Christopher Nolan was lauded as best director at the Golden Globes for “Oppenheimer,” a grim, three-hour historical drama that ignited the box office.

It marks Nolan’s first Globe win, having been previously nominated for writing 2000’s “Memento,” writing and directing 2010’s “Inception” and directing 2017’s “Dunkirk.” In this year’s director race, Nolan was up against Bradley Cooper for “Maestro,” Greta Gerwig for “Barbie,” Yorgos Lanthimos for “Poor Things,” Martin Scorsese for “Killers of the Flower Moon” and Celine Song for “Past Lives.”

“The only time I’ve ever been on this stage before was accepting one of these on behalf of our dear friend, Heath Ledger, and that was complicated and challenging for me,” Nolan said. “In the middle of speaking, I got all stuck, and Robert Downey Jr. caught my eye and gave me a look of love and support — the same look he’s giving me now.”

Nolan directed Ledger in 2008’s comic book smash “The Dark Knight.” The actor died at the age 28 of an accidental overdose after filming was complete but before the movie was released. His haunting portrayal of the Joker earned him numerous posthumous awards, including the Golden Globe and Oscar for best supporting actor.

This time around, Nolan said from the stage, “I thought it would be simpler accepting for myself. But, as a director, I realize I can only accept this on behalf of people. As directors, we bring people together and we try to get them to give their best.” He shouted out the ensemble of “Oppenheimer,” including Cillian Murphy, whom Nolan called “my partner in crime for 20 years,” as well as “the incredible work of our amazing crew.”

Later in the night, Murphy took home the Globe for lead actor in a drama and thanked Nolan for “having faith in me for 20 years.”

“I knew the first time I walked on a Christopher Nolan set that it was different,” Murphy, who worked with Nolan on “The Dark Knight” trilogy, “Inception” and “Dunkirk,” said during his acceptance speech. “I could tell by the level of rigor, the level of focus, the level of dedication, the complete lack of any seating options for actors that I was in the hands of the visionary director and master.”

“Oppenheimer,” the unlikiest of summer blockbusters, crushed expectations to become the third-highest grossing release of 2023 with $951 million worldwide. The movie, adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “American Prometheus,” stars Murphy as American theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, who led the development of the atomic bomb. Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh and Alden Ehrenreich round out the cast.

“Oppenheimer” has been nominated for eight Golden Globes — the second-most of any film this year — including best actor (Murphy), supporting actor (Downey Jr.), supporting actress (Blunt), screenplay and motion picture – drama.