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Describing a film about nuclear war as 'best' might feel unusual due to the serious nature of the topic. While many of these films and documentaries can be entertaining, others are so disturbing and grim that a single viewing may be enough. Personally, I despise nuclear weapons and wish I could magically make them vanish, never to be seen again.
This list focuses on films, full-length documentaries, and those that tackle the immediate aftermath—or the looming threat—of nuclear conflict. As a result, I’ve excluded post-apocalyptic films like Nausicaa or The Planet of the Apes. Narrowing it down to just 15 was challenging, so films like T2, Akira, and Wargames didn't make the cut. Also, bear in mind that this is about theatrical and TV films (with one exception), so please don’t ask, “What about Jericho?”
Let’s hope we never experience the days shown in these films.
15. Miracle Mile 1988
A largely overlooked and underrated film, Miracle Mile features Anthony Edwards as a young man who receives a frantic phone call warning him that World War III is only an hour away. He spends the rest of the film desperately trying to find the woman he recently met and fell in love with before time runs out. While some scenes are downright absurd and the film has a distinct 1980s vibe, the build-up is effectively tense. The clip shown is the movie trailer.
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14. When the Wind Blows 1986
This animated film depicts an elderly British couple slowly succumbing to radiation poisoning after a nuclear conflict. In the clip, the couple—products of an earlier generation—are unable to fully grasp the true scale of the disaster they have just survived.
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13. A Clean Escape 2007
This 1986 play by John Kessel was adapted into a 1-hour episode for the brief-lived Masters of Science Fiction series. Sam Waterston takes on the role of the president, who has lost all memory of the catastrophic event that destroyed the world—or did he? (It’s one of Waterston’s standout performances.) The clip appears to be a promotional preview for the series.
12. Dr. Strangelove 1964
Yes, it’s satire, and the image of Slim Pickens riding a nuclear bomb like a bronco is absurd—but that’s the point. The clip showcases that iconic scene.
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11. Black Rain
This solemn Japanese film depicts the aftermath of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on a fictional family. (It’s the only movie on this list I haven’t yet seen, though it has been highly praised and has won or been nominated for several awards. I might bump it up after I watch it.) The clip comes from the Siskel and Ebert review. (I miss Gene Siskel.)
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10. By Dawn’s Early Light 1990
What would happen if the president and much of the government were incapacitated, and an unstable individual in the chain of succession believed that the only option to respond to a mistaken nuclear attack was to initiate World War III? The clip shows the last 10 minutes, so avoid it if you want to watch the entire film.
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9. Fail Safe 1964 and 2000 versions
An American bomber squadron is mistakenly given orders to strike the Soviet Union, and all attempts to recall the mission fail. George Clooney directed and starred in a brilliant live broadcast version of the original film. The clip comes from the DVD release.
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8. On the Beach 1959 version
While the science is more questionable, I prefer the original Gregory Peck version over the updated Armand Assante version. In both films, nuclear war has devastated the northern hemisphere, and a deadly fallout cloud is heading towards a doomed Australia. An American nuclear submarine searches for any survivors. The clip is a rather absurd trailer considering the seriousness of the topic.
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7. Trinity and Beyond 1995
Narrated by William Shatner, this documentary chronicles the development of nuclear weapons, starting from the first atomic bomb in 1945 up to China’s first nuclear test in 1964. It includes most of the significant test explosions. The clip shows several of these explosions, set to the music of William Stromberg, which provides a hauntingly beautiful layer to the underlying horror.
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6. Testament 1983
A small-town Californian family survives a nuclear exchange, only to witness the complete collapse of everything they once knew. Their desperate attempts to restore some sense of normalcy inevitably fail. The clip is from a movie review in 1983, starting around 1:35 into the clip.
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5. White Light/Black Rain The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
This HBO documentary features interviews with survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, as well as a few Americans who were part of the bomber crews. Let’s hope that 60 years from now, we won’t be making another documentary featuring survivors of another nuclear attack! The clip is the trailer.
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4. BBC History of World War II: Hiroshima (2005)
This BBC documentary uses advanced CGI and other techniques to recreate the attack. It’s incredibly difficult to watch, with Malcolm McDowell’s narration adding to the chilling atmosphere. A brief scene depicts the black rain that fell on the ruined city, which proved deadly to the already weakened survivors.
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3. Threads (1984)
This is arguably the most somber and despairing film ever made (excluding perhaps Grave of the Fireflies). This BBC TV movie portrays Sheffield, England, before, during, and after the nuclear conflict. There is absolutely no glimpse of hope or joy. The film is entirely filled with devastation, death, and the grim decay of what remains. The scene featured is the attack sequence.
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2. Hadashi no Gen (1983)
This outstanding Japanese animated movie follows a family in Hiroshima during 1945. The suspense leading up to the bombing on August 6, 1945, is spine-chilling and exceptionally well-executed. The bombing itself is depicted in slow motion, revealing graphic details that only anime can deliver. It’s an unforgettable and horrifying experience. (Think Grave of the Fireflies for emotional resonance.) The featured scene is the attack sequence.
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1. The Day After (1983)
While not as powerful as the other films (and certainly less impactful than the next two), The Day After ranks high due to its cultural significance. The fear depicted is mild compared to the more intense content we see in modern media, but this film remains an important cultural milestone. When it first aired, my father sent me to bed right after the nuclear attack, and I didn’t see the rest of it until two decades later. The scene shown is the attack sequence.
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