The Manhattan Project
A restless science geek and his journalist girlfriend turn a suspected nuclear secret into a dangerous public exposé.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- tense
- thoughtful
- thoughtful movie night
- 1980s cinema night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film a clever, skillful, grounded thriller that combines convincing everyday relationships with escalating nuclear danger.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Paul turns his fascination with science into an effort to expose the suspected nuclear facility and force public accountability.
The Ithaca medical facility, radioactive material, and suspected bomb program connect local danger to Cold War fears of covert state activity.
Paul is drawn to the facility's spectacular experiments and increasingly dangerous nuclear capabilities.
Paul and aspiring journalist Jenny pursue different methods but collaborate to expose Medatomics.
Films like The Manhattan Project, and why
WarGames
teen protagonists confronting institutional secrecy through science-driven suspense
The Last Starfighter
youthful ingenuity, Cold War anxiety, and escalating technological danger
Silkwood
grounded conspiracy thriller tension centered on ordinary people and government power
The China Syndrome
coming-of-age conflict interwoven with nuclear-era paranoia and moral responsibility
Movie Details
- Director
- Marshall Brickman
- Release Date
- 1986-06-13
- Runtime
- 118 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (121)
Cast
- John Lithgow
- Christopher Collet
- Cynthia Nixon
- Jill Eikenberry
- John Mahoney
- Richard Jenkins
- Sully Boyar
- Timothy Carhart
- Gregg Edelman
- JD Cullum
Where to watch in United States
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Manhattan Project about?
- A restless science geek and his journalist girlfriend turn a suspected nuclear secret into a dangerous public exposé.
- What is The Manhattan Project like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Manhattan Project as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Manhattan Project violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Manhattan Project as mild.
- What did critics think of The Manhattan Project?
- Critics broadly found the film a clever, skillful, grounded thriller that combines convincing everyday relationships with escalating nuclear danger.
- Which films are like The Manhattan Project?
- Films with a similar feel include WarGames, The Last Starfighter, Silkwood, and The China Syndrome.
- How long is The Manhattan Project?
- The Manhattan Project runs 118 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Manhattan Project?
- In United States, The Manhattan Project is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store.
