The hype for Christopher Nolan’s upcoming biopicOppenheimerhas been growing and growing up to now, the week of its release. With the film shining a ton of lighton J. Robert Oppenheimer himself, it’s been the same for his creation, the atomic bomb. With the film depicting how he actually created the weapon in the Manhattan Project, there have been many interpretations of the effects of the weapon, all sharing the theme of absolute destruction.
Whether it’s the state of a fictional world after a nuclear detonation or true story-inspired films of how they were nearly used in the real world, there are so many films that can make you realize how Oppenheimer’s invention is one of the most important in all of human history. Here are the best films to watch to make yourOppenheimerexperience that much better.
10Fat Man and Little Boy
With the title named after the first and only atomic bombs ever dropped,Fat Man and Little Boyis a realistic (for the most part) depiction of what happened in Los Alamos, New Mexico from 1942-1944, the designated location for the operation. With performances from Paul Newman, Dwight Schultz, Laura Dern, and John Cusack, this film gives a good insight into what took place on the more physical side of the Manhattan Project.
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This film features some of the same characters that appear inOppenheimer, including Gen. Leslie Groves (Paul Newman) and of course, J. Robert Oppenheimer (Dwight Schultz), but is focused much more on the challenges that they faced with creating the weapon rather than delving too deep into the characters themselves.Fat Manand Little Boyis a great film to gain an understanding of how determined the U.S. Government was for ending the War as quickly as possible, no matter the consequences.
9When the Wind Blows
One ofthe only animated filmson this list,When the Wind Blowsturns out to be a much more impactful film than you might imagine, giving an ironically realistic depiction of a nuclear fallout. The film focuses on a rural English couple whose life is turned entirely upside by the news of an impending nuclear attack, and how they attempt to adjust to life after.
This film is also one of the saddest on the list, with the elderly couple not understanding the severity of the aftermath. The radiation continues to take a toll on the fairly unaware couple who had such a peaceful life, making it a tough watch, especially toward the end.
8On the Beach
In one of the more extreme depictions of the use of atomic weapons, the 1959 filmOn the Beachis set in Australia, which is the only remaining country for mankind left on Earth after an all-out nuclear war. With the main characters being U.S. Sailors, their fate could be the same as the rest of the world as wind currents carrying radiation make their way to the continent.
Based on the novel with the same title from Nevil Shute Norway, this film does a good job of showing how people handle facing a potential extinction event, whilst blending more typical disaster film tropes to drive the plot forward. Each character in the film has their own unique, meaningful backstory, adding depth to an already heavy-going film.
7Barefoot Gen
Another animated film to feature in the list,Barefoot Genis a Japanese film that makes such a powerful statement not only against atomic bombs but war as a whole. The film focuses on a young boy living in Hiroshima during World War II when his city is one of the two that’s bombed by one of the atomic bombs dropped on Japan.
The main theme of the film is Gen attempting to overcome the unimaginable chaos around him, but remaining resilient as he tries to survive among the rubble. Although the film is animated, creator Mori Masaki is a Hiroshima survivor himself, using his own experiences to heavily influence the film.
6Hiroshima
Another film leading up to the first use of atomic weapons,Hiroshima(1995) focuses on President Truman (Kenneth Welsh) having to take control of the United States atthe end of World War II, specifically how he can end the war itself. A film made for television with no theatrical release, it does a great job of combining dramatization and historical footage to tell the story of the events leading up to the attacks on Nagasaki and Hiroshima.
Unlike other films in this list,Hiroshimahas a docudrama feel to it through the combination of actual footage and re-enactments. It’s definitely an informative piece that gives a solid understanding of a story that hasn’t a lot of focus compared to the actual creation of the weapons, making it a unique film in this list.
Threadsis a film that focuses on the fallout after a nuclear attack rather than the buildup of one. The film follows the young couple Ruth (Karen Meagher) and Jimmy (Reece Dinsdale) whose lives are threatened when war breaks out between the United States and the Soviet Union go to war, resulting in a NATO base near Sheffield, England (where the two live) being the target of a nuclear attack.
The film realistically deals with all the different elements of a nuclear attack, such as what radiation causes and the unstoppable societal collapse that comes with it. It’s one of the tougher watches on this list, making a big impact when it was released back in 1984 showing audiences the reality of the devastation of what a nuclear attack brings, completely changing people’s perspectives.
4The Day After
Another film made for television,The Day Afteralso depicts a full-scale war being the United States and the Soviet Union, but this time set in Kansas. The film follows the characters throughout both the lead-up and the fallout of the conflict.
Upon release, the film was massive. At the time, it was much more realistic than anything that had come before it, leading to viewers being traumatized by it. As withThreads, this film changed the perspectives of so many people, showing the devastation that could be caused if the Cold War turned into a hot one.
3Fail Safe
Fail Safeis one of the best films that depicts how much America didn’t want to start a nuclear war, knowing the sheer devastation that would come with it. The film’s plot focuses on a technical malfunction that leads to an attack on Moscow being inadvertently administered, with the President (Henry Fonda) scrambling to fix the error before the bombs are dropped.
Related:Oppenheimer: Every Detail the Film Gets Right About the True Story
Showing the President of one of the countries involved in the Cold War desperately trying to avert the use of nukes makes this film so unique, showing that even the country that created the weapondoesn’t want to start a war with them. For a different perspective and theme than other films about nuclear weapons, this film should definitely be on your list.
2Dr. Strangelove
Coming from the most acclaimed director on this list, Stanley Kubrick’sDr. Strangelovegives perhaps the most unique take on the topic of nuclear weapons by going down the comedy route. Based on the concept if the wrong person presses the button, with a crazed American general ordering his bombers to destroy the USSR, while a war council trying to stop the damage from being done.
The unique approach that Kubrick takes with this film makes it one of his best in one of the most stacked filmographies of any director. Released at the height of the Cold War in 1964, the idea to satirize the fears and tensions between the two countries was a pretty bold decision and one that delivered quite an unhinged film.
1Black Rain
A film that shares many similarities withBarefoot Gen,Black Rain, or in JapaneseKuroi Ameis a Japaneseblack and white filmabout Yasuko, a young Japanese woman who manages to miraculously survive the bombing of Hiroshima in 1945. Based on the novel of the same name by Majusi Ibuse which draws all of its inspiration from historical records of the attack, this film provides a harrowing, realistic depiction of just how bad the aftermath of the attacks were.
As many films about atomic bombs focus on the creation of the weapons themselves, whichOppenheimeris also sure to go into,Black Rainis at the top of this list as it shows what the innocent people in these cities had to go through as the consequence of the atom bomb’s creation.
