Oppenheimer was filmed in the United States and the United Kingdom. Los Alamos, New Mexico, was used to film scenes related to the Manhattan Project, adding to the historical accuracy. Princeton, New Jersey, and Cambridge, UK, were used to create an academic atmosphere, reflecting the scientific research and intellectual environment of the time. These locations were chosen to convey authenticity and immerse viewers in the era of the atomic bomb.
Los Alamos
In movie
Scene where Oppenheimer observes the construction of Los Alamos. He, along with military personnel, inspects laboratories, housing buildings, and other infrastructure. One of the military escorts explains how everything is set up and what security measures are in place. Oppenheimer seems impressed with the scale and speed of construction, realizing that they now have everything they need to continue working on the project.
Timing: 47:15
Real
Scene was shot in the real Los Alamos, New Mexico. This location was chosen for its historical significance and authenticity, as this is where the real events of the Manhattan Project took place.
Princeton University
In movie
Scene where Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) meets Albert Einstein (Tom Conti) for the first time. This scene takes place at Princeton University, where Oppenheimer comes to seek Einstein's advice. They discuss the implications of the atomic bomb and the moral dilemmas associated with the discovery. Einstein, being an older and more experienced scientist, shares his thoughts and cautions, which has a profound effect on Oppenheimer.
Timing: 54:22
Real
Scene was shot at Princeton University because of its historical significance. In real life, Oppenheimer actually worked at Princeton and had contacts with Einstein, who was also associated with this university. Princeton University was chosen for filming because of its academic atmosphere and historical authenticity, which helps to convey the importance and seriousness of the topics discussed.Filming in real locations associated with historical events adds to the authenticity of the movie and allows the audience to become more immersed in the atmosphere of the time. Princeton University is ideal for this scene as it reflects the intellectual environment in which the great minds of the time worked and interacted.
Princeton
Oppenheimer's house
In movie
Scene where Oppenheimer transports his wife and child to their home in Los Alamos. They go inside, looking around the house. At one point, his wife points out that there is no kitchen and this needs to be fixed. This scene shows how Robert Oppenheimer and his wife are adjusting to their new life at Los Alamos, where he will be working on the Manhattan Project
Timing: 01:00:20
Real
Scene was shot in Los Alamos, where Oppenheimer lived with his family from 1943 to 1945, is a historic site. This house is located in the once-secret town of Los Alamos, which was the center of the Manhattan Project. Before Oppenheimer moved there, the building was used as a ranch school. Today, the house is owned by the Los Alamos History Museum and can only be viewed from the outside. Before the building became Robert Oppenheimer's home at Los Alamos, it was used as a ranch school. The building was part of an all-boys school known as Los Alamos Ranch School, which operated from 1917 to 1943¹. The school offered its students academic education and physical training in the wilderness of New Mexico. In 1943, the U.S. government requisitioned the school grounds for a secret Manhattan Project laboratory, and the school buildings were converted to house scientists and their families
