Television Event

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Television Event

Released May 30

1h 30m

Documentary

History

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Popcornmeter

88%

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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).

Alissa Wilkinson

New York Times

“Television Event” also shows how message-driven entertainment, which can so often be preachy and boring, can also accomplish its goals.

May 30, 2025

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Owen Gleiberman

Variety

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."

Nov 15, 2020

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Sheri Linden

The Hollywood Reporter

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.

Nov 11, 2020

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Erik Childress

Movie Madness Podcast

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.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 9, 2025

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Erik Reeds

Spectrum Culture

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.

Jun 3, 2025

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Avi Offer

NYC Movie Guru

Fascinating, well-edited and illuminating.

May 25, 2025

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Stephen C

1.5 hours of fantastic real footage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/30/25

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Jeff Daniels

Director

Nicholas Meyer

Self

Ted Koppel

Self

Stephanie Austin

Self

Kenneth Adelman

Self

Jeff Daniels

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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