Movies About Nuclear Fallout

From James Cameron, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, Robert Patrick
Rated R

Terminator 2: Judgment Day, directed by James Cameron, is a science fiction action film released in 1991. It is the sequel to the 1984 film The Terminator. In the film, a cyborg assassin called a Terminator, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, is sent back in time to protect John Connor, the son of Sarah Connor, from a more advanced Terminator (Robert Patrick) sent to kill him. With the help of a human soldier, played by Edward Furlong, the trio fights a battle against the machines to save humanity from Judgment Day. In the end, the Terminator sacrifices himself to ensure the future of mankind.

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden, Keenan Wynn
Rated PG

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is a 1964 black comedy film directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, and Slim Pickens. The story follows an unhinged U.S. Air Force General (Scott) who launches a nuclear attack on the Soviet Union and the ensuing chaos that follows. A rogue airbase commander (Pickens) is determined to follow orders and drop a nuclear bomb on the Russians. Meanwhile, an American president (Sellers) and his military officers try desperately to recall the bombers and find a way to avert a nuclear apocalypse. The film satirizes Cold War politics and explores the absurdities of an impending nuclear conflict. With an all-star cast, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is a timeless classic that continues to entertain and provoke audiences.

From Mick Jackson, starring Karen Meagher, Reece Dinsdale, David Brierly, Rita May
Rated TV-MA

Threads is a disturbing British television drama film that aired on BBC 2 in 1984. It depicts the effects of a nuclear war on the city of Sheffield, England, and was filmed in a documentary-style. The story follows two families, the Becketts and the Kemps, as they struggle to survive in the aftermath of a nuclear attack. It shows the destruction of infrastructure and the breakdown of society, as well as the physical and psychological effects on the survivors. It is a stark reminder of the consequences of nuclear war and the destruction of human life. It is widely considered to be one of the most powerful and realistic depictions of nuclear war ever produced and has been used in schools to teach students about the potential consequences of nuclear weapons.

From Franklin J. Schaffner, starring Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans
Rated G

Planet of the Apes is a 1968 science fiction film directed by Franklin J. Schaffner. It follows a group of astronauts who crash-land on a strange planet ruled by highly intelligent apes who use primitive humans as slaves. The astronauts discover that the planet is actually the Earth of the future, where the apes have taken over and humans are treated like animals. The astronauts must evade capture and discover how to return home. Along the way, they come face to face with the grim reality of their future and must decide whether to fight for the freedom of mankind or embrace the ape society. The movie became a cultural phenomenon and spawned a series of sequels, spin-offs, and remakes.

From Sidney Lumet, starring Henry Fonda, Walter Matthau, Fritz Weaver, Dan O'Herlihy
Rated Approved

Fail Safe is an American Cold War film directed by Sidney Lumet and released in 1964. The film stars Henry Fonda, Walter Matthau, and Dan O'Herlihy. The story follows the United States military's response to a nuclear crisis caused by a computer malfunction. The malfunction causes the US to mistakenly believe that the Soviet Union has launched a nuclear attack against the US. The President and the US military must decide whether to launch a nuclear counterstrike against the USSR, while a small group of US diplomats must negotiate a peaceful resolution to the crisis. Ultimately, the US decides to destroy New York City in order to prevent a full-scale nuclear war in order to protect the rest of the country. The film ends with the US and the USSR agreeing to a mutual disarmament treaty.

From Tony Scott, starring Gene Hackman, Denzel Washington, Matt Craven, George Dzundza
Rated R

From Stanley Kramer, starring Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire, Anthony Perkins
Rated Approved

From Lynne Littman, starring Jane Alexander, William Devane, Rossie Harris, Roxana Zal
Rated PG

From John Mackenzie, starring Michael Caine, Pierce Brosnan, Ned Beatty, Joanna Cassidy
Rated R

From L.Q. Jones, starring Don Johnson, Jason Robards, Susanne Benton, Tim McIntire
Rated R

From Phil Alden Robinson, starring Ben Affleck, Morgan Freeman, Ian Mongrain, Russell Bobbitt
Rated PG-13

From Chris Gorak, starring Mary McCormack, Rory Cochrane, Tony Perez, Scotty Noyd Jr.
Rated R