The Manhattan Project 1986

As a brilliant but troubled cocktail aficionado faces mortality's dark truth, he grapples with the devastating impact of his decision on those around him – particularly his innocent son – leaving a trail of shattered lives in its wake.

As a brilliant but troubled cocktail aficionado faces mortality's dark truth, he grapples with the devastating impact of his decision on those around him – particularly his innocent son – leaving a trail of shattered lives in its wake.

Does The Manhattan Project have end credit scenes?

No!

The Manhattan Project does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of The Manhattan Project

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Ratings and Reviews for The Manhattan Project

See how The Manhattan Project is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where The Manhattan Project stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Metacritic

61

Metascore

6.8

User Score

TMDB

63

%

User Score

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The Manhattan Project Quiz: Test your knowledge on the thrilling plot of The Manhattan Project from 1986.

What groundbreaking process does Dr. John Mathewson stumble upon?

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for The Manhattan Project

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Read the complete plot summary of The Manhattan Project, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


In the quiet town of Ithaca, located in upstate New York, Dr. John Mathewson finds himself at the center of a significant discovery when he stumbles upon a revolutionary method for refining plutonium with unparalleled purity. Seizing this rare opportunity, the United States government adopts a guise as a medical corporation, providing him with an advanced laboratory. As John acclimates to his new environment, he unexpectedly meets Elizabeth Stephens, a real estate agent, while on the hunt for an ideal apartment. What starts as an innocent attempt to charm her takes an unforeseen twist when he invites her teenage son, Paul, for a tour of the lab, hoping to leave a positive impression.

However, Paul’s keen intellect and fascination with science set him apart from the typical teenager. When he accidentally discovers an extraordinarily rare five-leaf clover within the lab’s grounds, his suspicion about the true nature of the facility’s activities deepens. Alongside his girlfriend, Jenny Anderman, who dreams of being a journalist, they decide to investigate further, culminating in a daring plan to steal a sample of plutonium to serve as proof of their findings.

Determined that having plutonium alone won’t suffice to unveil the lab’s covert operations, Paul and Jenny design an ambitious scheme to construct the world’s first privately developed nuclear device. They cleverly disguise their experiment as a school project for the New York Science Fair, with Paul convincing his mother and classmates that the focus is on hamsters raised in darkness. Meanwhile, John remains blissfully unaware of the brewing turmoil, increasingly secure in the lab’s capacity to maintain its façade.

Things take a dramatic turn when lab officials realize that a crucial container of plutonium has mysteriously been exchanged for a bottle of shampoo embellished with glitter. Prompting swift action, a military investigative unit, led by Lt. Colonel Conroy, arrives on site, quickly pinpointing Paul as the prime suspect in the theft. As agents close in on him, John feels the weight of responsibility and arranges a discreet meeting with Paul, hoping to persuade him to surrender the explosive device before events spiral out of control.

Despite John’s intentions, Paul and Jenny find a way to evade capture during the chaotic science fair, leading them to devise another strategy to expose the lab’s dark secrets. In a bold move, Paul returns to the laboratory bearing the nuclear device, encircled by snipers and agents ready to take action. Amidst stalled negotiations and rising tensions, John attempts to advocate for Paul, insisting the teenager does not pose a real threat.

As the radioactive energy from the plutonium within the device takes hold, the countdown clock springs to life, its ominous rhythm quickening. Paul suggests relocating the bomb to a nearby quarry, but John’s admission that he underestimated the ramifications of his plutonium refining ignites fear in everyone present: a detonation would unleash destruction far exceeding that of the Hiroshima bombing.

Amid escalating panic, all involved – including Paul, John, and Conroy – drop their weapons and join forces to neutralize the dangerous device. With time slipping away, they exploit every ounce of knowledge and collaboration to disassemble the bomb. In a heart-stopping climax, they achieve successful deactivation just seconds before disaster strikes.

As calm returns, Conroy prepares to detain Paul. Yet, John stands firm against compliance. With a dramatic gesture, he throws open the laboratory doors, unveiling a gathering crowd outside that includes Jenny and the media. The scene fades to black, leaving Paul to depart unhindered, creating a lingering sense of uncertainty and unspoken repercussions in his wake.

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Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for The Manhattan Project

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The Manhattan Project Official Trailer #1 - John Lithgow Movie (1986) HD

The Manhattan Project (1986) Trailer

Movie Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


ithaca new yorkteenage boyreportermilitarywhistleblowerplutoniumatomic bombscientistnuclear weaponscience projectlaboratoryscience fairtime bombcloversingle mothermother son relationshipnew york citytheftthree word titlesuspense1980scold warsciencekissnuclear physicsnuclear poweratom bombproduct placementpickup trucknuclear bombbombnuclear threatengineernuclear engineerphysicistnuclear physicistsports carprofessorrealtorsingle parenthypodermic needleinjectionbustaxiteenage girlteen movieteenage lovechild prodigychild geniusreference to galileo

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