Nuclear Now

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1:55

Nuclear Now

2023

1h 46m

Documentary

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

75%

Tomatometer

12 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

As fossil fuels continue to cook the planet, the world is finally becoming forced to confront the influence of large oil companies and tactics that have enriched a small group of corporations and individuals for generations. Beneath our feet, Uranium atoms in the Earth's crust hold incredibly concentrated energy--science unlocked this energy in the mid-20th century, first for bombs and then to power submarines and the United States led the effort to generate electricity from this new source. Yet in the mid 20th century as societies began the transition to nuclear power and away from fossil fuels, a long-term PR campaign to scare the public began, funded in part by coal and oil interests. This campaign would sow fear about harmless low-level radiation and create confusion between nuclear weapons and nuclear power. With unprecedented access to the nuclear industry in France, Russia, and the United States, iconic director Oliver Stone explores the possibility for the global community to overcome challenges like climate change and reach a brighter future through the power of nuclear energy--an option that may become a vital way to ensure our continued survival sooner than we think.

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Robert Abele

Los Angeles Times

04/28/2023

A blah format so beholden to dry narration over cascading archival footage.

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Brandon Yu

New York Times

04/27/2023

The film’s aversion to formal or rhetorical bombast as it discusses scientists’ hopes for a better future is its own balm.

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Owen Gleiberman

Variety

10/12/2022

[An] intensely compelling, must-see documentary...

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Damon Wise

Deadline Hollywood Daily

09/21/2023

It’s a hard watch, being dominated by Stone’s dense, monotonous voice-over and featuring scientists with next to no screen presence. Nevertheless, it puts forward a lot of unexpected proposals about nuclear energy, debunking powerful myths along the way.

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Michael J. Casey

Boulder Weekly

07/13/2023

3/5

“We’ve run out of time to be afraid.”

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John Serba

Decider

07/10/2023

[Stone] praises the spirit of progress and the human mind’s capability for ingenuity, concluding on an upbeat note, and maybe crafting a new narrative about Stone himself: instead of being his old divisive self, he’s trying to unite us for a common cause.

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Dennis

05/02/2023

good synopsis of current state of the energy mix and climate crisis. Not an in-depth review and overly optimistic considering the timelines.

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Greg B

05/02/2023

Fantastic and inspirational account of our past and future in the fight against climate change.

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Cinephile B

@runa.r 05/23/2025

As a film it is a bit monotonous, but its informative and educational role is important. It’s a smooth watch.

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Peter W

@RT95455164 04/16/2024

Informative and emotional. Nuclear is the only option to provide a base load instead of coal. Wind and solar are great complements, but can't provide the necessary power output 24/7. The film is accessible and explains the trade offs in a clear way.

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Chris A

@RT82826329 06/24/2023

I heard Oliver Stone interviewed on Breaking Points and paid the $3.99 on Amazon Prime Video to watch it. I might buy it for $12. It's on all the services. YouTube, etc. It was sober, somber, education, calm, informative, and tried not to insult the other energy forms but showed how there's been a lot of misinformation about nuclear power and how a lot of people have been confused about the bomb or how radiation might be more dangerous than coal, gas, pollution, climate change, oil, etc (it's never been—not even Chernobyl or Fukushima). It pleads it's case and begs for your support. It never bashes you over the head. Support this movie, support Oliver Stone. He's brave and the definition of heterodox hero.

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Erik N

@RT45239102 06/22/2023

Easily the worst film he has ever made. A straight forward commercial for the nuclear industry. If you are interested in the basic workings of a nuclear reactor, breeder reactors, plans and methods for nuclear waste disposal, a serious consideration of the effects of radiation, etc. - in short, all of the things you would expect from a film like this - you will be very much disappointed. Given the fact that new reactors are going to be built anyway, out of necessity, with or without our consent, I have to ask why anyone would bother to make such a film.

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Oliver Stone

Director

Oliver Stone

Screenwriter

Joshua S. Goldstein

Screenwriter

Fernando Sulichin

Producer

Max Arvelaiz

Producer

Robert S. Wilson

Producer

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Synopsis

As fossil fuels continue to cook the planet, the world is finally becoming forced to confront the influence of large oil companies and tactics that have enriched a small group of corporations and individuals for generations. Beneath our feet, Uranium atoms in the Earth's crust hold incredibly concentrated energy--science unlocked this energy in the mid-20th century, first for bombs and then to power submarines and the United States led the effort to generate electricity from this new source. Yet in the mid 20th century as societies began the transition to nuclear power and away from fossil fuels, a long-term PR campaign to scare the public began, funded in part by coal and oil interests. This campaign would sow fear about harmless low-level radiation and create confusion between nuclear weapons and nuclear power. With unprecedented access to the nuclear industry in France, Russia, and the United States, iconic director Oliver Stone explores the possibility for the global community to overcome challenges like climate change and reach a brighter future through the power of nuclear energy--an option that may become a vital way to ensure our continued survival sooner than we think.

Director: Oliver Stone
Producer: Fernando Sulichin, Max Arvelaiz, Robert S. Wilson
Screenwriter: Oliver Stone, Joshua S. Goldstein
Distributor: Abramorama
Production Co: New Element Media, Ixtlan Productions
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 28, 2023, Limited
Runtime: 1h 46m