The Day After
A sobering 1983 television drama that imagines a nuclear strike on a Kansas town and the struggle to survive what follows.
Where to watch online
Official services. The link goes straight to this film.
Availability data by JustWatch
About the film
They told us it would be impossible to make this movie. They told us it would be impossible for you to watch it. We hope nothing is impossible.
What it’s about
In a small Kansas town, residents go about their lives as Cold War tensions rise. Dr. Russell Oakes works at the hospital, Denise Dahlberg prepares for her wedding, and Stephen Klein focuses on his studies. When a nuclear attack occurs, the community faces sudden destruction and the struggle to survive in its wake.
What hooks you
Directed by Nicholas Meyer, the film features Jason Robards as Dr. Russell Oakes, JoBeth Williams as Nurse Nancy Bauer, and Steve Guttenberg as Stephen Klein. It received an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie. The production transformed Lawrence, Kansas, into a post-war ruin, with over 2,000 local residents as extras. The visual effects team created mushroom clouds using a tank previously used in 'Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan'.
Who it’s for
It is worth a look for anyone who appreciates sobering Cold War dramas and realistic depictions of nuclear catastrophe, as well as those interested in historical television events that sparked public debate.
- Country
- United States
- Year
- 1983
- Genres
- Drama, Science Fiction
- Running time
- 2h 7min
- Age rating
- NR+
- MPAA
- NR
- World premiere
- Nov 20, 1983
Ratings
MOVIE․ONE · 749 votesCreative team
All 9
Trivia
All facts 10
- During the "détente" between the USSR and the USA (May–June 1987), on USSR Central Television the film "The Day After" was shown in the same thematic block as the Soviet "Letters from a Dead Man." Both films were broadcast after the "Vremya" program (the American film on the first day, "Letters..." on the second), that is, in the very "prime time."
- The film is fairly realistic, but the scale and consequences of the catastrophe are still understated, as stated in the text in the closing credits.
- On the National Geographic channel in 2013, in the "80s" series of programs, when describing the film, as one of the significant events of the 80s, it was mentioned that before Nicholas Meyer at least three directors refused to take part in making the film from a finished screenplay. As their reasons, they stated that they were not ready to make such a terrible film.
- In the USA there is a documentary film titled «First Strike», which discusses the possible start of a third world war and makes extensive use of footage of American military personnel from the film «The Day After».
- Nicholas Meyer clashed so much with censors and the US government over the content of the film, especially the scenes of violence, that during the editing period he left the project and demanded that his name be removed from the credits. In the end, he did return, but he vowed never to work in television again.
- Given that breaking all the windows in the explosion and then replacing them all would be too wasteful, many windows were simply covered with black paper so that it would look as if the window had been broken.
Reviews
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The Day After (1983)
The Day After
1983
The Day After
1983
The Day After
1983