Buzz
For much of the 20th century, few subjects could instill fear into entire nations like the prospect of nuclear warfare. A majority of documentaries and mockumentaries on the subject came from the U.S. and the UK, with a range of schlocky B-movies from the U.S. thrown in. Unlike comedies like the brilliant “This Is Spinal Tap,” the mockumentaries here take a much more serious approach. The first entry (#10) touches on the theme of nuclear terrorism, fitting seamlessly with this list. If you find that a film is missing, please refer to the earlier Mytour nuclear war film list, which includes titles like Threads, The Day After, Trinity and Beyond, and others. Most of the films, mockumentaries, and documentaries mentioned here can be found in full on YouTube. Where possible, we have included links to the first part of each series.
10. Special Bulletin 1983
This TV special takes a look at how the media shapes and reacts to events. Set in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, terrorists threaten to detonate a nuclear device on a ship unless their demands are met. Broadcast in 1983, the program was presented in the style of Orson Welles’ 1938 “War of the Worlds” radio play. Despite repeated disclaimers stating that the event was fictional, and even the word 'fiction' displayed on the screen throughout, many viewers were convinced it was real, leading to a minor panic. Though it won several Emmys, the show was criticized for its subpar execution.
9. Countdown to Looking Glass 1984
This Canadian docu/mockumentary from the 1980s masterfully depicts real news figures (such as CBC’s Patrick Watson) tracking events in the Strait of Hormuz, which ultimately lead to a nuclear standoff between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. Former Congressman Newt Gingrich and ex-Senator Eugene McCarthy appear as themselves, while Scott Glenn gives a standout performance as a reporter stationed aboard the U.S.S. Nimitz. The critical event that sets off the escalation is a blockade in the Gulf and a tense standoff between a U.S. fleet and Soviet submarines.
8. First Strike 1979
This PBS documentary, created with full support from the U.S. Air Force, explores a hypothetical Soviet first strike that wipes out much of America's nuclear offensive capabilities. The second half of the documentary features insights from various military and government officials who examine the possible consequences of such an attack, questioning whether the U.S. could counter or prevent it. Four years later, parts of this film were incorporated into the attack sequences of the TV movie ‘The Day After.’
7. The Atomic Café 1982
This documentary uniquely uses only historical film clips, U.S. civil propaganda, and music from the 1950s and 1960s to create a satirical, yet chilling overview of the early Cold War years from an American perspective. The highlight is the unintentionally hilarious 1951 civil defense film 'Duck and Cover,' which advises citizens to duck and take cover in the event of a nuclear flash. (Of course, hiding behind a rock and covering your head would do wonders against a nuclear blast—if you’re only looking to survive for a few seconds.)
6. 1983: Brink of Apocalypse 1998
'1983: Brink of Apocalypse' unveils the startling proximity to nuclear disaster in 1983, when a series of tense incidents pushed the Soviet Union to believe that the U.S. was gearing up for a full-scale nuclear assault. The 1983 events, including Reagan’s 'evil empire' speech, the tragic shooting down of a South Korean airliner, terrorist attacks in Beirut, the U.S. invasion of Grenada, and military maneuvers by both the U.S. and the Soviets, led the USSR to think war was inevitable. The Soviets were poised to retaliate, their fingers ready on the nuclear button. This documentary, filled with a nostalgic soundtrack of 1980s music, powerfully conveys how close we came to total destruction.
'War and Peace' is not the well-known Tolstoy novel, but a striking documentary by Anand Patwardhan that explores the nuclear standoff between India and Pakistan. This long-standing nuclear flashpoint, especially after Pakistan joined the nuclear powers in 1998-1999, has brought the two nations dangerously close to nuclear war on several occasions. It's a sobering reminder that although the Cold War has ended, the threat of nuclear conflict still looms large. Set in a region that is increasingly mirroring Western influences, this film provides an essential look at the ongoing nuclear tensions in the South Asian subcontinent. The documentary also provides links to further resources like this PDF discussing the film.
No, not the dense Leo Tolstoy novel about 1812, but a largely unknown—at least in the West—documentary by Anand Patwardhan, that focuses primarily on the origins of, and present nuclear standoff, between India and Pakistan. It’s one of the biggest remaining nuclear flashpoints in the world, and the two nations came close to atomic blows in 1998-1999, just after Pakistan joined the nuclear club, and several times since then. Well worth a sobering look—and a reminder that even though the big Cold War is over, the threat of nuclear war is, by no means, a thing of the past. It’s a distinctly non-western part of the world that is becoming more like the west, at least in terms of this newest cold war that occasionally runs hot. Here is a PDF that talks about the film.
