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Oppenheimer

  • TV Mini Series
  • 1980
  • Not Rated
  • 7h
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
767
YOUR RATING
Sam Waterston in Oppenheimer (1980)
A montage of images in this abstract trailer for the BBC miniseries detailing the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer
Play trailer0:46
2 Videos
1 Photo
BiographyDramaHistoryWar

Biography of the American physicist who led the U.S. effort to develop the atomic bomb during World War II, only to find himself suspected as a security risk in the 1950s.Biography of the American physicist who led the U.S. effort to develop the atomic bomb during World War II, only to find himself suspected as a security risk in the 1950s.Biography of the American physicist who led the U.S. effort to develop the atomic bomb during World War II, only to find himself suspected as a security risk in the 1950s.

  • Stars
    • Sam Waterston
    • John Carson
    • Christopher Muncke
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.1/10
    767
    YOUR RATING
    • Stars
      • Sam Waterston
      • John Carson
      • Christopher Muncke
    • 28User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys
      • 3 wins & 7 nominations total

    Episodes7

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-ratedSeason1982

    Videos2

    Oppenheimer
    Clip 2:19
    Oppenheimer
    Oppenheimer
    Trailer 0:46
    Oppenheimer
    Oppenheimer
    Trailer 0:46
    Oppenheimer

    Photos

    Top cast87

    Edit
    Sam Waterston
    Sam Waterston
    • Robert Oppenheimer
    • 1980
    John Carson
    John Carson
    • Narrator
    • 1980
    Christopher Muncke
    Christopher Muncke
    • Colonel Kenneth Nichols…
    • 1980
    Jana Shelden
    • Kitty Oppenheimer…
    • 1980
    Edward Hardwicke
    Edward Hardwicke
    • Enrico Fermi
    • 1980
    David Suchet
    David Suchet
    • Edward Teller
    • 1980
    Manning Redwood
    Manning Redwood
    • General Leslie Groves
    • 1980
    Peter Whitman
    • Robert Serber
    • 1980
    Matthew Guinness
    Matthew Guinness
    • Hans Bethe
    • 1980
    Bob Sherman
    Bob Sherman
    • Ernest Lawrence
    • 1980
    John Morton
    John Morton
    • Robert Wilson
    • 1980
    Garrick Hagon
    Garrick Hagon
    • Frank Oppenheimer
    • 1980
    Barry Dennen
    Barry Dennen
    • Isidor Rabi
    • 1980
    Ron Berglas
    Ron Berglas
    • John Manley
    • 1980
    Liza Ross
    • Jacky Oppenheimer
    • 1980
    Blain Fairman
    Blain Fairman
    • Robert Bacher
    • 1980
    Kate Harper
    Kate Harper
    • Jean Tatlock
    • 1980
    Erica Stevens
    • Charlotte Serber
    • 1980
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews28

    8.1767
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    Featured reviews

    10databong

    Still unforgettable 20 years later

    I saw this series on PBS in 1980 in college and I still can't get it out of my head, although I have never seen it since. I remember every cast member (the casting WAS perfect, as mentioned in other comments), the design, the lighting and, of course, the story, which is by itself is enough to keep you glued to the set. Probably the best TV series I ever saw next to the original "Roots."
    JBElliott

    Great mini-series. Anyone know where I can find a copy?

    I saw the mini-series on PBS when I was in high school. I was a junior taking physics. The shows were so engrossing and inspiring I ended up doing every problem in my text book. I've gone on to become a nuclear physicist in no small part due to "Oppenheimer." I stumbled across this site in my attempts to obtain a copy of this mini-series on VHS or DVD. If anyone knows where I could get a copy, I'd be very grateful for the information. Thanks!
    9uca1512

    Why can't we get copies of this excellent series?

    Has anyone found a way to purchase copies of this series yet? I can see that a lot of people have inquired but I can't tell if any of them have been successful. It's hard to believe that a series this good cannot be viewed by people today, especially one based on real issues faced by real people during what were both tense and exciting times in our country. How can this be true and what can we do to change it? As an aside I agree with all the comments other writers have made about this series on this web site. This is an excellent story about events that everyone should be aware of and know something about today. Lots of us saw this series when we were in college or around that time anyway. Now we want to share it with our children ... but we can't? If that is true what would some good written materials be that would relay the same information?
    rlosborne

    When will it become available?

    My wife and I have never forgotten this series -- I was so impressed with its quality that I tried to view a second time as many as possible of the episodes when they were originally repeated. Despite the limitations of what was obviously a low-budget production, the acting and much of the writing remain vivid after almost 25 years. (I don't think Sam Waterston ever equaled his work in "Oppenheimer.") My hope is that eventually this series may return on DVD. It would be wonderful to give younger viewers the opportunity to see how well the human side of science can be portrayed. And to learn whether my fond memories of "Oppenheimer" still seem valid.
    SBKnaack

    the best

    This is the best work i have ever seen on television. The story is compelling--all the more so because it is true. The writers did their homework--the accuracy of events is well documented. The acting is great. This has to be the best role Sam Waterston has ever had. And the black and white cinematography was exceptional. My only regret is that it is not available to buy. A few years ago I contacted someone involved with the production (either with PBS or in England) and was told they had no plans to release it on VHS (at the time). This was a BBC production and ran in the U.S. on American Playhouse. There is such an interest in seeing this--just hard to believe no one can make it available.

    More like this

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    6.7
    Oppenheimer: The Real Story
    The Day After Trinity
    7.8
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    The Trials of J. Robert Oppenheimer
    7.3
    The Trials of J. Robert Oppenheimer
    To End All War: Oppenheimer & the Atomic Bomb
    7.4
    To End All War: Oppenheimer & the Atomic Bomb
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    Double Cross: The True Story of the D-day Spies
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    Cromwell
    7.0
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    Julius Caesar
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    The Beiderbecke Tapes
    8.4
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    1990
    7.4
    1990

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Sam Waterston and Christopher Muncke worked together again in 1989's "The Nightmare Years (1989)" in which Sam Waterston played William L. Shirer and Christopher Muncke played Peter Butler.
    • Goofs
      In the final scene of the series, set in Oppenheimer's garden in the USA, there is a lot of birdsong, all of it recognisably European. Prominent are the songs of blackbird and willow warbler, two species which are not present in the Americas.
    • Quotes

      J. Robert Oppenheimer: I am Become Death, the Destroyer of Worlds

      J. Robert Oppenheimer: I feel we have blood on our hands

    • Connections
      Featured in The 34th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1982)

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    FAQ17

    • How many seasons does Oppenheimer have?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 11, 1982 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Оппенгеймер
    • Production companies
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
      • WGBH
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      7 hours
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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