Overview
A reporter uncovers a dangerous secret that could change the future of energy.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- tense
- ominous
- chilling
- political thriller night
- socially conscious cinema viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regard it as a gripping, intelligent, thought-provoking thriller elevated by its stellar cast, though some find its climax melodramatic.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Kimberly Wells uses her television reporting to pursue the nuclear plant incident despite pressure to suppress the story.
The reactor malfunction, radiation threat, and fear of catastrophic contamination drive the film's central anxiety.
Plant executives and officials attempt to hide the full implications of the accident from the public.
Television production, reactor operations, engineering evidence, and regulatory concerns shape the escalating thriller.
Films like The China Syndrome, and why
All the President's Men
shared paranoid conspiracy thriller structure, institutional secrecy, and escalating civic danger
Silkwood
shared disaster anxiety, procedural investigation, and critique of institutional negligence
Erin Brockovich
shared tense technology-centered crisis, grounded realism, and moral confrontation with corporate power
Movie Details
- Director
- James Bridges
- Release Date
- 1979-03-16
- Runtime
- 122 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (541)
Cast
- Jane Fonda
- Michael Douglas
- Jack Lemmon
- Scott Brady
- James Hampton
- Peter Donat
- Wilford Brimley
- Richard Herd
- Daniel Valdez
- Stan Bohrman
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- 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 The China Syndrome about?
- A television reporter and a principled nuclear engineer confront a corporate cover-up after a reactor malfunction threatens public safety.
- What is The China Syndrome like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The China Syndrome as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The China Syndrome violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The China Syndrome as mild.
- What did critics think of The China Syndrome?
- Critics broadly regard it as a gripping, intelligent, thought-provoking thriller elevated by its stellar cast, though some find its climax melodramatic.
- Which films are like The China Syndrome?
- Films with a similar feel include All the President's Men, Silkwood, and Erin Brockovich.
- How long is The China Syndrome?
- The China Syndrome runs 122 minutes.
- Where can I watch The China Syndrome?
- In United States, The China Syndrome streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