'World War 3: The Movie' (1998) is a gripping mockumentary that explores a chilling alternate history, where the Cold War doesn’t end with the fall of the Soviet Union, the dismantling of the Iron Curtain, and the reunification of Germany. Instead, it imagines a scenario in which Soviet hardliners eliminate Gorbachev, seize control again, and reignite the Cold War. Using authentic news footage of figures like Gorbachev, James Baker, and George H.W. Bush from the events between 1989 and 1991—including the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Gulf War—the filmmakers skillfully edit these real moments to suggest that the heated debates over the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf Crisis are actually about the looming threat of World War III. The film is both chilling and expertly crafted.
'The War Game' (1965), a docudrama commissioned by the British government, dramatizes a Soviet nuclear attack on England. Initially banned from British television, it wasn't aired until 1985. This banned film, which influenced Mick Jackson’s 'Threads,' differs from 'World War 3' by focusing not on politicians, but on the ordinary citizens who are killed, wounded, or left to survive the aftermath of a nuclear war. The portrayal is deeply unsettling, presenting a stark contrast to the hospital scenes in 'The Day After.' Interestingly, 'The War Game' never shows mushroom clouds, but instead, it focuses on the horrific effects of nuclear explosions, firestorms, and the devastating toll on human lives. The film envisions a Chinese invasion of Vietnam as the event that sparks this catastrophic conflict.
'Nuclear War: A Guide to Armageddon' (1982) takes a sobering look at the grim possibility of nuclear conflict. This documentary provides a detailed examination of the devastating consequences of nuclear war, offering a chillingly informative guide to the potential end of civilization as we know it. Through careful analysis, it explains the chain reactions, social collapse, and long-lasting effects that would follow a nuclear attack, making it a stark warning about the dangers of such global destruction.
'World War 3: The Movie' (1998) presents a terrifying alternate ending to the Cold War, suggesting that instead of the peaceful dissolution of the Soviet Union and the fall of the Berlin Wall, hardline Soviet leaders would have seized power, eliminated Gorbachev, and sparked World War III. The film uses real archival footage from the late 1980s and early 1990s, including appearances by Gorbachev, James Baker, and George H.W. Bush, making it seem as though the events surrounding the Gulf War were really part of a larger global conflict on the verge of erupting. This well-executed mockumentary creates a suspenseful 'what if' scenario that keeps the audience on edge.
'The War Game' (1965) presents a fictional yet disturbingly realistic portrayal of a Soviet nuclear attack on Britain. This BBC docudrama was originally banned from British television until 1985 due to its stark depiction of nuclear war. Unlike 'World War 3,' it focuses on the everyday people who bear the brunt of the destruction, vividly showing the horrors of nuclear explosions, firestorms, and the aftermath. The film deliberately avoids showing the iconic mushroom clouds, instead focusing on the human suffering and devastation that would follow a nuclear exchange. The triggering event in this scenario is a Chinese invasion of Vietnam, which leads to the outbreak of a catastrophic global war.
The BBC created some of the most thought-provoking films on nuclear war during the 1960s and 1980s. One such film, ‘Threads’ (1982), directed by Mick Jackson, provides a chilling and realistic portrayal of the aftermath of a 1-megaton nuclear explosion in London—or any city, for that matter. The film explores the devastating effects on people, buildings, and the environment, from the moment of detonation to two weeks later. A 1-megaton blast would be so immense that the typical civil defense protocols would be virtually useless for most people in London, unless they had the resources to build an adequate shelter. The documentary’s detached, clinical examination of the effects of a nuclear detonation makes it even more unnerving. Even 32 years after its release, the relevance of ‘Threads’ is undiminished. (‘Threads’ is a 1984 British docudrama about the global consequences of a nuclear war, set in Sheffield, England. It remains one of the most harrowing films about nuclear war, topping my previous Mytour list of such films.)
1. Defcon 2 2002
In one of the most famous nuclear confrontations, the Soviet Union placed missiles in Cuba to counter NATO’s missile and bomber presence in Europe, prompting President Kennedy to take swift action to prevent their activation. Cold War history considers this event the closest the world ever came to nuclear war, though recently declassified documents suggest we may have been even closer than previously believed. This clip is from the first part of an outstanding 2002 Discovery Channel documentary, hosted by techno-thriller author Tom Clancy. The documentary features secret recordings of President Kennedy and his advisors as they manage the crisis. Defcon 2, meaning Defense Condition 2, refers to a state just one step from war. This was the only time the U.S. reached Defcon 2. In contrast, the U.S. only reached Defcon 3 three times: at the start of the Cuban Missile Crisis, during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, and following the 9/11 attacks. (Defcon 5 is the normal peacetime status; throughout the Cold War, U.S. missile silos remained at Defcon 4.)
