer.” Mike Blake/Reuters

Cillian Murphy has won the Academy Award for best actor in a leading role for his part in "Oppenheimer."

"I'm a very proud Irishman standing here tonight," he said while accepting the award.

The native of Cork City dedicated the win to what he called "the peacemakers everywhere," and thanked his fellow cast and crew members on the movie. He wrapped up with "Gura míle maith agaibh" — Gaelic for "a thousand thanks to you all."

Murphy portrayed the eponymous J. Robert Oppenheimer, father of the atomic bomb, in Christopher Nolan’s epic “Oppenheimer.” This was his first Academy Award nomination, and now his first win. 

Director Nolan and Murphy have enjoyed an illustrious and longstanding collaboration, beginning with the actor’s chilling portrayal of the villain Scarecrow in Nolan’s “Batman Begins” in 2005. Murphy also appeared in the director’s sci-fi mindbender “Inception” in 2010, as well as the 2017 war epic “Dunkirk.”