Radioactive (2020): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Radioactive is a 2020 biographical drama directed by Marjane Satrapi, starring Rosamund Pike as Marie Curie, Sam Riley and Simon Russell Beale. It is based on Radioactive by Lauren Redniss. It runs 1 hour 49 minutes and earned $3.5 million worldwide on a $20 million budget. Critics gave it 63% on Rotten Tomatoes and 56 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 49m (109 min)
- Director
- Marjane Satrapi
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Amazon Studios
- Budget
- $20M
- Based on
- Radioactive by Lauren Redniss
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Radioactive About?
The premise of Radioactive without spoilers, adapted from Radioactive by Lauren Redniss. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
The story follows Marie Curie as she pursues groundbreaking scientific research, forming a strong partnership with her husband, Pierre. Their shared passion leads to revolutionary discoveries and a profound love story. Together, they challenge established norms and are jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in 1903, marking a historic moment as the first woman to receive the prestigious honor. The film explores her determination and the impact of her work.
Radioactive Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- scientist
- nobel prize winner
- radioactivity
- radiation
- marie curie character
- female scientist
- female rear nudity
- physicist
- science
- physics
- chemistry
- discovery
+38 more Show fewer
- polonium
- chemical element
- radium
- paris france
- reference to henri becquerel
- marriage
- nobel prize
- stockholm sweden
- nonlinear timeline
- pierre curie character
- atomic bomb
- death of husband
- loie fuller character
- world war one
- hospital
- cancer
- nurse
- the enola gay bomber
- female nudity
- adultery
- arrogance
- pride
- genius
- fear
- sidewalk cafe
- reference to isaac newton
- female topless nudity
- breasts
- female star appears nude
- woman skinny dipping
- based on true story
- year 1934
- year 1893
- polish woman
- flashback
- pitchblende
- kiss
- seance
Radioactive Cast & Characters
Rosamund Pike leads the cast as Marie Curie, with Sam Riley as Pierre Curie and Simon Russell Beale as Professor Lippmann. Directed by Marjane Satrapi; 19 actors are credited in all.
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Director Marjane Satrapi
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Rosamund Pike as Marie Curie -
Sam Riley as Pierre Curie -
Simon Russell Beale as Professor Lippmann - Sian Brooke as Bronia Sklodowska
Also Starring in Radioactive
· 15 more- Aneurin Barnard Paul Langevin
- Indica Watson Irène Aged 6
- Anya Taylor-Joy
- Corey Johnson
- Jonathan Aris
- Michael Gould
- Tim Woodward
- Ralph Berkin Doctor
- Harriet Turnbull Young Marie
- Mirjam Novak Nurse
- Péter Fancsikai
- Faye Bradbrook Bronia's Maid
- Yvette Feuer Carla
- Drew Jacoby Loie Fuller
- Cara Bossom
More from Marjane Satrapi
More films directed by Marjane Satrapi, best-rated first: Persepolis, Chicken with Plums, The Voices and Dear Paris.
Radioactive Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Radioactive 63% on Rotten Tomatoes and 56 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 55/100, strongest in sensory experience (60) and weakest in rewatch factor (51).
Radioactive Echo Score Breakdown
In its overall execution, Radioactive presents a mixed profile that balances modest achievements with notable shortcomings. While the film’s unconventional structure and caring intent earn appreciative nods, inconsistencies in pacing and coherence temper its impact. Many responses highlight strong lead performances and thoughtful moments but also cite uneven narrative flow and lack of emotional depth. On balance, the film emerges as a moderately engaging biopic that delivers occasional insights amid recurring structural and tonal instability.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 55
The film’s artistic execution exhibits moments of creative ambition but is frequently undermined by uneven direction and editing. Reviewers note occasional visual inventiveness in non-linear sequences, yet many criticize tonal inconsistencies and abrupt transitions that disrupt cohesion. While standout visual ideas emerge sporadically, the overall art direction remains only modestly effective across the runtime.
- Character & Emotion 59
Character portrayal and emotional resonance deliver respectable performances but suffer from limited depth and uneven development. Rosamund Pike’s central portrayal earns frequent commendation for its sincerity and presence, yet several critiques observe shallow character arcs and moments where dialogue reduces complexity. Although the film conveys compassionate intent toward its subjects, emotional engagement remains sporadic rather than fully immersive.
- Story & Flow 51
In terms of narrative coherence, the film presents engaging concepts hindered by erratic pacing and structural inconsistency. A blend of biopic elements and inventive time-hopping sequences aims to illustrate scientific impact, but abrupt transitions and uneven tempo undermine cohesion. Although key events receive thorough coverage, the plot frequently loses focus and fails to maintain momentum.
