7 Movies Like ‘Oppenheimer’ To Watch When You Want More Biopics About People Who Changed The World As We Know It

Hitting theaters on July 21st and garnering a mind-blowing $200 million during its first two weeks of release in the United States alone, Oppenheimer is undoubtedly one of the biggest films of 2023.

The hit movie tells the life story of the scientist behind the creation of the atomic bomb, J. Robert Oppenheimer, all in an extremely poetic way. Thanks to the brilliant mind of the one and only Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer takes you on an introspective journey throughout its three hour runtime, ultimately leaving an impact on the mind, body and soul of each and every viewer.

Oppenheimer is sure to grasp your attention right from the start, featuring a critically-acclaimed acting performance from Cillian Murphy, as well as appearances from numerous other A-list celebrities: Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh and more.

With the “Barbenheimer” phenomena taking over social media at the moment, encouraging movie-goers to see Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer back-to-back, we have just one question for you: Which side are you on?

If you are team Oppenheimer, then the Decider team developed a list of seven must-see flicks that are sure to be equally as introspective and thought-provoking.

While Oppenheimer might be the only film about J. Robert Oppenheimer himself, there are plenty of other biopics that are sure to catch your attention. If you are a self-proclaimed history buff, keep scrolling to see them for yourself…

1. The Theory of Everything

   Focusing on Stephen Hawking rather than J. Robert Oppenheimer, The Theory of Everything is another biopic that you NEED to add to your watchlist. 

   Based on the memoir of his ex-wife titled Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen, The Theory of Everything follows the relationship between Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) and his first wife, Jane Wilde Hawking (Felicity Jones). With his fame as a world-renowned physicist, as well as his dwindling physical condition due to his battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), the viewer witnesses the struggles that the duo faces as a married couple, ultimately leading to the demise of their relationship by the end of the two-hour film. 

   Although the movie is centered more around his relationship rather than his scientific discoveries, Stephen Hawking is often compared to J. Robert Oppenheimer, due to their ability to push the boundaries of physics and discover things that have since altered the trajectory of the United States, and even the world as a whole. 

   With an Oscar Award-winning performance by Redmayne, as well as a plot that might even have you shedding a few tears, be sure to grab some tissues before you sit down and watch The Theory of Everything.

   where to stream the theory of everything

2. Tesla

   Another must-see biopic that draws similarities to Oppenheimer is Tesla (and no, it is not based on the car company).

   While Oppenheimer is centered around scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer, Tesla is centered around scientist Nikola Tesla (Ethan Hawke), the underrated founder of many forms of electrical motors and machines. Being far less known than his colleagues Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse, the science-focused film gives Nikola Tesla the recognition he deserves, sharing his life story and achievements in an extremely intriguing way. 

   With a one-of-a-kind storyline that takes on a far more experimental route than your average biopic, all while peaking the curiosity of each and every viewer, fans of Oppenheimer are sure to love Tesla.

   where to stream tesla

3. Radioactive

   If you are looking for yet another film that gets your science gears spinning, Radioactive is the perfect movie to add to your watchlist, touching on some of the deadly consequences that come with the discovery of new materials.

   Inspired by the graphic novel titled Radioactive: Marie & Pierre Curie: A Tale of Love and Fallout by Lauren Redniss, we see Marie Curie (Rosamund Pike) discover both polonium and radium within the beloved film. Having earned Nobel Prizes in both physics and chemistry for this groundbreaking work, Curie was unaware that these substances were poisoning innocent individuals, which the viewer can see unfold within the movie. Watching the consequences of Curie’s actions as the plot progresses, Radioactive is sure to give you the chills. 

   Fans of Oppenheimer and Radioactive have said that the films directly parallel one another, with each of their respective plots showcasing a scientific discovery that directly caused mass destruction and death. 

   If that sounds like something that peaks your interest, then Radioactive is truly a must-see.

