9 movies to watch if you liked Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer'

Tom Cruise starred as Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg in 2008's "Valkyrie," which follows several real-life German officers who attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler during World War II because of their concerns about what the dictator had planned for the country. It's a gripping thriller that shows a perspective of World War II that audiences don't typically see on the big screen.

Everyone loves a rogue, and bank robber John Dillinger is one of the most infamous outlaws of the 20th century thanks to his crime spree in the 1930s. Michael Mann's "Public Enemies" sees Johnny Depp play the career criminal in the final few years of his life while he evaded the authorities. Christian Bale also stars in the film as Melvin Purvis, the FBI agent in charge of finding Dillinger.

David Fincher's "The Social Network" looks at the creation of one of the most influential websites of all time: Facebook. While the idea of following a group of computer programmers creating a social media site doesn't sound as sexy as other entries on the list, director David Fincher brings a sense of style and pace to Mark Zuckerberg's story that works brilliantly. Jesse Eisenberg embodies the creator with ease opposite a dedicated performance from Andrew Garfield as Facebook CFO, Eduardo Saverin.

"JFK" has an intimidating runtime like "Oppenheimer," coming in at three hours and nine minutes. But if lengthy thrillers are your thing, then the Oliver Stone movie is a must-watch. Kevin Costner stars as New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison, who investigates the conspiracy surrounding the assassination of President Kennedy in the 1960s. It looks at the possibility that Lee Harvey Oswald (Gary Oldman) wasn't the person responsible for the shooting.

"Oppenheimer" marks the second time that Christopher Nolan looked at World War II, with 2017's "Dunkirk" giving audiences a visceral snapshot of what it was like for soldiers on the ground, in the air, and at sea during the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940. "Oppenheimer" star Cillian Murphy also appears in the film as a shell-shocked soldier who is pulled out of the ocean.

2014's "The Theory of Everything" is possibly the anti-"Oppenheimer," thanks to its emotional, charming look at the life of astrophysicist, Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne). Directed by James Marsh, it depicts Hawking's marriage to Jane Hawking (Felicity Jones) while he continues his studies into understanding the origin of the universe. It's not an action-packed adventure like other entries on this list, but it's got real heart.

The second Christopher Nolan movie on this list is "The Prestige." Sorry, Cillian Murphy fans, the Irish star isn't in this one. Instead, Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman play two magicians in the 1800s who try and outdo one another with bigger theatrical performances. Although it sounds like it should be a comedy, Nolan keeps things grounded — regardless of the magic unfolding onstage. Come for Bale and Jackman, but stay for David Bowie, and the bonkers twist that's waiting in the wings.

This list is (obviously) packed with a variety of biopics, and there's one that just couldn't be left out: Martin Scorsese's "The Aviator." Leonardo DiCaprio plays genius inventor, philanthropist, and film director, Howard Hughes, who not only helmed the 1930 movie "Hell's Angels," but also built aircraft for the US Air Force in World War II. The film charts his life as he struggles to cope with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Ben Affleck's "Argo" won best picture at the Oscars in 2012, and for good reason. It delves into the real US and Canadian operation to save several US diplomats from Iran during the 1979 hostage crisis under the guise of filming a fake science-fiction movie. It's a stunning story, and Affleck translates it to the big screen with ease.