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The China Syndrome

Play trailer Poster for The China Syndrome PG Released Mar 16, 1979 2h 2m Mystery & Thriller Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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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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The China Syndrome

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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John M Jack Lemmon alone is worth the price of admission - a brilliant portrayal of a man conflicted about what he knows in his heart he must do. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/16/24 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Read all reviews
The China Syndrome

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The China Syndrome

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Movie Info

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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