Overview
A daring mission to strike back at the heart of Japan unfolds in the skies above the Pacific.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- patriotic
- earnest
- tense
- classic film night
- wartime history viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praise its sincere, technically detailed, emotionally personalized depiction of the Doolittle Raid as a classic aviation and war film.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The Doolittle Raid is presented as an inspirational American victory for audiences during the ongoing war.
Crew members' relationships, camaraderie, and the expectant parent storyline make the raid emotionally intimate.
The film details carrier-based bomber training and incorporates footage from the actual raid.
The launch of sixteen loaded bombers from an aircraft carrier and the raid's flight imagery drive the film's production design.
Films like Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, and why
The Dam Busters
patriotic world war ii aviation drama centered on a dangerous military mission and comradeship
Twelve O'Clock High
classic wartime combat film balancing operational detail with personalized crew drama
The Battle of Britain
large-scale world war ii aviation film emphasizing sacrifice, duty, and technical spectacle
The Longest Day
historical war drama presenting a celebrated military operation with earnest patriotic conviction
Movie Details
- Director
- Mervyn LeRoy
- Release Date
- 1944-11-15
- Runtime
- 138 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (73)
Cast
- Van Johnson
- Robert Walker
- Spencer Tracy
- Tim Murdock
- Don DeFore
- Herbert Gunn
- Phyllis Thaxter
- Stephen McNally
- John R. Reilly
- Robert Mitchum
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo about?
- A meticulous wartime aviation drama follows Colonel Jimmy Doolittle and his bomber crews as they prepare an unprecedented carrier-launched strike against Japan.
- What is Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo as moderate.
- What did critics think of Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo?
- Critics broadly praise its sincere, technically detailed, emotionally personalized depiction of the Doolittle Raid as a classic aviation and war film.
- Which films are like Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo?
- Films with a similar feel include The Dam Busters, Twelve O'Clock High, The Battle of Britain, and The Longest Day.
- How long is Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo?
- Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo runs 138 minutes.
- Where can I watch Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo?
- In United States, Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
