One of the very best movies of the 21st century is on TV tonight

Cillian Murphy won an Oscar for his role in the 2023 thriller.

Cork man Cillian Murphy plays the lead role of American theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, for which he won an Academy Award.

The three-hour long historical drama, which was directed by Christopher Nolan, tells the story of the physicist who led the Manhattan Project during World War II.

The film follows his journey from a brilliant but idealistic scientist to the moral and emotional struggles he faces after helping develop the first atomic bomb.

It explores the tension between scientific ambition, patriotism, as well as the devastating consequences of creating a weapon of mass destruction, showing both the historical events and Oppenheimer’s personal conflicts as he grapples with the impact of his work.

The film garnered near unanimous praise from critics – receiving a 93% Rotten Tomatoes score – and took home seven Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director (Christopher Nolan), Best Actor (Cillian Murphy), Best Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr.).

Oppenheimer airs on BBC Two tonight at 9pm.

Here are the other movies airing on TV tonight:

The Holiday – RTÉ One – 9.30pm

Two single women living on opposite sides of the Atlantic agree to exchange houses over the Christmas holidays. A classic.

The Imitation Game – RTÉ Two – 9pm

2014 war thriller starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley and Charles Dance.

The Little Mermaid – Channel 4 – 4.50pm

Live action remake of the Disney animated fantasy adventure, starring Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy and Javier Bardem.

Instant Family – E4 – 10.25pm

After being taunted by relatives who think they will never have kids, married couple Pete and Ellie Wagner consider the option of adopting a child.

Driven to Kill – Legend – 1.30am

Action thriller, starring Steven Seagal, Dmitry Chepovetsky, Igor Jijikine and Robert Wisden.