The Atomic Cafe
Seen it?1982 | 86 min | Documentary, History
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (93% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office loss and little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for the curious and history buffs.
- The mood
- Eye-opening.
- The pace
- Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 26 min.
- What might put you off
- Nothing much for most grown-ups.
A disturbing collection of 1940s and 1950s United States government-issued propaganda films designed to reassure Americans that the atomic bomb was not a threat to their safety.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
93% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$22K worldwide on a $300K budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 23K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Jayne Loader, Pierce Rafferty, Kevin Rafferty
- Harry S. TrumanSelf (archive footage)
- Lyndon B. JohnsonSelf (archive footage)
- Nikita KhrushchevSelf (archive footage)
- Lewis StraussSelf (archive footage)
- Julius RosenbergSelf (archive footage)
- Ethel RosenbergSelf (archive footage)
- Paul TibbetsSelf (archive footage)
- Lloyd BentsenSelf (archive footage)