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The China Syndrome
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The China Syndrome

1979
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
2h 2m
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Avg Percentile 63.23% from 698 total ratings

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(698)
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Rated 06 Feb 2020
100
94th
Good intense drama I'm not very familiar with Jack Lemmon's film roles But I'm gonna take a guess and say this is probably one of his best ones The real scare doesn't even come from the movie itself It's the fact that the accident they predicted in the movie came true in a real life accident very similar to what was predicted Twelve days after the movie was released
Rated 28 Jun 2011
77
62nd
It starts of as a promising disaster movie turns into an average conspiracy movie. Lemmon was awesome, but Douglas and Fonda were somewhat disappointing. If it were to have kept the momentum created toward the beginning instead of dwindling into touch and go territory it would have been great, but all we have here is a good first fifteen minutes and good last fifteen, the rest is just coasting.
Rated 14 Jun 2014
99
97th
Outstanding conspiracy yarn also doubles as a frightening, tension filled thriller, thanks to some risky directorial choices from Bridges which pay off in spades including a lack of music score, and a non-exploitative documentary level of realism which only adds to the tension. Marvellously subtle work from Lemmon and Fonda (with Douglas effective but occasionally over-the-top), and a supporting cast packed with masters of sinister venality, makes for a great, heart pounding experience.
Rated 19 May 2019
80
80th
Solid thriller/disaster/message movie with a slightly cartoonish bad guy, but the performances of Lemmon and Fonda command too much attention for that to matter.
Rated 20 May 2019
80
86th
Jack Lemmon, who's on superb form here, turns an effective thriller into something special.
Rated 31 Dec 2021
60
62nd
Nice ratcheting up but I was let down by the last act since Jack Lemmon's takeover was uncharacteristic. He had many other options and I would have expected, based on his demonstrated competency, he wouldn't completely blow the interview. Not sure if the film was meant to be anti-nuclear, but it also presented protesters as nutty. Douglas was barely there. Fav scenes: Fonda waltzing in to the station last minute and not missing a beat; Wilford Brimley stepping up.
Rated 22 Sep 2009
81
86th
Brilliant thriller, than culminates in a pulsating ending, with wonderful performances from Lemmon and Fonda. Well written and directed. Looks seriously dated now, but somehow that only adds to the experience. A sometimes forgotten classic.
Rated 25 Dec 2009
100
97th
Though slightly dated, this sci-fi-tinged disaster movie is still powerful and backed up by the best performances of Fonda's and Lemmon's careers -- Douglas had to wait until _Wall Street_ for his career pinnacle. Intelligently written in a quiet, nonexploitive manner and building to a heart-stopping climax, this was released just before the real-life nuclear accident at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania, and benefited enormously from the subsequent publicity.
Rated 22 Mar 2010
78
54th
Really, really, really dated, with 70's nuclear paranoia in full effect. Taken in context, however, it's a pretty tight little thriller with great performances that still works as a critique of corporatism.
Rated 01 Jun 2010
78
79th
a solid thriller throughout, but the final scene is simply brilliant.
Rated 15 Jul 2010
6
62nd
In cinema there are two approaches to social commentary; those movies that try to emphasise realism in their social commentary, and those that whilst they still have social commentary focus on the abstract nature of art. Unfortunately this film fits into the former category and whilst it is moving in its conclusion it was harder to swallow as it was too based in the real world, and too focussed on playing to the sentiments of nuclear protest of the late 70s. Great acting / suspense though.
Rated 31 Aug 2010
86
74th
Fonda, Lemmon, and Douglas (who also doubled as producer) all contribute excellent performances. The tension is taut throughout, with an exciting climax.
Rated 22 Sep 2010
72
86th
Damn the man.
Rated 13 May 2014
86
87th
Tense film. Jack Lemmon seizes the plot with his great portrayal of a concerned nuclear supervisor, with potentially catastrophic consequences at stake if he isn't heard. The tension is palpable. The power of television portrayed feels quite similar to Quiz Show.
Rated 02 Jul 2014
80
75th
Very good thriller, Jack is class as always, he was a brilliant man.
Rated 04 Nov 2017
80
74th
Quality journalism / cover-up thriller. Fonda and Lemmon sparkle in this dialogue-heavy but expertly directed film which has so much going on. With Fonda's glass ceiling battle, evil or conflicted men in suits struggling with responsibility, a nuclear plant teetering on the edge of meltdown, and villains running around offing people, there is never a dull moment. All of the technology may be dated now but in 1979 they sure knew about dramatic tension and pacing. Superior to many 70s thrillers.
