The Manhattan Project

Marshall Brickman
1986-06-13

Paul Stevens' high school science project has gotten a little out of hand. He just built an atomic bomb. Now he's got 11 hours to make sure it doesn't work.
6.237
118 min

Named after the World War II-era program, the plot revolves around a gifted high school student who decides to construct a nuclear bomb for a national science fair. The film's underlying theme involves the Cold War of the 1980s when government secrecy and mutually assured destruction were key political and military issues.

Cast

Name Character Team
John Lithgow John Mathewson Zac E. Chan
Christopher Collet Paul Stephens Unowned
Cynthia Nixon Jenny Anderman Unowned
Jill Eikenberry Elizabeth Stephens Unowned
John Mahoney Lt. Col. Conroy Unowned
Richard Jenkins Radiation Controls Officer Hangin with Mr. Cooper
Robert Sean Leonard Max Unowned
Steve Blum Laser Efficiency Kid (as Richard Cardona) Unowned
Sarah Burke Jenny's Parent Unowned
Robert Schenkkan Government Aide Unowned
Richard Council Government Aide Unowned
Fred Melamed Howard Goutbreak
Ned Eisenberg C-4 Guy (uncredited) Unowned