In this nail-biting thriller, Paul (Christopher Collet). A bright 16-year-old, discovers that his mother’s boyfriend Dr. Mathewson (John Lithgow) is refining plutonium undercover, right in their neighborhood. Intent on exposing the secret weapons factory, Paul steals some plutonium with the help of his girlfriend (Cynthia Nixon) and constructs his own atomic bomb. By the time Dr. Mathewson discovers the plutonium is missing and informs the government, the device is built – but the timer inadvertently turns on, beginning a countdown to nuclear catastrophe. Suspenseful to the last few seconds, this intriguing, provocative story takes its name from the real Manhattan Project in the 1940’s that brought about development of the first nuclear weapon used in World War II.

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The Manhattan Project (1986)

Comedy/Suspense/Thriller/Science-Fiction · 1h 57m · 6/13/1986

Play Trailer

The switch is set... The clock has started... Time's running out!

Description

Status

Released

Language

English

Country

United States

Production Company

Gladden Entertainment

Budget

$18,000,000

Revenue

$3,900,000

Watch on Streaming

Free Buy

Source

Part Of

In 10 lists

Cast

John Lithgow

John Mathewson

Richard Council

Government

Robert Schenkkan

Government Aide

Paul Austin

General

Adrian Sparks

Scientist

Curt Dempster

Scientist

Bran Ferren

Lab Assistant

Christopher Collet

Paul Stephens

Jill Eikenberry

Elizabeth Stephens

Cynthia Nixon

Jenny Anderman

Gregg Edelman

Science Teacher

Abraham Unger

Roland (as Abe Unger)

Robert Sean Leonard

Max (as Robert Leonard)

David Quinn

Tennis

Geoffrey Nauffts

Craig

Katherine Hiler

Emma

Trey Cummins

Terry

Steve Borton

Local FBI

Harlan Cary Poe

Local FBI

Ned Schmidtke

Jenny's Parent

Sarah Burke

Jenny's Parent

Allen DeCheser

Jenny's Brother

Arthur De Cheser

Jenny's Brother (as Arthur DeCheser)

John Mahoney

Lt. Col. Conroy

Fred G. Smith

Conroy's Lieutenant

JD Cullum

Eccles (as John David Cullum)

Manny Jacobs

Moore

Charles Fields

Price (as Charlie Fields)

Eric Hsiao

Saito

Trevor Bolling

Halley's Comet Kid

Steve Blum

Laser Efficiency Kid (as Richard Cardona)

Heather Rose Dominic

Flirting Kid (as Heather Dominic)

Bruce Smolanoff

Flirting Kid

Joan Kendall

Registrar

John Doumanian

Cabbie

Tom Tarpey

Injection Doctor

Roger Caine

FBI (as Alec Massey)

Edward D. Murphy

FBI

Dee Ann McDavid

FBI

Joan Harris

Barbara Collins / TV Reporter

Kerry Donovan

Kerry Donovan / WBNG News

Ken Chapin

Command

Peter McRobbie

Electronics

Warren Keith

Computer

Bruce Jarchow

Interrogator

Stephen Markle

Interogator

Al Cerullo

Helicopter Pilot

Richard Jenkins

Radiation Controls Officer

Sully Boyar

Night Guard

Timothy Carhart

Relief Guard

Fred Melamed

Assay Technician

Warren Manzi

Day Attendant

Michael Telesco

Day Security Receptionist

Frank Ferrara

SWAT

Jimmie Ray Weeks

SWAT

William Weslow

SWAT

Dan Butler

SWAT (as Dan E. Butler)

Steve Zettler

SWAT

Richard Caselnova

SWAT

Craig Austin

Bus Heckler (uncredited)

Deborah Gibson

Extra (uncredited)

Keith Howard

Science Fair Kid (uncredited)

Crew

Marshall Brickman

Director

Marshall Brickman

Writer

Thomas Baum

Writer

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Disc Releases

The Manhattan Project

(DVD, Clamshell)

6/4/2002

The Manhattan Project

(Blu-ray, Keep Case (HD, Low))

5/10/2016

Manhattan Project

(DVD)

6/19/2007