Contrary to the common perception that scientists are serious individuals leading strictly intellectual lives, the movie delves into a lesser-known side of these scholars. It not only depicts Oppenheimer's emotional struggles, but also anecdotes from the lives of other notable scientists, revealing a more human and multifaceted aspect to their characters.

Nolan explained that, since the movie portrays real individuals, he aimed to incorporate a certain degree of warmth and comedy into the story, allowing for a natural representation of reality.

The movie, which was shot over 50 days, and marks the longest of all Nolan's films to date, involved a complete reconstruction of Los Alamos, the town in New Mexico where the Manhattan Project was conducted, within a tight schedule, despite harsh weather conditions.

Although Nolan initially considered filming on location at Los Alamos, where some structures from the Manhattan Project still stand, he discovered that the present-day location no longer accurately resembles the Los Alamos of the 1940s era. This is primarily due to the presence of modern buildings and businesses, including a branch of the ubiquitous coffee chain, Starbucks.