Minor spoilers: The ending is one of the best ever.

A bit dated now, which makes for some slightly humorous moments that really have no place in this film, the last third of the movie will keep you on the edge of your seat, and the ending is thought-provoking and oft imitated. This film is Dr. Strangelove without the laughs.

I really liked this as a kid. Read the book because of it.

Effective paranoid Hollywood thriller.

Nails the fearful paranoia of the era. I love talky pictures done right, and Lumet, Matthau, Fonda et al make this a sweaty, grippingly intense and excitingly brave nail-biter of a thriller that few, if any, contemporary ones come close to matching. Very nice chiaroscuro.

The dark comedy feels just a bit off, though maybe the awkwardness is inherent in the subject matter. Otherwise it's a solid film raised up a notch by a wonderful script and very good performances, at least from the leads.

At the end of the film I just couldn't lift my jaw. I'm seeing a doctor about it and I hope I will recover soon. Cheers.

Wow! One of the scariest black and white films of all time.

Holy mother of god. Plagiarism or not, this is even better than Dr. Strangelove.

Chilling doomsday scenario. Fonda is wonderful as U.S. President who must deal with pressure from all sides as he negotiates a potential 'mistake' war with Russia. Matthau seems oddly miscast as reactionary government man, but remainder of cast are all fine, including a young Hagman as translator. Lumet's crisp, cut-to-the bone direction is a major asset here, and film quietly ratchets up the suspense in the later stages. A product of its era, but excellent if taken in that context.

Slow to build up but halfway through you can't walk away. One of the most unsettling endings ever. Probably could have benefited from a few dance routines and maybe a breakout musical number from Walter Matthau.

Bleak take on the US-USSR nuclear pissing contest. Lacks the touch of greatness, but well worth your time.

Makes a good double-feature with Dr Strangelove. Watch for Matthau as a proto-Kissinger presidential adviser from academe.

Larry Hagman is great.

Again Lumet reaches perfection with this gritty, unnerving and thought-provoking thriller from a hyper-intelligent, immaculately written script. The acting too is a thing of wonder, especially Fonda's charismatic President of the USA and Walter Matthau's brilliant character of a straight-faced lunatic version of Herman Kahn. I immediately loved this but had to watch it a second time to fully appreciate it. Kicks Dr. Strangelove's butt.

Dr. Strangelove done with a straight face. Besides, the world's far less likely to blow up these days...

Good film.

A darker, less humorous Dr. Strangelove. That god-damned dream sequence (with the bull fighting) still sends shivers down my spine. Great, great film.

A great "on the brink of nuclear war film," so if you're into that check it out straight away. However, do yourself a favour and don't read the back of the box unless you already know how it ends.

Well made movie about the threat of nuclear war when everything is automated and the presidents are reduced to bystanders.

Taut, edge of the seat suspense.