The Manhattan Project

PG-13

Released Jun 13, 1986

1h 57m

Mystery & Thriller

List

50%

18 Reviews

Tomatometer

45%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

jon c

John Lithgow, Christopher Collete, and a very young Cynthia Nixon Marshall Brickman directs a Cold War-like thriller involving high government and adolescence At a nuclear physics site in Connecticut something titled 'The Manhattan Project' is being conducted Scientists and generals witness the formation of plutonium for missles In another part of New York Paul is a young teen in high school living with his mom, Medatomics is a facility in his neighborhood where this project is being stored headed by John Matthewson Paul's classmate is Jenny For kicks Paul decides to break into the facility and steal a portion of their radioactive materials to use in a science fair Unfortunately when the government finds out they are less than pleased and take corrective action to make Paul answer for his illegal activity The actual sneaking in and taking the materials scene goes on for 20 min, really could've saved time for a 5 min sequence After that the movie picks up with Paul looking into what he had acquired But how long until the secret service tracks him down and makes him pay? He and Jenny are on the run with the feds hot on their tail True Paul did things against the law but there may be a higher law for what he's trying to accomplish People have a right to know the truth, it's important to know what, where is being created to reassure the public, anybody can make something like an atomic bomb but should they?, the problem with deterrence is not knowing if you're crazy enough to blow things out of proportion, there's such a thing as too many secrets and you can't silence everyone In any other context this plot would be considered a super villain storyline ready to blow up the world But Christopher Colette as Paul brings warmth and charm to role as a young man scared out of his mind of the destructive power everyone's unaware of Lithgow is really good being the compassionate nuclear weapons designer claiming not to be a killer in spite of him manufacturing devices designed to kill There's also provocative questions and moral ethics about everyone's roles This isn't a straight up chase espionage thriller mind you but a more biting commentary on government secrets, weapons, and war

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The kid in this is such an obnoxious and self-centered brat, it's hard to get on his side, or care about whatever point he's trying to make. But it's a fun little adventure/thriller about a kid making a homemade nuke. Kids are sure to get more enjoyment out of it though, as it's ridiculously implausible.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/24/20

Full Review

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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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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

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

Rated: 4/5

Aug 15, 2002

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Jake Euker

F5 (Wichita, KS)

Rated: 3/5

Jan 19, 2007

Full Review

Mark R. Leeper

rec.arts.movies.reviews

Rated: 1/5

Jul 19, 2005

Full Review

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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
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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