Oppenheimer Review: 8 Ups & 2 Downs

Because Oppenheimer is centred around the atomic bomb's creation, it goes without saying the film's action centrepiece is the weapon's detonation. Although moviegoers have seen explosions a million times, nobody has seen a blast like this.

The scene opens, not just with a great sense of fear, but confusion. Since this sort of explosion is uncharted waters, Oppenheimer's team have no idea what they will witness. As a result, each of them take precautions in their own way, either by hiding in cars, wearing goggles, or smearing themselves in radiation-protective lotion.

Although listeners are expecting a deafening noise, the blast is silent, since it takes a moment for the sound waves to reach Oppenheimer's station. Even though viewers know the din is coming, no one is ready for it. When the sound is finally unleashed upon moviegoers' poor eardrums, they'll receive the biggest jump-scare of the year.

Because the detonation is built up throughout the entire movie, some viewers may worry it won't live up to expectations. Luckily, skeptics have nothing to worry about, since the detonation sequence is one of the most memorable sequences of Christopher Nolan's career.