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The China Syndrome

1979 · Movie · PG · 122 min · ★ 7.1 · 85% critics

DramaThriller

While filming a report on alternative energy, a TV news team witnesses a frightening incident at a nuclear power plant. As they push to share what they saw, they run into pressure from powerful interests, and the search for answers turns into a tense fight over safety, truth, and accountability.

IMDb

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2 hours to watch.

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Details
Years
1979
Release date
1979-03-16
Language
English
Rated
PG
Runtime
122 min
Critic score
85/100
TMDB rating
7.1/10 (519 votes)
About

You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a tense, issue-driven thriller about whistleblowing, corporate pressure, and media responsibility, in the vein of Missing; Not for you if you dislike slow builds, heavy themes, or anxiety-inducing near-disaster stories.

Pros: gripping slow-burn suspense; strong performances; timely ethical questions | Cons: talky early stretch; occasionally preachy tone; some repetitive scenes

Themes

  • california
  • telecaster
  • radiation
  • energy policy
  • earthquake
  • nuclear power plant
  • cinematographer
  • tragedy
  • conspiracy
  • tv reporter
  • atomic reactor
  • television broadcast
  • +7 more

Awards & recognition

  • National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
  • Academy Award — Best Production Design · 1980 · nominated
  • Academy Award — Best Writing, Original Screenplay · 1980 · nominated
  • Academy Award — Best Actress · 1980 · nominated
  • Academy Award — Best Actor · 1980 · nominated

Cast & crew

Directed by James Bridges