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The Final Countdown

Play trailer 2:47 Poster for The Final Countdown PG Now Playing 1h 44m Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
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52% Tomatometer 23 Reviews 60% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
A time warp takes the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and its captain (Kirk Douglas) back to Pearl Harbor, Dec. 6, 1941.
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The Final Countdown

Critics Reviews

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Variety Staff Variety 03/26/2009
As a documentary on the USS Nimitz, The Final Countdown is wonderful. As entertainment, however, it has the feeling of a telepic that strayed onto the big screen. Go to Full Review
Time Out 01/26/2006
An idea worthy of Harlan Ellison, but disappointingly fumbled. Go to Full Review
Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 10/23/2004
2/4
It's filled with technology, special effects and action. But it just doesn't make any sense. Go to Full Review
Madeleine Harmsworth Sunday Mirror (UK) Apr 23
The carrier has the power to divert history. But should it be done? For most of the film, this issue is sustained with surprising intelligence. Only the ending is something of a letdown. Go to Full Review
Tom Milne Observer (UK) Apr 23
A silly film, if ever I saw one. Go to Full Review
Phil Edwards Starburst 07/26/2022
A disaster. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Ernie K Aug 11 An absurd yet fascinating premise, with a true moral dilemma baked into the plot. If you put reality on hold and enjoy the very good performances (especially Kirk Douglas, Charles Durning, and Martin Sheen) you'll find it a worthwhile journey through another dimension with a great twist ending. It's an interesting meld of history, philosophy, and imagination. See more william g Jul 21 Saw this at the theater when it was released and many times after. Loved it. I would change Captain Yelland to an Admiral that was conducting training maneuvers and assumed the command of the ship. They could’ve explored the fact that Yellen was old enough to be at Pearl Harbor. He could have reflected on his memories and what he did during the war, cause Kurt Douglass served in the Navy during World War II. Other than that I thought it was fantastic! See more Robert D Jul 12 This is my favorite movie for showcasing US Navy "power". Without Models and CGI the visually just look priceless. The movie Score is excellent. The plot is interesting and as good as any Twilight Zone or Star Trek story. Just great movie. I think I even like this more than those great Top Gun Movies. See more Blu B Jun 21 Boy wanna talk about having a cool idea and doing nothing with it...case and point. It's literally a Twilight Zone Episode on the big screen. The acting and cinematography are alright. The on location carrier is cool and all the effects are great. The direction isn't bad but it just starts to get a bit boring and it involves a lot of talking and talking and idea debating more than doing anything with those ideas. Imagine a bunch of Princeton time travel professors talking on a ship. You'd get this half the time. The other half is kind of like pointless subplots to an extent. Douglas isn't bad but he really doesn't do much but act as the narrator and rock for whats happening. Sheens whole character....man I struggle to find one reason why he should exist here. You could remove him completely and nothing changes. Everything else though isn't bad. It makes perfect sense, proposes unique ideas and interesting questions, and it does feel like it builds to something happening. But than at the very end it chickens out or fakes you out and does NOTHING no big battle at all and honestly it just feels like everyone is just tourists on a theme park ride more than having any real effect on anything. It never really feels like or looks like it's 1941 either. Rather this does a good job of giving an illusion of 1941. Besides some planes, stock pics, radio sound, and few characters from the time it really doesn't immerse you in the period. I just wish it would've done something rather than just built up tension well with no payoff and just leave you pondering ideas. No character development exists, no payoff, no message, really nothing. But it's interesting enough especially if you wanna see a Twilight Zone episode effectively on the big screen. Or if your a big fan of any actors in this. Most though could skip this. What a missed opportunity. See more Paul B Apr 16 I thought it was entertaining, somewhat dry at times but expected in a military environment. Great soundtrack and effects. I enjoyed the twist at the end, made me have to watch the beginning again. Nice blend of military meets syfy! See more Rob D @RobDuncan Apr 16 I watched this on a lark. I found it incredibly entertaining. I didn’t see the twist coming! This was much more entertaining and had more action than TOP GUN IMHO. See more Read all reviews
The Final Countdown

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Movie Info

Synopsis A time warp takes the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and its captain (Kirk Douglas) back to Pearl Harbor, Dec. 6, 1941.
Director
Don Taylor
Producer
Peter Douglas
Screenwriter
David Ambrose, Gerry Davis, Thomas Hunter, Peter Powell
Production Co
United Artists, The Bryna Company
Rating
PG
Genre
Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 7, 2017
Runtime
1h 44m
Sound Mix
Surround
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