Oppenheimer, who was eagerly awaited for a long time and was released on the same date as the Barbie movie, received great acclaim. The biography film grossed more than 10 million copies at its premiere. However, this figure still lags behind the Barbie movie.
Some very cautious fans discovered a historical error in Oppenheimer. While it might be difficult for the casual viewer to spot, eagle-eyed viewers instantly recognized the error.
Historical mistake in the blockbuster Oppenheimer
Christopher Nolan’s latest film, Oppenheimer, focuses on the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, who led the Manhattan Project that led to the invention of the atomic bomb.
Cillian Murphy, whom we know from the TV series Peaky Blinders, gives life to the character of J. Robert Oppenheimer. Nolan’s blockbuster film received thumbs up from many critics. However, a historical mistake in the movie did not go unnoticed by the fans.
The error is revealed during the WWII victory speech of J. Robert Oppenheimer, played by Cillian Murphy.
Historically, this scene describes the year 1945. On stage, the American flag appears in the hands of several people. The mistake here is that there are 50 stars on the flag, which are still used today. However, based on 1945, the flag should have 48 stars, not 50.
The 49th and 50th stars were added to the American flag in 1959 and 1960, respectively, to honor the admission of Alaska and Hawaii to the United States. So in 1945 there were only 48 stars on the flag.
But this is of course a pretty minor mistake. While it’s odd that a meticulous director like Christopher Nolan would make such a mistake, it doesn’t change the fact that Oppenheimer was a truly successful production.