   Watch radioactive on prime video

4. Interstellar

   Oppenheimer is not the only phenomenal movie Christopher Nolan has created…

   Featuring a star-studded cast, consisting of Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Bill Irwin and more, Interstellar is another one of Christopher Nolan’s must-see films that Oppenheimer fans are sure to love, doubling as one of his best bodies of work. 

   Interstellar follows the lives of Joseph Cooper (McConaughey) and Dr. Amelia Brand (Hathaway), two astronauts who embark on an adventure to find a new home for humanity within outer space when disaster strikes on Earth. Throughout the movie, we see the harsh realities that come with space exploration, causing the science fiction film to be just as thought-provoking as Oppenheimer. 

   Despite being the only fictional movie on our list, Interstellar is equally as educational as it is engaging, showcasing complex physics in a comprehensible way. In addition to this, this must-see film takes all viewers on an introspective journey, just like we see within Oppenheimer, and it may even have them questioning the meaning of life itself by the time the credits roll.

   While Interstellar may not appear to be THAT similar to Oppenheimer from a surface level, you will see exactly how they correlate after just one watch of the respective films. The cinematography and overall aesthetics of the movie greatly resemble one another (likely because they both come from the brilliant mind of Christopher Nolan), but the best way to prove it is to stream each flick for yourself.

   where to stream interstellar

5. Hidden Figures

   Speaking of outer space, Hidden Figures is another science-focused film that adds some much needed girl power to our list of must-see movies.

   Based on the book of the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly, Hidden Figures tells the story of  Katherine Goble Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe), three African-American women who made remarkable contributions to NASA in the 1960s, ultimately paving the way for more women and people of color in STEM. With a captivating plot, as well as Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons and more A-list celebrities playing supporting roles, Hidden Figures is sure to have you hooked from the very beginning. 

   Also focusing on complex physics in a digestible way, fans of Oppenheimer are sure to love Hidden Figures, despite its more triumphant, celebratory nature. 

   With critically-acclaimed performances from all three of its protagonists, with Octavia Spencer receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, Hidden Figures is truly a must see for all history buffs (or for those wanting a little extra female empowerment).

   where to stream hidden figures

6. Selma

   As all Oppenheimer fans know, the creation of the atomic bomb was a pivotal moment in United States history. While it tells an entirely different story, Selma also highlights a moment that changed the trajectory of our country, with an emphasis on the Civil Rights Movement.

   The critically-acclaimed film tells the tale of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (David Oyelowo) and the marches he set up from Selma, Alabama to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965, with the goal of securing equal voting rights within the United States. In a spine-chilling account of this historical moment, Selma showcases the prejudice and racial injustice that the participants experienced throughout their journey for equality, causing all viewers to feel uneasy.

   This unsettling feeling is reminiscent of how we felt watching Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, with each and every viewer reflecting on humanity and our country as a whole by the time the credits begin.

   Receiving numerous accolades, such as Best Original Song at the 87th Academy Awards, Best Original Song at the 72nd Golden Globe Awards and more, Selma is truly a must-see film that is equally as phenomenal as Oppenheimer. 

   where to stream selma

7. The Social Network

   If history isn’t really your thing, then The Social Network is a much more modern biopic for you to watch, all while staying true to Oppenheimer’s themes of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

   The unique film is centered around the life of Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg), as well as the origin of social media as a whole. Showcasing various legal battles and personal challenges Zuckerberg faced throughout his life, as well as appearances from Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer and more of today’s biggest stars, The Social Network is far more captivating than it may seem on the surface.

   While social media may not appear to be on the same playing field as the atomic bomb, both inventions made a massive impact on the world as soon as they were created, which you can see in Oppenheimer and The Social Network, respectively. 

   Walking a mile in the shoes of a technological genius, fans of Oppenheimer are sure to love The Social Network just as much.

   where to stream the social network

Born and raised in Orange County, California, Melanie Rooten is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma. Melanie has a true passion for all things pop culture, and she tends to spend her free time going to concerts and music festivals, binging her favorite TV shows, spending time with her friends and family and cheering on the Oklahoma Sooners (of course). You can connect with her on Twitter (@MelanieRooten) to see all of her recent articles.