Rated 22 May 2019
75
77th
Solid message-disaster-movie, made in a time when you didn't have to get super hyperbole to get either your message or disaster thrills across.
Rated 25 Jan 2021
85
85th
One of the great entries in the 70's "paranoid thriller" series. Isn't it funny how we just stopped caring about nuclear power? Like, even beyond the threat of a nuclear war, I feel like I spent so much of my youth worrying about the lasting effects of nuclear power. Now it's just like, "eh, hope you remember how to eat those M&Ms if something happens".
Rated 26 Feb 2007
70
82nd
Great film.
Rated 14 Apr 2007
90
86th
This kind of movie is now a cliche but this particular one still works like hell on jets
Rated 14 Aug 2007
55
53rd
Score based on distant memory.
Rated 22 Mar 2008
93
82nd
Living near TMI, this kind of hits home. But regardless of where you live, this should be a wake-up call (not to get rid of nuclear energy but for proper monitoring of it.) Topicality aside, this is an interesting suspense drama.
Rated 10 Dec 2008
46
66th
Hvis ikke jeg havde været så træt af Douglas og Fonda ville filmen få en højere værdi, for den er om end lidt "gammeldags" ganske spændende..
Rated 04 Feb 2009
5
80th
Some entertaining suspense - carried mostly by Jack Lemmon and some surprising direction [camera / lack of score really works] from a guy who just a year later goes on to make Urban Cowboy.
Rated 13 Dec 2009
85
69th
An amazingly well-timed release (just when Three Mile Island melted down) that still thrills.
Rated 03 Jun 2010
88
91st
Spoiler Alert! What kind of movie kills Jack Lemmon and lets Jane Fonda and Michael Douglas walk away unscathed? Damn you, movie. Damn you.
Rated 08 Apr 2011
60
22nd
With excellent turns from Jack Lemmon, Wilford Brimley, Jane Fonda and Michael Douglas, it's disappointing that The China Syndrome serves them poorly by lacking a necessary level of urgency. There's a sense that 'showing it as it is' will generate the tension, but Bridges' direction goes from 'realistic' to limp and detached quickly and only really grabs one's attention during the highly-charged control room showdown at the end. Disappointing.
Rated 11 Jun 2011
86
78th
excellent thriller with a brilliant performance by Jane Fonda...The recent Fukushima disaster puts a different level to this 1978 movie
Rated 25 Jan 2012
70
60th
Much more thrilling than the most of today's "thrillers".
Rated 11 Nov 2012
90
80th
Excellent thriller full of 70s paranoia and kitsch, with a great performance from Jane Fonda and a typically phenomenal performance from Jack Lemmon, who elevates every film he's ever in with his presence. A true legend.
Rated 21 Jun 2014
3
45th
A good thriller, with admirable political concerns. Only near the very end does it stumble over a bit of awkward righteousness. Jack Lemmon is fantastic, of course.
Rated 14 Nov 2016
2
46th
Journo-hero movies tend to be a bit naff, made worse here by lots of dry, unsubtle anti-nuclear messaging.
Rated 30 Nov 2016
80
75th
Amazing performance by Lemmon (and Fonda's hair), and a really well written story that had me feeling tense the entire time.
Rated 07 Jan 2017
8
87th
Very tight and very real. Grand themes of corporate power and environmentalism paired up with personal accountability.
Rated 26 Feb 2017
3
40th
En POLITISK film på 70-talet, vilket idag känns lite uppfriskande. Kärnkraften står i centrum och den historien späds inte ut av nån tramsig romans, men möjligen något av frågan om kvinnosaksfrågan. Det är inte så svårt att se vad det var som på den tiden gick mig på nerverna: I en scen säger ett gäng demonstranter att "More words are meaningsless" och sätter - i vad som avses vara en mycket dramatisk gest - munkavle på sig själva. Men jag börjar istället att fnissa. Dougla
Rated 14 Feb 2020
82
88th
Very good 70s thriller about the power of capitalism in both the energy as the tv-news sector. While having also a subtheme about working as a (beautiful) woman in a male dominated business. Lemmon is great as always
Rated 07 Feb 2021
58
75th
Jack Lemmon gives a noteworthy performance in a passable disaster thriller.
Rated 01 Mar 2021
75
64th
Effective and interesting approach to the subject matter. The critique of journalism blends with those of nuclear power and (male) corporate pathology in a way that seems to suggest the film is about not only Karen Silkwood, but Christine Chubbuck as well. Great performances and final shot.
Rated 10 Mar 2021
75
69th
the use of massive retaliation strategy alongside media commentary makes this tense thriller way better.
Rated 23 Jun 2022
70
54th
Chernobyl (2019) + Anchorman (2004) - comedy = The China Syndrome (1979) ~ Well executed for the most part. Gripping and effective drama turns into melodrama.
Rated 27 Apr 2023
61
49th
Decent movie is best to describe it. Dougie was great action and beautiful Jane Fonda.
Rated 01 Jun 2023
50
48th
Strong Lemmon performance as always but young Michael Douglas felt out of place.

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