Where to Watch Oppenheimer
Even if you didn’t watch the movies in theaters, you likely heard about the craze surrounding the simultaneous release of Barbie and Oppenheimer.
Both movies surpassed box office predictions and created a buzz during award season.
Oppenheimer stood out, receiving 13 Oscar nominations—the highest for any film last season—and winning seven of them. It also snagged the most prestigious award: Best Picture.
If you didn’t see Christopher Nolan’s film in theaters, you can still enjoy it at home. Oppenheimer first became available for streaming on Peacock on February 16.
However, starting June 18, it moved to Prime Video. Fans can also rent or buy the movie from various digital platforms.
Whether you’re watching it for the first time or planning to see it multiple times, here’s what you need to know about watching Oppenheimer from your couch.
What Oppenheimer is About?
Oppenheimer is a gripping biographical film inspired by the Pulitzer Prize-winning book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer.
Directed by Christopher Nolan, the movie focuses on the life of the atomic bomb’sa creator.
In the film, Cillian Murphy plays physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer. He is recruited by Lt. Gen. Leslie Groves Jr., portrayed by Matt Damon, to join the Manhattan Project.
This secret government initiative aimed to create the atomic bomb. The narrative unfolds through multiple timelines spanning several decades and features an impressive cast portraying real historical figures.
Is Oppenheimer Worth it?
With seven Oscar wins and nearly $975 million in global box office sales, Oppenheimer is a film you shouldn’t miss.
It also holds impressive ratings, with 93% from critics and 91% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.
The movie is bold, haunting, and leaves a lasting impact, earning it a spot among the best films of 2023.
Belen Edwards from Mashable describes it as “Nolan’s best and most impactful work to date.”
In true Nolan style, Oppenheimer is grand, showcasing stunning views of New Mexico, captivating particle animations, and, notably, the critical Trinity Test.
The film’s third act is particularly powerful, as the consequences of the Manhattan Project echo through history, influencing not just Oppenheimer’s life but our present as well.
With a sharp focus on Oppenheimer’s imperfections and a haunting performance by Cillian Murphy, the film blends tragedy and horror, leaving a lasting impact.
While the film has some shortcomings—like how women are portrayed, the overwhelming sound design, and the lack of Japanese viewpoints—these critiques were highlighted by Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor at Mashable.
Nonetheless, the film remains a significant accomplishment overall.
Is Oppenheimer available for streaming?
The film first launched on Peacock in February. However, since June 21, it can now be streamed on Prime Video.
If you already have a Prime Video subscription, you’re all set to watch. If you don’t, keep reading to find out the best options for signing up and streaming Oppenheimer.
How to Stream Oppenheimer: Top subscription offers?
To watch Oppenheimer at home, you need an Amazon Prime membership or a separate Prime Video subscription.
Although Prime Video doesn’t have as many deals as some other streaming platforms, we’ve found the best ways for you to save money while signing up.
Prime Video Offers for New Users: Free 30-day trial
Amazon provides a free 30-day trial for new users to explore. This is a great opportunity to watch Oppenheimer, even with its long runtime.
After the trial period ends, the subscription will cost you the full price of $14.99 per month or $139 annually. Make sure to cancel before the month ends if you don’t want to be billed.
Prime Video Offers for Students: Get 50% off with Prime Student
Students can enjoy a free six-month trial of Prime through Prime Student. To qualify, you need a valid student email address.
This trial gives you access to all the benefits of Prime, including Prime Video. So, you can watch Oppenheimer for free as many times as you like during this period.
Once the trial is over, the cost drops to half the regular price—just $69 a year or $7.49 a month.
Important: To verify your student status, you need to use SheerID. This means that an old student email won’t be accepted.
Prime Video: The Best Option for Everyone Else:
If you don’t qualify for a free trial or the Prime Student discount, you won’t be able to watch Oppenheimer for free.
However, you can still save on your subscription by choosing Prime Video as a separate service instead of a complete Prime membership.
While a full Prime membership is $14.99 a month, Prime Video by itself costs only $8.99 a month.
Although this isn’t as great as a free trial, it’s definitely better than paying the full price for all the Prime benefits when you only want to stream.
The reality is that Amazon prefers you to sign up for a full Prime membership, making it tricky to choose just Prime Video.
When you sign up, make sure to click on “change plan” to find the option for Prime Video only. Similar to a Prime membership, you can cancel anytime without any commitments.