Top 10 Iconic Movies About Nuclear Bombs

After arresting a yakuza member, NYPD detective Nick Conklin must take the man back to Japan. This starts a tale of intrigue that isn’t an obvious choice for this list. Conklin then finds himself interacting with the Japanese underworld, eventually dealing with the counterfeiter Sugai. The latter character details that he survived Hiroshima and his entire operation is his way of fighting back against America. With this richly textured backstory, “Black Rain” takes on more meaning than the average thriller with cool action. While not everyone remembers this Ridley Scott film, it features these kinds of historical elements that add to its atmospheric noir story.

It might not be the most remembered Jack Ryan movie, but “The Sum of All Fears” features an underrated plot. Neo-Nazis try to play Russia and the U.S. against each other with a nuclear bomb. In a heart-pounding scene, the president is evacuated from a football game shortly before detonation. Ben Affleck’s CIA analyst steps in to solve the mystery in an effective thriller. Ryan helps discover the origins of the device, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats throughout. The movie grips you with its initial premise and even has the guts to blow up a nuclear bomb without having the hero defuse it. It might not be totally groundbreaking, but this 2002 film packs more punches than you might’ve guessed.

Even with their outlandish plots, many James Bond adventures still deal with some real-world issues like the Cold War. “The Spy Who Loved Me” features a villain out to steal submarines, start a nuclear war, and turn the world into his own aquatic paradise. It’s somehow even more outrageous than it sounds. Thankfully, 007 is there to save the day in one of Roger Moore’s best entries. Karl Stromberg’s megalomaniacal plan plays out like a heightened version of the usual evil plot. It might not be the most realistic movie of its kind, but this film certainly gives the audience entertaining set pieces set around a nuclear threat.

Tony Scott’s film isn’t just a perfect showcase for two great actors. It’s also an engaging thriller about difficult choices, with a nuclear submarine debating whether or not to fire their missiles. The executive officer fights with the captain after receiving a message to launch and then loses the radio before hearing a follow-up order. Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman square off in this intense drama, creating two strong arguments over how to proceed. The fate of the world rests in their hands as the crew comes to blows. Before it’s all over, this chilling tale will have you sweating over how close they come to making a mistake.

Created for television, “Threads” is a haunting experience from start to finish. The docu-drama approaches the threat of an apocalypse with shocking believability. Ordinary British citizens go about their lives while foreign powers escalate their aggressive tactics. Even as preparations for a doomsday scenario are put through, the resulting blast renders society almost uninhabitable. The scenes depicting the initial blast are disturbing enough, but there’s also the grim aftermath that reveals what happens to the survivors. It’s one of the most blunt statements against nuclear proliferation ever created. Large sections of this movie could be considered a horror film, revealing the long-term effects of nuclear weapons and radiation.

As the sixth entry in the long-running series, “Mission: Impossible - Fallout” gives viewers the kind of entertainment they’ve come to expect. It also features a plot about three plutonium cores that could fall into the wrong hands. Naturally, Ethan Hunt and his IMF team are out to stop the bad guys. The story includes all the intrigue of a spy movie with more than a few surprising twists. It also lets Tom Cruise do more than a couple of incredible stunts, both skydiving and piloting a helicopter himself. Hunt’s quest to find the cores includes serious questions about nuclear capabilities. With so much at stake, this movie gives you a thrill ride that’ll have you buzzing long after the final scene.

While it might’ve been overshadowed by “Dr. Strangelove,” this film is another standout nuclear story from 1964. The plot might be close to the Stanley Kubrick project, but this movie is much more serious. A computer error sends U.S. officials into a panic when bombers accidentally head for Moscow. “Fail Safe” depicts the president and others scrambling to stop the attack, with everyone rallying together to prevent nuclear war. Henry Fonda brilliantly plays an American commander-in-chief who’s torn between impossible decisions. In the dramatic ending, this story gives viewers a glimpse at the terrifying implications of using these kinds of weapons.

When “The Day After” aired on U.S. television in 1983, it was considered to be a huge event. The movie gave a bleak look at what could have happened if the Cold War became hot. Families, students, and medical staff all try to deal with nuclear bombs dropping in Kansas. The survivors struggle against radiation poisoning, limited food, and each other. Making you consider how you might react to the same event, it puts you right in the middle of the horrific tragedy. Many original viewers likely never saw nuclear weapons the same way again.

With director Christopher Nolan at the top of his game, “Oppenheimer” is a historical epic with no expense spared. He brings together a monumental cast to tell the story of the title physicist and his role in the Manhattan Project. Cillian Murphy gives a nuanced and detailed performance as the “Father of the Atomic Bomb.” While taking a look at the buildup to the Trinity Test, Nolan also shows the man’s personal and professional setbacks after WWII. The filmmaker delves deeply into the scientific and political importance of such an important event. This project will likely remain the definitive take on the story, while films like “Fat Man and Little Boy” have tackled similar topics before.

Directed by Stanley Kubrick, this Cold War satire follows what happens when a crazy general tries to launch an attack on Russia. His insane and darkly funny reasoning sends the U.S. government into a frenzy. While trying to avoid a nuclear war, President Muffley and his advisors come to realize the potential for global annihilation. Peter Sellers leads this impressive cast in three separate roles that help sell the absurd plot. Even with all of the jokes, “Dr. Strangelove” still presents a possible scenario for mutually assured destruction. There’s also the iconic climax that features Slim Pickens’ character riding a bomb like a rodeo bull.

Did we forget another great film featuring a nuclear bomb? Let us know in the comments below.