- Sensory Experience 60
When it comes to sensory experience, the film offers modest visual flair but lacks a memorable auditory atmosphere or cohesive aesthetic. Occasional use of magical-realism visuals and stylized sequences provide fleeting stylistic interest, yet most reviews remark on an underwhelming score and limited sound design depth. Overall, the sensory presentation remains serviceable rather than distinctly immersive.
- Rewatch Factor 51
Reviewers generally agree that the uneven execution and sporadic narrative strengths mitigate any strong desire for repeated viewings. While curious viewers may appreciate re-examining select sequences—particularly Rosamund Pike’s performance and the unconventional time shifts—the film’s inconsistent pacing and lack of deep emotional resonance make it unlikely to sustain high replay appeal.
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IMDb 6.3 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 63% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 43%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 56 Metascore
User score 5.1
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 66% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 2.8 /5
36 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 3.8 /5
See on Movie Insider
Radioactive Plot Summary
What happens in Radioactive from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 6-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
As the year 1934 dawned in Paris, a frail Marie Curie (Rosamund Pike) found herself in a hospital, with fragments of her past swirling around her like smoke. Her mind drifted back to the streets of 1893, where she first encountered Pierre Curie (Sam Riley), a fortuitous meeting that would irrevocably change her life. During this earlier period, Marie Sklodowska, struggling against the harsh realities of being a woman in a male-dominated scientific realm, confronted Professor Lippmann (Simon Russell Beale), passionately defending her research against his blatant disregard. Despite his condescending attitude, Marie stood firm, sharing her frustrations with her sister Bronia (Sian Brooke). However, the persistent rejections threatened to extinguish her determination.
Full summary
The whole story of Radioactive, scene by scene
Radioactive Box Office & Budget
Radioactive grossed $3.5 million worldwide on a $20 million budget, 18% of what it cost.
Worldwide gross
$3.5M
18% of its budget back
- International
- $3.5M
- Budget
- $20M
Radioactive Trailers & Videos
4 videos: 1 trailer and 3 clips.
- Clip Excerpt
- Clip Excerpt
- Clip Excerpt
How Well Do You Know Radioactive?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
In which year does the movie 'Radioactive' primarily unfold?
Cars in Radioactive
11 cars on screen, including the 1917 Ford Model T and the Ambulance.
-
1917 Ford Model T Important role -
Ambulance Important role -
Willys Jeep CJ-3B Minor role -
ZiL 131 Minor role
Radioactive Also Known As
30 alternative titles, including “Marie Curie - Elemente des Lebens” and “레이디오액티브”.
- Also known as
-
- Marie Curie - Elemente des Lebens
- 레이디오액티브
- Μαρί Κιουρί: Η Γυναίκα που Άλλαξε τον Κόσμο
- 마리 퀴리: 보이지 않는 빛
- Madame Curie (Radioactive)
- Radioaktyvus
- Опасный элемент
- Radyoaktif
- Marie Curie: Pionjär, geni, rebell
- Радиоактивност
- Skłodowska
- מאדאם קירי
+18 more Show fewer
- Радиоактивно
- 마리 퀴리
- 放射性物质
- Μαρία Κιουρί: Η Γυναίκα Που Άλλαξε Τον Κόσμο
- Madame Curie
- 居禮夫人:放射永恆
- Švytinti tamsoje
- Небезпечний елемент
- Radioativo
- Radioaktivita
- 居禮夫人:一代科研傳奇
- Bīstamais elements
- Radioaktív
- Marie Curie
- ยอดหญิงเรเดียม
- Radioaktivna
- キュリー夫人 天才科学者の愛と情熱
- Chất Phóng Xạ
Seen Radioactive?
Movies Like Radioactive
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Radioactive, Marie Curie: The Courage of Knowledge and Pierre and Marie.
Radioactive FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of Radioactive, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Radioactive?
Radioactive runs 1 hour 49 minutes (109 minutes).
When was Radioactive released?
Radioactive was released on July 24, 2020.
Who directed Radioactive?
Radioactive was directed by Marjane Satrapi.
More films by Marjane Satrapi Who is in the cast of Radioactive?
Radioactive stars Rosamund Pike as Marie Curie, Sam Riley as Pierre Curie and Simon Russell Beale as Professor Lippmann, among 19 credited actors.
How much did Radioactive make at the box office?
Radioactive grossed $3.5 million worldwide on a budget of $20 million.
How is Radioactive rated?
Radioactive has 6.3/10 on IMDb, 63% on Rotten Tomatoes, 56 on Metacritic and 66% on TMDB.
Is Radioactive based on a book?
Yes. Radioactive is adapted from Radioactive by Lauren Redniss.
Does Radioactive have a post-credit scene?
No. Radioactive has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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