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Abstract
Oppenheimer (2023), a biopic directed by Christopher Nolan, showcases the journey of Oppenheimer, the Father of the Atomic Bomb, as he helped in leading the Manhattan Project in researching and developing nuclear weapons during World War II. The release of the biopic that depicts the war setting in 2023 opened up a new discourse in regards to the role of Hollywood and its prevalence in preserving American Exceptionalism. In the context of war-related films, Hollywood movies used to have an informal purpose of being the United States’ propaganda tool—to promote the glorification of their foreign policy and international appeal and instill the idea that the U.S. is a superpower nation which lies in the belief of American Exceptionalism. As the world progresses into the contemporary state of the world order, the portrayal of the aforementioned objective in Hollywood movies has arguably subdued. However, the notion of American Exceptionalism remains relevant in modern-day discussion. This paper deconstructs how American Exceptionalism is showcased and juxtaposed in Oppenheimer (2023), as well as intertwining Oppenheimer’s character with the Cognitive Dissonance Theory that unravels the counter-attitudinal behavior he showcased in regards to the enhancement of his creation—the atomic bomb.