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The Final Countdown

Play trailer 2:47 Poster for The Final Countdown PG 1980 1h 44m Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
52% Tomatometer 23 Reviews 60% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
A time warp takes the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and its captain (Kirk Douglas) back to Pearl Harbor, Dec. 6, 1941.
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The Final Countdown

Critics Reviews

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Variety Staff Variety Mar 26, 2009
As a documentary on the USS Nimitz, The Final Countdown is wonderful. As entertainment, however, it has the feeling of a telepic that strayed onto the big screen. Go to Full Review
Time Out Jan 26, 2006
An idea worthy of Harlan Ellison, but disappointingly fumbled. Go to Full Review
Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Oct 23, 2004
2/4
It's filled with technology, special effects and action. But it just doesn't make any sense. Go to Full Review
Madeleine Harmsworth Sunday Mirror (UK) Apr 23, 2025
The carrier has the power to divert history. But should it be done? For most of the film, this issue is sustained with surprising intelligence. Only the ending is something of a letdown. Go to Full Review
Tom Milne Observer (UK) Apr 23, 2025
A silly film, if ever I saw one. Go to Full Review
Phil Edwards Starburst Jul 26, 2022
A disaster. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Robert P @Superbad 3 days ago The Final Countdown is a *3* star Movie! See more Richard M @RT84055538 5 days ago As a movie its very entertaining. Kirk Douglas, Michael Sheen, Charles Durning, Allie McGraw? Are you not entertained? As a, oh that's right, it cant be anything else but a movie. See more Howard H @NonMindVirusReviews Jul 31, 2026 A documentary style, time travel Sci-Fi movie with little to no action. BUT, some people like that form of entertainment. See more Max M @Househuntermax Jul 13, 2026 It’s not too bad. Some really good aerial photography and an interesting story. It’s kind of the Philadelphia Experiment in reverse. Although a bit better than that movie. Watch them as a double feature. See more Andrew W @Kafinater Mar 10, 2026 I'm not like my wife when it comes to watching a film, no matter how bad the film is, she will watch it to the end, me, on the other hand will give up if it doesn't grip me. The Final Countdown came a close to me giving up with it, but it kept me thinking, what's about to happen? You can tell the film is dated, but the acting was ok, the story believable, and at the end of the film, a feel good factor, yes, I watched to the end! I do have one question though, what was Martin Sheens role in this film? See more Pongo K @RT48921889 Feb 17, 2026 This movie is really cool. Watch it! See more Read all reviews
The Final Countdown

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Movie Info

Synopsis A time warp takes the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and its captain (Kirk Douglas) back to Pearl Harbor, Dec. 6, 1941.
Director
Don Taylor
Producer
Peter Douglas
Screenwriter
David Ambrose, Gerry Davis, Thomas Hunter, Peter Powell
Production Co
United Artists, The Bryna Company
Rating
PG
Genre
Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 7, 2017
Runtime
1h 44m
Sound Mix
Surround
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