The Manhattan Project

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The Manhattan Project

PG-13,

1986,

1h 57m,

Mystery & Thriller

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Watchlist

Watchlist

50%

18 Reviews

Tomatometer

45%

5,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

50%

Tomatometer

18 Reviews

45%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Ingenious adolescent Paul Stephens (Christopher Collet) learns about the grim prospects of nuclear aftermath when his mom becomes romantically involved with government scientist John Mathewson (John Lithgow), who is currently experimenting with the ingredients for atomic warfare. Shaken by what he sees, Paul decides to nab the destructive materials and make a small-scale display of their horrible powers at the New York Science Fair, but the Secret Service isn't pleased with his actions.

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Aug 15, 2002

4/5

Surprisingly biting film with great performances by Cynthia Nixon and John Lithgow

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Jan 1, 2000

4/4

A clever, funny and very skillful thriller about how the kid builds his own atomic bomb.

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Richard Freedman

Newark Star-Ledger

Jan 12, 2026

Marshall Brickman's The Manhattan Project is also about the development of a nuclear device, but it's a lot of fun and perhaps the most exciting movie of the summer season so far.

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David Cornelius

DVDTalk.com

Jul 12, 2007

4.5/5

The Manhattan Project remains a clever time capsule of 80s nuclear commentary and a timeless, endlessly watchable thriller.

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Jake Euker

F5 (Wichita, KS)

Jan 19, 2007

3/5

Mark R. Leeper

rec.arts.movies.reviews

Jul 19, 2005

1/5

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Abraham R

Sep 23, 2018

Kids are always smarter than adults. Especially nuclear scientists and security guards.

Mar 9, 2018

Great spirit of physicist

Anakin L

Dec 24, 2017

Dumb movie with the guy from daddy's home 2.

George P

Sep 16, 2017

Inappropriately named, makes you think it's about the actual Manhattan Project. At least the film was ok, nothing I'd go recommending to others though.

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Leia W

Apr 20, 2017

Really good movie just have to have a sense of humor

Abraham M

Mar 31, 2017

I remember seeing this back in the 80's when we first got cable television. It was great. Christopher Collet plays a whiz kid teen who makes a nuclear bomb and then tries to blow up his town with it. Its really slow up until the last half hour, but an entertaining and silly little movie.

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Marshall Brickman

Director

John Lithgow

John Mathewson

Christopher Collet

Paul Stephens

Cynthia Nixon

Jenny Anderman

Jill Eikenberry

Elizabeth Stephens

John Mahoney

Lt. Col. Conroy

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Synopsis

Ingenious adolescent Paul Stephens (Christopher Collet) learns about the grim prospects of nuclear aftermath when his mom becomes romantically involved with government scientist John Mathewson (John Lithgow), who is currently experimenting with the ingredients for atomic warfare. Shaken by what he sees, Paul decides to nab the destructive materials and make a small-scale display of their horrible powers at the New York Science Fair, but the Secret Service isn't pleased with his actions.

Director: Marshall Brickman
Producer: Marshall Brickman, Jennifer Ogden
Screenwriter: Thomas Baum, Marshall Brickman
Production Co: Gladden Entertainment
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 13, 1986, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.8M
Runtime: 1h 57m
Sound Mix: Surround

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