Hype is around building around the inevitable Oppenheimer bomb scene with some fans even asking “Did they drop a real nuke for the movie?” Here’s the need-to-know info about the atomic bomb scene in the new Oppenheimer movie by director Christopher Nolan.
Is the Oppenheimer bomb scene real or CGI and fake?
The Oppenheimer bomb scene is real and doesn’t use CGI.
Christopher Nolan confirmed in an interview with Collider that the whole Oppenheimer movie has been made without CGI. This means that the whole movie has been captured in-camera. Though there maybe be VFX used to enhance the image, there shouldn’t be any computer-generated images.
It’s therefore expected that the Oppenheimer bomb scene is indeed real and created using real explosives.
Did they drop a real nuke for the Oppenheimer movie?
No, they did not drop a real nuke for the Oppenheimer movie.
While they did use real explosives, Christopher Nolan and his team did not use a nuclear reaction. That would have been ludicrously dangerous and damaging. It’s highly unlikely that a film director would receive permission to detonate a nuclear bomb, even for the sake of accuracy.
Though Nolan has been known to push the envelope when it comes to practical effects, detonating a nuclear bomb is an outlandish prospect even for him. He’s passionate, sure, but Nolan isn’t dropping any nukes.
While the bomb in Oppenheimer is not a real atomic bomb, the amount of explosives used should still result in an impressive spectacle and the trademark mushroom cloud aftermath. Rest assured that it should still take the audience’s breath away, especially if they are watching in an IMAX 70mm supported cinemas.
For more Oppenheimer content, here’s the latest info about John Krasinski possibly appearing in the movie. Also, get a look behind the scenes in this recent video.