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Romantic drama

Radioactive (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Radioactive (2019) movie poster

Radioactive is a 2019 romantic drama directed by Marjane Satrapi, starring Rosamund Pike as Marie Curie, Sam Riley and Jennifer White. It runs 1 hour 51 minutes and earned $3.5 million worldwide on a $20 million budget. Its Echo Score is 63/100.

worldwide gross
$3.5M
Echo Score
63
budget
$20M
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Radioactive (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 51m (111 min)
Director
Marjane Satrapi
Genres
Romance , History , Drama
Original language
English
Budget
$20M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Radioactive About?

The premise of Radioactive without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A look at the life of Marie Curie, the pioneering physicist and chemist who conducted groundbreaking research on radioactivity. The film explores her remarkable scientific achievements and the profound impact of her discoveries alongside her husband, Pierre. Their work with radium revolutionized the 20th century, forever changing science and medicine, while also revealing the personal sacrifices and challenges they faced.

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 Jennifer White as Radium Dancer. Directed by Marjane Satrapi; 44 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Radioactive

· 40 more
Show all 44 cast members
Ratings

Radioactive Reviews & Ratings

Our Echo Score gives it 63/100, strongest in sensory experience (75) and weakest in story & flow (50).

63 /100

Radioactive Echo Score Breakdown

Radioactive presents a visually compelling portrait of Marie Curie, buoyed by Rosamund Pike’s nuanced performance and inventive dream sequences, yet it suffers from a fragmented narrative that hampers engagement. Critics and viewers alike note the film’s striking cinematography and ambitious stylistic choices, but many cite pacing issues and a disjointed structure that dilute its emotional impact. Consequently, the biopic offers moments of artistic merit tempered by storytelling inconsistencies, resulting in a mixed overall impression.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 65

    In terms of art and craft, the film excels in visual composition, with critics highlighting hypnotic cinematography and striking production design. However, the editing and narrative flow are described as disjointed, and the structure is perceived as rushed or messy. The combination of strong visual elements and weaker editing yields a moderately positive assessment. Overall, the artistic execution is commendable but hindered by inconsistent craftsmanship.

  • Character & Emotion 70

    When evaluating character and emotion, Rosamund Pike receives consistent praise for delivering a layered, convincing portrayal of Marie Curie. Supporting performances are also noted as solid, adding depth to the ensemble. Some viewers, however, found it difficult to connect with the characters, describing the experience as tedious. The predominance of positive feedback on acting outweighs the occasional disengagement, leading to a generally favorable view of the film’s character work.

  • Story & Flow 50

    Regarding story and flow, the biopic is often characterized as uneven and rushed, with critics mentioning a lack of coherent structure and reliance on familiar biopic tropes. The inclusion of dream sequences provides originality, yet the overall pacing and narrative cohesion are seen as fragmented. User comments echo these concerns, noting the film feels disjointed and could have benefited from a longer format. Consequently, the storytelling is assessed as mediocre.

  • Sensory Experience 75

    The sensory experience stands out through evocative visual style and a distinctive musical score, with reviewers highlighting dreamlike sequences that enrich the film’s atmosphere. Sound design receives little criticism, and the overall audiovisual presentation is described as striking and immersive. While some narrative aspects detract from the experience, the sensory components maintain a high level of effectiveness, resulting in a strongly positive evaluation for this aspect.

  • Rewatch Factor 55

    Rewatch factor considerations reveal a divided audience; some viewers appreciate the film’s odd, arthouse qualities and find it enjoyable on subsequent viewings, while others feel the story’s disjointed nature limits repeat appeal. The broad scope and episodic feel suggest a longer format might serve the material better, reducing replay motivation. Overall, the film offers modest rewatch potential, balancing curiosity about its visual flair with narrative shortcomings.

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 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In 1934, Marie Curie collapses in her laboratory in Paris. As she is rushed to the hospital, she remembers her life. In 1893 she was frequently rejected for funding due to her attitude, which she had in common with Pierre Curie. This joint attitude issue with the leading academic authorities led her to share a laboratory with Pierre Curie.

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.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$3.5M

18% of its budget back

International
$3.5M
Budget
$20M
Videos

Radioactive Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Radioactive.

Official U.S. Trailer
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 what year does the film open with Marie Curie collapsing in her laboratory?

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

Seen Radioactive?

FAQ

Radioactive FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of Radioactive, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Radioactive?

Radioactive runs 1 hour 51 minutes (111 minutes).

When was Radioactive released?

Radioactive was released on September 6, 2019.

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 Jennifer White as Radium Dancer, among 44 credited actors.

How much did Radioactive make at the box office?

Radioactive grossed $3.5 million worldwide on a budget of $20 million.

Does Radioactive have a post-credit scene?

No. Radioactive has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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