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Biographical drama

Radioactive (2020): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Radioactive (2020) movie poster

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.

IMDb rating
6.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
63%
worldwide gross
$3.5M
Echo Score
55
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Radioactive (2020) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 49m (109 min)
Director
Marjane Satrapi
Genres
Biography , Drama , Romance
Original language
English
Budget
$20M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

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
  • 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
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Cast & crew

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.

From the director

More from Marjane Satrapi

More films directed by Marjane Satrapi, best-rated first: Persepolis, Chicken with Plums, The Voices and Dear Paris.

Full filmography
Ratings

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).

55 /100

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.

Plot

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

Read the full summary
Box office

Radioactive Box Office & Budget

Radioactive grossed $3.5 million worldwide on a $20 million budget, 18% of what it cost.

2020 box office

Worldwide gross

$3.5M

18% of its budget back

International
$3.5M
Budget
$20M
Videos

Radioactive Trailers & Videos

4 videos: 1 trailer and 3 clips.

Official U.S. Trailer
  • Clip Excerpt
  • Clip Excerpt
  • Clip Excerpt
Quiz

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

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

In which year does the movie 'Radioactive' primarily unfold?

Cars

Cars in Radioactive

11 cars on screen, including the 1917 Ford Model T and the Ambulance.

All 11 cars
  • 1917 Ford Model T in Radioactive 1917 Ford Model T Important role
  • Ambulance in Radioactive Ambulance Important role
  • Willys Jeep CJ-3B in Radioactive Willys Jeep CJ-3B Minor role
  • ZiL 131 in Radioactive ZiL 131 Minor role
Details

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
  • 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?

FAQ

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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