Silkwood
A fiercely human biographical drama follows an Oklahoma nuclear-plant worker who risks everything to expose dangerous contamination and institutional negligence.
Overview
A courageous worker risks everything to expose the truth about nuclear safety.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- intense
- melancholic
- grounded
- serious movie night
- historical drama viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's emotional force, authentic working-class detail, and especially Meryl Streep's complex performance, while some found its treatment of fact, fiction, and speculation uncertain.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film reconstructs Karen Silkwood's activism and death while leaving disputed circumstances deliberately unsettled.
Karen investigates plutonium contamination and unsafe procedures at the Kerr-McGee nuclear plant.
The narrative grounds its political stakes in Karen's everyday life as an Oklahoma plant worker, labor organizer, and friend.
Plant management's dangerous practices and evasive responses drive Karen's conflict with the nuclear industry.
Films like Silkwood, and why
Erin Brockovich
socially conscious whistleblower drama focused on institutional danger and moral courage
A Civil Action
emotionally intense true-events drama about corporate wrongdoing and public accountability
The Insider
political conspiracy drama blending investigative tension with uncertainty about official narratives
Norma Rae
grounded biographical drama centered on an ordinary worker confronting powerful institutions
Movie Details
- Director
- Mike Nichols
- Release Date
- 1983-12-14
- Runtime
- 131 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (367)
Cast
- Meryl Streep
- Kurt Russell
- Cher
- Craig T. Nelson
- Fred Ward
- Diana Scarwid
- Ron Silver
- Charles Hallahan
- Josef Sommer
- Sudie Bond
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Silkwood about?
- A fiercely human biographical drama follows an Oklahoma nuclear-plant worker who risks everything to expose dangerous contamination and institutional negligence.
- What is Silkwood like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Silkwood as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Silkwood violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Silkwood as mild.
- What did critics think of Silkwood?
- Critics broadly praised the film's emotional force, authentic working-class detail, and especially Meryl Streep's complex performance, while some found its treatment of fact, fiction, and speculation uncertain.
- Which films are like Silkwood?
- Films with a similar feel include Erin Brockovich, A Civil Action, The Insider, and Norma Rae.
- How long is Silkwood?
- Silkwood runs 131 minutes.
- Where can I watch Silkwood?
- In United States, Silkwood is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home.
