The Manhattan Project

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The Manhattan Project

PG-13

Released Jun 13, 1986

1h 57m

Mystery & Thriller

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50%

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18 Reviews

45%

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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.

Nell Minow

Movie Mom

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

Rated: 4/5

Aug 15, 2002

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

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

Rated: 4/4

Jan 1, 2000

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Richard Freedman

Newhouse News Service

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.

Nov 15, 2019

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David Cornelius

DVDTalk.com

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

Rated: 4.5/5

Jul 12, 2007

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Jake Euker

F5 (Wichita, KS)

Rated: 3/5

Jan 19, 2007

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Mark R. Leeper

rec.arts.movies.reviews

Rated: 1/5

Jul 19, 2005

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Rex J

I cannot recommend this to anyone. The arrogance of the main character and the outright nonsensical ending left me hating this movie so much. I dont care who you are, you face repercussions if you steal nuclear material, which is what he did and he didn't face anything, just walks away!!!!!!!! Reality would have extremely different outcomes. I'm not suprised the director never made another movie, this is lefty activist claptrap nonsense at its zenith.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/07/25

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Michael B

An absolutely ridiculous premise. Could have been written by a 10 year old. I wish I could sue to get the two hours of my life back

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/19/24

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Ted B

2 stars; This film was 'TV movie' quality at best. Can you imagine a 'cute' movie about the potential of a thermonuclear bomb exploding and destroying all the 'lovable' characters in the movie. I think they were trying to make a "Can't we just all live together in peace" message flick. But instead we get fed the incredulity of a MacGyver kid breaking into the most top secret Laboratory in the US, and stealing Plutonium to make a nuclear bomb for a ScienceFair. If our security was as lack as the film portrayed, we wouldn't be here today reviewing this movie.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

05/18/23

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thomas b

During the 1980's, the ramifications of a high school student creating a nuclear bomb was a very novel concept. This film is basically a "eighties-all-the-way" high-school coming-of-age movie, with John Lithgow at his prime, and the threat of global mass destruction furnishing its most valuable hook.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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robert p

I cannot believe anyone can steal materials from a government agency so this movie is beyond me!!

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

"The Manhattan Project" mixes "Real Genius" with "Wargames" (and a side helping of "The Goonies") and delivers a bland result. The movie is short on dialog and long on shots of mundane things like a bus ride. The music is saccharine and works against the serious material, failing to lighten the mood. The movie contains a number of technical errors (at the end a number of characters should have been exposed to radiation) which is perhaps forgivable but is yet one more problem for this film.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

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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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