Oppenheimer, a solemn three-hour biopic that became an unlikely billion-dollar box-office sensation, was crowned Best Picture at a 96th Academy Awards that doubled as a coronation for Christopher Nolan.

After passing over arguably Hollywood’s foremost big-screen auteur for years, the Oscars made up for lost time by heaping seven awards on Nolan’s blockbuster biopic, including Best Actor for Cillian Murphy, Best Supporting Actor for Robert Downey Jr and Best Director for Nolan.