‘Oppenheimer’ takes home best picture, seven other prizes at Academy Awards

“Oppenheimer,” Christopher Nolan’s epic movie about the creation of the atomic bomb, cleaned up at the Critics Choice Awards on Sunday, winning best picture and seven other prizes over its rivals as the Oscars race heats up.

The $1 billion-grossing movie, now the clear frontrunner for the Academy Awards in March, also won for best director, supporting actor, cinematography, score, ensemble, editing, and visual effects.

Collecting his prize for directing, Nolan thanked the critics who “helped with convincing mainstream audiences that a film about quantum physics and apocalypse could be worth their time.”

Robert Downey Jr. thanked his fellow “Oppenhomies’” as he followed up his Golden Globe win with another best supporting actor prize.

Despite the dominance of “Oppenheimer,” the remaining acting categories rewarded other films at the gala — one of a raft of major awards shows in the run-up to the Academy Awards, which take place this year on March 10.

The Critics Choice Awards — chosen by almost 600 members of North America’s largest critics organization — laid out a red carpet and lavish gala at a former airport hangar in Los Angeles for Hollywood A-listers.

Although “Barbie” — the other half of last summer’s “Barbenheimer” box office phenomenon — has so far failed to capture top prizes this awards season, it was showered with honors in a range of other categories.

The film won for best comedy, original screenplay, song, production design, costume, and hair and makeup.