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Television Event

Play trailer Poster for Television Event May 2025 1h 30m Documentary History Play Trailer Watchlist
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88% Tomatometer 16 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
TELEVISION EVENT is an archive-based feature documentary that views the dramatic climax of the Cold War through the lens of a commercial television network, as it narrowly succeeds in producing the most watched, most controversial made-for-TV movie, THE DAY AFTER (1983).

Critics Reviews

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Alissa Wilkinson New York Times May 30
“Television Event” also shows how message-driven entertainment, which can so often be preachy and boring, can also accomplish its goals. Go to Full Review Owen Gleiberman Variety 11/15/2020
The issue with "Television Event"... is what's not there: a shred of commentary that isn't pimping for the movie, that might provide a larger cultural context for it or even (God forbid) look a bit askance at what "The Day After" "achieved." Go to Full Review Sheri Linden The Hollywood Reporter 11/11/2020
In 1983, most Americans expected a nuclear war to take place within the next 10 years. Daniels' sharp film never loses sight of that sense of urgency. Go to Full Review Erik Childress Movie Madness Podcast Jun 9
3/4
Memories of The Day After run deep for all ages and this film is a remarkable, detailed journey with Nicholas Meyer from the combative creative process through the reverberation of its impact in 1983. Go to Full Review Erik Reeds Spectrum Culture Jun 3
As an educational piece, despite its limitation in scope, Television Event trudges along as an informative enough doc. As anything requiring contemplation (or even two-dimensionality), it seems entirely uninterested. Go to Full Review Avi Offer NYC Movie Guru May 25
Fascinating, well-edited and illuminating. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 May 30 1.5 hours of fantastic real footage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Read all reviews
Television Event

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Jeff Daniels

Director

Nicholas Meyer

Self

Ted Koppel

Self

Stephanie Austin

Self

Kenneth Adelman

Self

Jeff Daniels

Producer

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Television Event

Television Event (2020) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis TELEVISION EVENT is an archive-based feature documentary that views the dramatic climax of the Cold War through the lens of a commercial television network, as it narrowly succeeds in producing the most watched, most controversial made-for-TV movie, THE DAY AFTER (1983).
Director
Jeff Daniels
Producer
Jeff Daniels, Ozzy Inguanzo, Amanda Spain
Distributor
The Film Desk
Production Co
Impact Partners, Common Room Productions
Genre
Documentary, History
Original Language
Australian English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 30, 2025, Limited
Runtime
1h 30m