The China Syndrome

PG

Released Mar 16, 1979

2h 2m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

List

88%

Tomatometer

40 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

A news reporter (Jane Fonda) and her cameraman (Michael Douglas) are unintentional witnesses to a SCRAM incident, an emergency core shutdown procedure at a nuclear power plant in California. The crew prevents a catastrophe, but the plant supervisor (Jack Lemmon) begins to suspect the plant is in violation of safety standards, and tries desperately to bring it to the attention of the public, fearing that another SCRAM incident will produce an atomic disaster.

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Critics Consensus

With gripping themes and a stellar cast, The China Syndrome is the rare thriller that's as thought-provoking as it is tense.

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Bob Thomas

Associated Press

The characters are never more than skin-deep, but the events are more important, and director James Bridges builds the tension to an almost unbearable pitch.

Nov 8, 2021

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

A tightly assembled didactic thriller.

Mar 27, 2009

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

A moderately compelling thriller about the potential perils of nuclear energy, whose major fault is an overweening sense of its own self-importance.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

John Brosnan

Starburst

It’s a beautifully made thriller that never puts a foot wrong and maintains its pace and skillful build-up of suspense to the very end.

Jul 23, 2022

Full Review

Tom Huhn

Washington Blade

What gives the movie its major impact (beyond the shock value of the events) is its exploration of human nature and how the values of the characters are tested and shaped by crisis.

May 18, 2022

Full Review

Michael Ventura

L.A. Weekly

It's refreshing beyond hyperbole to see such suspense generated not by distortions of human perversion and/or heroism, but by well-portrayed human reactions in a terrible but not exaggerated situation.

Nov 5, 2021

Full Review

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j f

Dire warning of what would happen if Lil Tony was in charge of nuclear power instead of disease. Title is coincidence.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/21/24

Full Review

Audience Member

A good 70s movie with a great cast

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/03/23

Full Review

Russ G

Ensign Pulver running a nuke plant! What Can POSSIBLY Go Wrong? Seriously, Jack Lemmon is only suited for screwball comedies, and just barely. If his foil is Jimmy Cagney, that's one thing, but to see him do his usual shtick here is just painful. Throw in the overacting by Jane Fonda and Michael Douglas, and you've got yourself a real stinker.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

12/16/22

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Shioka O

Jack Lemon rules. The topic still relevant today. I felt the middle part a bit boring.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/18/22

Full Review

john e

I'm a big fan of films that expose corporate corruptness so this was up my alley. I'm generally not a big Michael Douglas fan, but really liked him in this. Jack Lemmon and Wilford Brimley were outstanding.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

delysid d

a paranoid story at a nuclear reactor. don't worry

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/17/21

Full Review

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James Bridges

Director

Jane Fonda

Kimberly Wells

Jack Lemmon

Jack Godell

Michael Douglas

Richard Adams

Scott Brady

Herman De Young

James Hampton

Bill Gibson

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Synopsis

A news reporter (Jane Fonda) and her cameraman (Michael Douglas) are unintentional witnesses to a SCRAM incident, an emergency core shutdown procedure at a nuclear power plant in California. The crew prevents a catastrophe, but the plant supervisor (Jack Lemmon) begins to suspect the plant is in violation of safety standards, and tries desperately to bring it to the attention of the public, fearing that another SCRAM incident will produce an atomic disaster.

Director: James Bridges
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: IPC Films
Rating: PG
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 16, 1979, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2011
Runtime: 2h 2m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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