Filmmakers frequently leverage apocalyptic end-of-the-world scenarios to captivate viewers. Whether it’s worlds being obliterated by alien invasions or Thanos snapping away half the universe’s inhabitants, filmmakers often portray civilization being wiped out under nuclear mushroom clouds.

Fail-Safe is an exemplary nuclear-themed film. Although many believe Dr. Strangelove satirized Fail-Safe, both films debuted in 1964, with Dr. Strangelove appearing first. They both rank high on my list of favored movies. George C. Scott delivers a memorable performance as General Buck Turgidson, with a humorous scene explaining how victory could be ours if a preemptive strike against the communists succeeds. In the accompanying clip, Turgidson elaborates that a skilled pilot could penetrate communist defenses.

This dark comedy ultimately conveys the same message as Fail-Safe: in a nuclear conflict, there are no true victors. The Planet of the Apes concludes with the unforgettable image of the Statue of Liberty ensconced in rock and sand—signifying self-destruction.

In Wargames, “WOPR” learns, just in time, that a nuclear war is like tic-tac-toe – there’s no winner. “Best not play”.  

In other words, nuclear war is bad. Very bad.  

Once the test at White Sands proved successful, Oppenheimer reflected on his role as the “destroyer of worlds.” Initially, America stood alone with nuclear capability, assured in its position as the protagonist, with no imminent threat of global annihilation. However, a communist espionage incident shifted this dynamic, ushering the Soviets into the nuclear arena and sparking the Cold War. Presently, nine nations possess nuclear arsenals. How likely is any of these countries to initiate a nuclear strike? The probability remains slim. The U.S. is unlikely to act first. While North Korea might entertain the thought, doing so would lead to the demise of its leader and regime.

During Eisenhower’s presidency, the prospect of a nuclear confrontation became a conceivable reality, though still improbable. Eisenhower believed that amassing a significant nuclear arsenal and threatening its use would provide sufficient deterrence under the policy of Mutually Assured Destruction. He also argued that reducing conventional weaponry and military personnel was logical since the threat of nuclear warfare made conventional war both unfeasible and unwinnable.

Nuclear winter scenarios continue to provide material for writers and filmmakers, yet are we truly on the brink of nuclear conflict? The straightforward answer is, No. Nonetheless, filmmakers persist in exploring “end of the world” narratives in their works. The latest example is “House of Dynamite”.

Kathryn Bigelow, once married to James Cameron, directed the film. A real corker of an idea – the world is on the edge of nuclear war. Apparently, a bad-actor nation (they think it is North Korea) has launched an ICBM, and it is headed for Chicago. I haven’t a clue how “we” know the trajectory, but don’t know the launch origin of the ICBM. One reviewer praised Bigelow for her groundbreaking use of personal backstories of characters and the film’s “realism”. Pro tip: Fail Safe did that 60 years ago.  

Bigelow wants us to know that we need to de-nuke the world before it’s too late. Well, that’s another original thought, Kathryn. No one has thought of that before. She hopes her film will be a tipping point toward disarmament. With her blessing, nations will start rolling their stockpiles to dumpsters in her perfect world.  

“Hope against hope, maybe we will reduce the nuclear stockpile someday,” she added, “but in the meantime, we are really living in a house of dynamite.” 

“We need to be much more informed, and that would be my greatest hope — that we actually initiate a conversation about nuclear weapons and non-proliferation in a more perfect world.” 

Stunning. Bigelow sounds like a contestant in a beauty pageant. Her film will inform the world that nukes are bad. Very bad, and we need to de-nuke because, like, nukes are bad. Very bad. She wants world peace. Thanks, Miss California.  

The film debuted at the Venice Film Festival. Bigelow’s movie received an 11-minute standing ovation. Who gets an 11-minute standing ovation? Kim Jong Un and Kathryn Bigelow. Her crew of actors clasped their hands and bowed, soaking in the adulation.  

Angel Reese, the WNBA’s star bricklayer, makes a cameo appearance in the film. Idris Elba, a black British actor, plays the American President. A few months ago, Elba suggested that if the UK would just take the pointy points off knives, knife crime would be reduced. Shaving down the point on a kitchen knife, like “toddler-proofing” a coffee table, is some next-level silliness. But he plays the ever-wise US President. 

Bigelow added: 

“The film is an invitation to decide what to do about all these weapons. How is annihilating the world a good defensive measure?” 

Well, it’s not the annihilating part, it’s the threat part. If you hit me, I’ll annihilate you. Maybe I’ll get an Oscar nomination for that clarification. Perhaps a Nobel Peace Prize.

She also added: 

[S]he was motivated by a desire to “get that information out there.” 

Breaking news, Bigelow: You aren’t breaking news. News of nukes has been “out there” for 80 years.  

Until the Mullahs in Iran and the Hermit King and commie countries suddenly decide that nukes are not in their best interest, the West cannot and will not disarm. In fact, the only safeguard against nuclear blackmail is the West holding onto its nuclear stockpiles.  

Cast members said that after watching themselves on film, they “couldn’t sleep for a week”. Does anyone think that Idris Elba could describe the difference between a tactical nuke and a strategic nuke? I kind of doubt it. But he knows a paring knife is pointy and should be banned.  

The film seems to track the new Hollywood guidelines on diversity. The US President is a black British man. Check. The Situation Room has a woman officer in charge. Check. She’s a 40-year-old Captain, running the Situation Room Communications? A Captain at 40? Never mind.  

Who plays the required gay character remains a mystery. We have to wait to see. It opens in the UK in early October. General release is a few weeks later, on Netflix.  

The Doomsday Clock is ticking. Can the world wait?