To End All War: Oppenheimer & the Atomic Bomb

Play trailer

1:01

To End All War: Oppenheimer & the Atomic Bomb

2023

1h 27m

Biography

Documentary

History

War

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

Tomatometer

3 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

The true story of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer's journey from driven and ambitious scientist to remorseful and tormented man struck hard by the gravity of what he had done. Oppenheimer was tapped to direct the weapons laboratory at Los Alamos during the infamous Manhattan Project, the government research project formed to create the atomic bomb. The narrative centerpiece of To End All War is the Trinity test in the New Mexico desert on July 16, 1945. For Oppenheimer, the successful detonation of the first atom bomb validates years of tireless work. But in this moment of seeming triumph -- as the first mushroom cloud ever seen envelops the pre-dawn sky -- Oppenheimer sees before him a destructive power of almost supernatural magnitude. As he would say later, he feels he has become "death, the destroyer of worlds..." and life will never be the same.

Watch on Peacock

Stream Now

Farah Cheded

A Good Movie To Watch

[Its] combination of ultimately non-threatening treatment with some genuinely compelling nuggets of perspective makes To End All War a quick, largely un-challenging way to brush up on history before or after tackling fictional exploration of its subject.

Rated: 60/100

Jul 28, 2023

Full Review

Jim Schembri

jimschembri.com

The film offers a detailed deep dive into Oppenheimer’s life, incorporating interviews with associates and experts, though perhaps the most moving remarks come from a well-spoken Japanese civilian who survived the nuclear wrath of Oppenheimer’s creation.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jul 27, 2023

Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Whether one watches To End All War ahead of watching Oppenheimer or out of curiosity, it's an insightful look into the scientist's rise and fall.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 9, 2023

Full Review

Read all reviews

Harsh C

Well paced and interesting perspective on the man and the political context of the development and use of the first atomic weapons. Watch this and skip the Nolan movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/07/23

Full Review

Dan R

As 'Oppenheimer' gains rave reviews in cinemas NBC Studios recently released 'To End All War: Oppenheimer & the Atomic Bomb' onto TV. SYNOPSIS: 'Exploring how one man's brilliance, hubris and relentless drive changed the nature of war forever.' This documentary gives a detailed and insightful look into the scientist's rise and fall. There are some genuinely compelling details here with various perspectives of his work and his life. The documentary format gives the viewer the chance to brush up on history before or after tackling the fictional exploration of its subject matter in the cinema. A really well made documentary. 7/10

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/02/23

Full Review

J, B

A really well made documentary. At 1.5 hrs long this film pieces original footage and thoughtful commentary into a gripping documentary of an important piece of the 20th century. Right now I'm not really interested in seeing the 3 hour Christopher Nolan extravaganza.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/21/23

Full Review

Colin U

A very well produced and insightful view into the life of Oppenheimer and the moral and political challenges he confronted.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/18/23

Full Review

Patrick D

I honestly loved it. I liked the story of for it's polarizing choices of the time. The intelligence and the courage to take on with the challenge of saving our nation or possibly destroying our world. I was interested from the moment it started. I was rivited. I would recommend watching it to anyone with an opportunity.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/18/23

Full Review

Jerrod H

It seems like such a revisionist view of the real world events in typical MTV style commentary from people who seem to have no idea. The decision to drop both bombs was the correct decision. To say we could have dropped one in Tokyo Bay to show the bomb was real fails to realize the resolve of the Japanese leadership and military at the time. The option at the time was invade the main island with conventional troops and send most of them to their deaths or just get it over with with the bombs. War is terrible and hard decisions have to be made. These commentators in the movie somehow try to say we were somehow morally wrong to stop the fighting by any means possible at the time seems naïve. The portrait they paint of Oppenheimer does not seem genuine, it seems like a whole bunch of speculation. The movie has a lot of great footage but the modern day commentors are just so hard to watch when you have a good understanding of what was really going on at the time.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/17/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Christopher Cassel

Director

Bill Nye

Self

Charles Oppenheimer

Self

Hideko Tamura

Self

Ellen Bradbury Reid

Self

Michio Kaku

Self

To End All War: Oppenheimer & the Atomic Bomb: Trailer 1

1:01

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

The true story of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer's journey from driven and ambitious scientist to remorseful and tormented man struck hard by the gravity of what he had done. Oppenheimer was tapped to direct the weapons laboratory at Los Alamos during the infamous Manhattan Project, the government research project formed to create the atomic bomb. The narrative centerpiece of To End All War is the Trinity test in the New Mexico desert on July 16, 1945. For Oppenheimer, the successful detonation of the first atom bomb validates years of tireless work. But in this moment of seeming triumph -- as the first mushroom cloud ever seen envelops the pre-dawn sky -- Oppenheimer sees before him a destructive power of almost supernatural magnitude. As he would say later, he feels he has become "death, the destroyer of worlds..." and life will never be the same.

Director: Christopher Cassel
Distributor: Peacock
Production Co: NBC News Studios
Genre: Biography, Documentary, History, War
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 10, 2023
Runtime: 1h 27m

Most Popular at Home Now