Like many, you may have heard of  the 2023 movie “Oppenheimer,” a biopic about the brilliant physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb . People gathered with their friends, awaiting the release of the film. Once released, theaters were filled with an eager audience, but little did they know that this movie, like so many others, would take them on a journey filled with historical inaccuracies. 

Movies have a unique power to captivate, educate, and entertain various audiences, making history come alive on a screen. While, directors and filmmakers take creative liberties with historical events, it’s understood that these additions are for dramatic purposes, however they can have significant drawbacks on the audiences watching these films. 

“Oppenheimer”, for example, is a film that was seen as accurate as a whole, but misrepresented some aspects of Oppenheimer’s story.  One of the biggest aspects of the movie that was inaccurate was the downplay of other scientists involved in the Manhattan Project. The making of the atomic bomb was a clear group effort that was not correctly portrayed in the film. Not only this, but various other aspects of Oppenheimer’s actual life and the science behind the atomic bomb were not accurately depicted in the biopic. Regardless of the inaccuracies present in the film, “Oppenheimer” was well received by all fans.

Many filmmakers, however, have been able to accurately represent events in history and do justice to these stories. Ron Howard’s “Apollo 13” is a highly appreciated film in this regard.  A film about the infamous mission in 1970, where an unexpected explosion caused a moon landing to be canceled and risked an astronaut’s return home, “Apollo 13” has won the hearts of many for its incredible plot, but also how historically accurate it was. Other films like this were able to portray these stories and historical figures in a realistic manner. 

Filmmakers should make an effort to keep films as realistic as possible, especially when advertised as a historical film. Directory should prioritize maintaining the story of a historical event rather than expanding their creative liberty. It is near impossible to create a biopic that is identical to the story being told, however directors should ensure maximum accuracy in terms of how the event played out. With that being said, it is also important for directors and movie makers to make sure that the film being released is both entertaining and popular. In that manner, any creative liberties that must be taken can be implemented without completely altering the plot of both the film and the historical event being depicted.

Directors of historical films should have creative liberty with their historical films to a certain extent while preserving the baseline of the story. Allowing directors creative freedom allows them to interpret and present historical events in a unique and engaging manner that may capture the audience’s attention and emotion. Furthermore, certain historical events can be difficult to understand, so directors can use creative liberties to simplify events so that audiences can understand what they are watching. This can help educate the public about certain events in history. Movies are a form of entertainment, so creative liberties can be utilized to make the film more exciting for more people.

Overall, it is important to note that while creative liberties can enhance the cinematic experience, there is also a responsibility for directors to maintain a lever of accuracy and representation. Audiences should approach these films with a degree of critical thinking and basic understanding as not every detail is able to be represented in the film.