The summer of 2023 can be summed up in one word: Barbenheimer. Even if you didn't step foot near a theater, you heard about the cult-like cultural phenomenon that was the joint theatrical release of Barbie and Oppenheimer. Both films far exceeded box office expectations and continue to make waves during awards season. Oppenheimer, in particular, has a baker's dozen Oscar nominations — the most of any film this season. And it already won five Golden Globe awards in January 2024.
If you missed the ambitious Christopher Nolan epic in theaters, you can finally catch up on the brooding blockbuster at home. Oppenheimer will make its streaming debut Feb. 16 on Peacock. And for true devotees, the film's already available to rent or purchase online. Here's everything you need to know.
What is Oppenheimer about?
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning non-fiction book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, Nolan's Oppenheimer is an unsettling biopic that centers on the career of the "father of the atomic bomb."
Cillian Murphy stars as physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, who is appointed by Lt. Gen. Leslie Groves Jr. (Matt Damon) to work on the U.S. government's top-secret Manhattan Project — aka developing and designing the atomic bomb. The story is told through interwoven timelines across decades and features a star-studded cast playing historical figures, including Robert Downey Jr., Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Rami Malek, Benny Safdie, David Krumholtz, Matthew Modine, David Dastmalchian, Jack Quaid, Dane DeHaan, Jason Clarke, James D'Arcy, Tony Goldwyn, Alex Wolff, and Kenneth Branagh.
In case you missed it, here's the full theatrical trailer:
Is Oppenheimer worth watching?
If the 13 Oscar nods and $953 million worldwide box office earnings are any indication, Oppenheimer is can't miss cinema. Not to mention the 93% critic rating and 91% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film is ambitious, haunting, and unforgettable, which is why we dubbed it one of the best films of the year. Mashable's Belen Edwards calls it "Nolan's finest and most devastating work yet."
"In typical Nolan fashion, Oppenheimer is epic in scope, delivering jaw-dropping shots of New Mexico vistas, dancing particles, and of course, the fateful Trinity Test. But it's the film's third act that hits the hardest, as the weight of the Manhattan Project reverberates through time, extending past Oppenheimer's life and into our present. With an unflinching focus on Oppenheimer's flaws and a haunting lead performance from Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer becomes part tragedy, part horror movie, and entirely unforgettable," she writes in our guide to the best movies of 2023.
It certainly has its flaws — Nolan's depictions of women, the bleeding soundscape, and a troubling omission of Japanese perspectives — as pointed out by Mashable's Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko. But for the most part, the film is a major achievement.
Read Mashable's full review of Oppenheimer.
Is Oppenheimer streaming?
At the time of writing this, no. The only way to currently watch Oppenheimer is via video on demand platforms like Amazon Prime Video or Vudu. However, if you hold off a couple of weeks, Oppenheimer will officially make its streaming debut on Peacock on Feb. 16. Already have a Peacock subscription? You're good to go; just wait patiently. If not, continue scrolling to learn the best ways to sign up and stream Oppenheimer at home.
How to watch Oppenheimer at home: Best streaming deals
You'll need an active Peacock subscription in order to stream Oppenheimer at home beginning Feb. 16. You can either sign up for Peacock directly — maybe even at a discount — or check to see if you quality for any of the third-party Peacock streaming deals below.
Best Peacock deal for most people
Peacock is like a breath of fresh air in the streaming world with its affordable pricing, despite a recent price hike. You can sign up for as low as $5.99 per month if you don't mind a few ads interrupting your stream. Don't feel like dealing with ads? It'll cost you $11.99 per month instead for the Premium Plus plan. That being said, you can get a whole lot more bang for your buck if you subscribe to an annual plan instead of a monthly plan. It'll run you $59.99 per year with ads or $119.99 per year without — that's 12 months of streaming for the price of 10, or about 17% in savings.
Sure, subscribing to an entire year of a streaming service only to watch Oppenheimer seems a bit extreme. But the good news is you can also watch plenty of other films straight out of the theaters — including fellow Best Picture nominee The Holdovers.
Best Peacock deal for Xfinity customers
If you're an Xfinity customer, be sure to check your eligibility online to see if you can get Peacock Premium for free. Here's a brief breakdown of who's eligible:
Xfinity Internet users on the Gigabit or Gigabit+ plans can score free Peacock Premium for two years (offer ends June 25, 2025)
Xfinity Internet customers that are Diamond or Platinum Xfinity Rewards members can also score Peacock Premium for free by redeeming a reward for it. Sign in over at xfinity.com/rewards and choose Peacock as a reward. Then wait for your email with instructions on activating your offer.
NOW TV customers can receive Peacock Premium as part of their service
Best Peacock Deal for students
Students, you can get Peacock Premium for only $1.99 per month for a whole year — plenty of time to watch Oppenheimer and tons more — rather than the usual $5.99 per month. You'll have to pass a verification process via SheerID to prove you're actually a student, but once you do, you'll get a unique promo code to use. Just remember the code can only be used once. In other words, no sharing with your friends.
Best Peacock deal for first responders
First responders can also score a year of Peacock Premium for just $1.99 per month. Similar to the student subscription, you'll have to verify your first responder status via SheerID and sign up using the unique promo code sent to you. Eligible first responders who continue to meet verification qualifications can renew this Peacock deal annually. However, you'll need to go through the verification process and receive a new promo code each time. Learn more about eligibility terms and requirements here.
Best for Instacart users
Instacart announced a new partnership with Peacock back in November. So if you regularly utilize the grocery delivery service, listen up. New and existing Instacart+ members ($99.99/year) can now get Peacock Premium included with their subscription. That's a $59.99 per year value for exactly zero dollars. You can watch Oppenheimer whenever you please, plus many other films and shows. Not to mention, you'll enjoy free grocery delivery on orders over $35, lower fees, and all of the usual benefits of an Instacart+ subscription. Your first two weeks are free, then an annual membership will run you $99.99 per year.
Best for JetBlue members
Through July 2025, JetBlue TrueBlue members can land an exclusive Peacock Premium offer. TrueBlue members earn 1,000 free TrueBlue points when they sign up for Peacock through this link, while Mosaic status members can get a free year of Peacock Premium (a $59.99 value). Sadly, if you're already a Peacock subscriber, you can't take advantage of this offer. You can learn more about eligibility and terms over on Peacock's special offer page.
Other ways to watch Oppenheimer at home
If you'd prefer not to sign up for another streaming service just to watch a single film — albeit, a very long one — you can also opt for renting or purchasing Oppenheimer on digital video on demand services like Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV for $5.99 or $19.99, respectively. With rentals, you'll get 30 days to start watching and just 48 hours to finish once started. For those who struggle to watch things within that time frame, you'll likely be better off purchasing the film for your digital library instead.
Here are all the links to rent or purchase the film on digital:
Topics Streaming How to Watch Peacock
