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The Final Countdown

Play trailer 2:47 Poster for The Final Countdown PG 1980 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 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. Mar 26, 2009 Full Review Time Out An idea worthy of Harlan Ellison, but disappointingly fumbled. Jan 26, 2006 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times It's filled with technology, special effects and action. But it just doesn't make any sense. Rated: 2/4 Oct 23, 2004 Full Review Madeleine Harmsworth Sunday Mirror (UK) 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. Apr 23, 2025 Full Review Tom Milne Observer (UK) A silly film, if ever I saw one. Apr 23, 2025 Full Review Phil Edwards Starburst A disaster. Jul 26, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Blu B 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. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/21/25 Full Review Paul B 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! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/16/25 Full Review Rob D 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. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/16/25 Full Review Peter G for time travel, i thought this was a lot of fun, the "what if" we could stop Pearl Harbor, fun flick Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/05/25 Full Review Richard J The only good parts in the movie are the F-14 Tomcats and the last scene of the movie. Those things are FAR from being enough to salvage this piece of garbage. Don’t waste your time. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/02/25 Full Review Colin M If you like watching jets take off and land then this movie is for you. If you like plot and acting skip it. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/30/25 Full Review 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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