Nuclear War films

SSgt Burton

SSgt Burton

Sr Member
So once in a while I get on a nuclear war film kick in which I watch a bunch in a row.

Ones that I own-

-"The Day After"

-"Fail Safe"

-"Dr. Strangelove"

-"Trinity and Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie" (documentary)

-"Thriteen Days" (Cuban Missile Crisis)

One movie that I've never watched (but have been interested in seeing since... forever) is "On the Beach".

Another that I watched on tv in the early 80s was "Threads" which was basically a UK version of "The Day After".

So... this might seem like a bit of an odd thread- I'm looking for films that actually depict a nuclear exchange. Even if it is not necessarily the main story (such as T2).

I might be way off, but I can't recall too many films that actually show a full first strike taking place. But one that does come to mind is "Damnation Alley".

Others?


Kevin
 
Try "By Dawns Early Light." Pretty cool.

BTW, I just watched "On the Beach" a few months ago and it was almost comical the way in which the aftermath was depicted.
 
Testament was an early 80's film with William Devane. San Francisco gets nuked (which I remember because they supposedly live about as far away as I do) and they try to survive the aftermath.
It was in the vein of the Day After, but I haven't seen it in so long I cannot say if it is a good movie or not.
 
I wanted to see Testament and get trinity and beyond but its out of print and pricey.
Panic in year zero
damnation alley
You never really see movies that show the war, they always just imply it because its cheaper or they use old 50s test footage.
there are remakes of on the beach and failsafe.
Does 13 days actually have the missile crisis ending in war?
I'll have to check my collection. I have a bunch of old cold war civil defense movies and i think one or two may have the war happening but they arent' very long.
 
there was a telemovie around the time of the day after that showed some terrorist had a a-bomb in a ship docked at a u.s. harbor and they were trying to disarm the bomb, suddenly the bomb explodes all while a news crew watches.
 
SVTStingRay said:
there was a telemovie around the time of the day after that showed some terrorist had a a-bomb in a ship docked at a u.s. harbor and they were trying to disarm the bomb, suddenly the bomb explodes all while a news crew watches.
Click to expand...

Funny story. If this is what I think it is, it's shot in the style of very realistic news reports. My brother thought it was real and told me about it, he was really concerned. I took a look at it and I recognized one of the actors right away.

Poor brother :lol
 
Miracle Mile... it's got Anthony Edwards

it's a little dated, being done in the 80's but it's not a bad movie
 
SVTStingRay said:
there was a telemovie around the time of the day after that showed some terrorist had a a-bomb in a ship docked at a u.s. harbor and they were trying to disarm the bomb, suddenly the bomb explodes all while a news crew watches.
Click to expand...

That was "Special Bulletin". I remember that one on tv in 1983 or so. It was done in "real time" live broadcast style (think of the radio broadcast of "War of the Worlds"). Basically a news station covers a standoff by US terrorists who threaten to detonate a nuclear device.

There were "warnings" during all of the commercial breaks that the movie was not "actually happening" and was just a fictional dramatization. Despite this several people called the authorities and relatives who lived in Charleston, SC where the events in movie took place in.

The entire movie can be seen online:

Special Bulletin [1983]


Thanks for the suggestions so far!

Kevin
 
Last edited:
Maybe you can tell me the name of one I heard about. My parents used to tell me they saw a movie once, it must have been pre-1990. They watched it as a midday movie and it was so good my bad was late for work because he didn't want to miss the end. Apparently it finished with someone in a fridge? No, not Dr. Jones. I also think they said it faded to black with no credits for a long time.

Vague, I know.
 
"Crimson Tide" is another nuclear thriller that's entertaining. Hell, you got Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington so you know at least there is going to be decent acting.
 
"On the Beach" is a great movie, see the one with Gregory Peck First, then find the 2 part miniseries with Armand Assante after. Wargames can be put in there if we are counting Near Misses. "Panic in the Year Zero" with Ray Milland is a MUST for this list, and for a book to read "Alas Babylon" by Pat Frank, which was adapted for Playhouse 90 in 1960.

Another Deliciously Haunting Story is "There will come soft rains" by Ray Bradbury. It's about an automated house carrying on with it's daily routine for the family, even though they are now just Ghostly outlines Burned into the side of the house.
 
Last edited:
I'm glad i'm not the only one with an interest in this genre. Oh here's one. Defcon 4 is an okay one. It's another one that is expensive because the dvd is out of print. Apparently there is a british movie alot like it called The Aftermath.
 
Isn't Def-Con 4 more post-apocalyptic, though? Granted, like, 2 months post, but still post, not really depicting the moment it happens.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

ghostryder
Civil War
Replies
8
Views
731
ghostryder
ghostryder
MAKE BELIEVE
2023 - 25 Films Selected for Preservation in National Film Registry
Replies
1
Views
606
drusselmeyer
drusselmeyer
Fergie
Culinary Props in Films
Replies
5
Views
896
Fergie
Fergie
SciFiMuseum
New Lord of the Rings films coming
2 3
Replies
56
Views
4,892
teragon
teragon
ghostryder
Gears of War (Netflix)
Replies
0
Views
603
ghostryder
ghostryder
Back
Top