In a night filled with glamour and poignant moments, the 2024 BAFTA Awards ceremony showcased the best of British and international talent. However, it was “Oppenheimer” and “Poor Things” that emerged as the big winners of the evening, leaving audiences in awe with their outstanding performances and contributions to cinema.
Oppenheimer, directed by the visionary Christopher Nolan, dominated the awards, securing seven prestigious BAFTA masks, including Best Film and Best Director. Cillian Murphy’s captivating portrayal in the lead role added to the film’s success, earning him the accolade for Best Actor.
Following closely behind, Poor Things garnered five well-deserved awards, highlighting its excellence in costume design, makeup, hair, production design, and visual effects. The film’s meticulous attention to detail and imaginative storytelling captivated both critics and audiences alike, solidifying its place as one of the standout films of the year.
While the victories for Oppenheimer and Poor Things were expected, there were some surprises and notable snubs throughout the evening. Despite eight previous nominations, Christopher Nolan had never clinched a BAFTA, sparking discussions about the oversight of his groundbreaking contributions to British cinema.
Additionally, the decision to award Robert Downey Jr. with Best Supporting Actor for Oppenheimer raised eyebrows, prompting speculation about the rationale behind the choice.
One of the most intriguing moments of the night came with the dual recognition of The Zone Of Interest as both an outstanding British film and the best film in a foreign language. The decision sparked debate due to the film’s mixed cultural influences, showcasing the evolving nature of global cinema and the intersection of diverse storytelling traditions.
Throughout the ceremony, poignant tributes and memorable performances added depth to the celebration of film. From Hannah Waddingham’s stirring rendition of “Time After Time” during the In Memoriam segment to Michael J Fox’s heartfelt reflections on the transformative power of movies, the evening paid homage to the enduring magic of cinema.
As the curtains closed on the 2024 BAFTA Awards, it was clear that Oppenheimer and Poor Things left an indelible mark on the cinematic landscape.
In a world where uncertainty often looms large, the magic of cinema remains a constant source of joy, inspiration, and connection—a sentiment echoed by Michael J Fox as he bid farewell to the audience, reminding us all of the profound impact that storytelling can have on our lives.
The full list of winners and nominees is below.
Best film
Winner: Oppenheimer
Anatomy of a Fall
The Holdovers
Killers of the Flower Moon
Poor Things
Leading actress
Winner: Emma Stone – Poor Things
Fantasia Barrino – The Color Purple
Sandra Hüller – Anatomy of a Fall
Carey Mulligan – Maestro
Vivian Oparah – Rye Lane
Margot Robbie – Barbie
Leading actor
Winner: Cillian Murphy – Oppenheimer
Bradley Cooper – Maestro
Colman Domingo – Rustin
Paul Giamatti – The Holdovers
Barry Keoghan – Saltburn
Teo Yoo – Past Lives
Supporting actress
Winner: Da’Vine Joy Randolph – The Holdovers
Emily Blunt – Oppenheimer
Danielle Brooks – The Color Purple
Claire Foy – All of Us Strangers
Sandra Hüller – The Zone of Interest
Rosamund Pike – Saltburn
Supporting actor
Winner: Robert Downey Jr – Oppenheimer
Robert De Niro – Killers of the Flower Moon
Jacob Elordi – Saltburn
Ryan Gosling – Barbie
Paul Mescal – All of Us Strangers
Dominic Sessa – The Holdovers
Director
Winner: Oppenheimer – Christopher Nolan
All of Us Strangers – Andrew Haigh
Anatomy of a Fall – Justine Triet
The Holdovers – Alexander Payne
Maestro – Bradley Cooper
The Zone of Interest – Jonathan Glazer
EE Bafta rising star award (voted for by the public)
Winner: Mia McKenna-Bruce
Phoebe Dynevor
Ayo Edebiri
Jacob Elordi
Sophie Wilde
Outstanding British film
Winner: The Zone of Interest
All of Us Strangers
How To Have Sex
Napoleon
The Old Oak
Poor Things
Rye Lane
Saltburn
Scrapper
Wonka
Film not in the English language
Winner: The Zone of Interest
20 Days In Mariupol
Anatomy of a Fall
Past Lives
Society of the Snow
Animated film
Winner: The Boy and the Heron
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget
Elemental
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Documentary
Winner: 20 Days In Mariupol
American Symphony
Beyond Utopia
Still: A Michael J Fox Movie
Wham!
Original screenplay
Winner: Anatomy of a Fall
Barbie
The Holdovers
Maestro
Past Lives
Adapted screenplay
Winner: American Fiction
All of Us Strangers
Oppenheimer
Poor Things
The Zone of Interest
Outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer
Winner: Earth Mama
Blue Bag Life
Bobi Wine: The People’s President
How To Have Sex
Is There Anybody Out There?
Original score
Winner: Oppenheimer
Killers of the Flower Moon
Poor Things
Saltburn
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Make-up and hair
Winner: Poor Things
Killers of the Flower Moon
Maestro
Napoleon
Oppenheimer
Costume design
Winner: Poor Things
Barbie
Killers of the Flower Moon
Napoleon
Oppenheimer
Production design
Winner: Poor Things
Barbie
Killers of the Flower Moon
Oppenheimer
The Zone of Interest
Sound
Winner: The Zone of Interest
Ferrari
Maestro
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
Oppenheimer
Cinematography
Winner: Oppenheimer
Killers of the Flower Moon
Maestro
Poor Things
The Zone of Interest
Editing
Winner: Oppenheimer
Anatomy of a Fall
Killers of the Flower Moon
Poor Things
The Zone of Interest
Casting
Winner: The Holdovers
All of Us Strangers
Anatomy of a Fall
How To Have Sex
Killers of the Flower Moon
Special visual effects
Winner: Poor Things
The Creator
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
Napoleon
British short animation
Winner: Crab Day
Visible Mending
Wild Summon
British short film
Winner: Jellyfish and Lobster
Festival of Slaps
Gorka
Such a Lovely Day
Yellow
Bafta Fellowship
Winner: Samantha Morton
Outstanding British contribution to cinema
Winner: June Givanni
The top films
7 wins – Oppenheimer
5 – Poor Things
3 – The Zone of Interest
2 – The Holdovers
#Peace.Love.BAFTAAwards
