The Manhattan Project
“Paul Stevens' high school science project has gotten a little out of hand. He just built an atomic bomb. Now he's got 11 hours to make sure it doesn't work.”
Synopsis
A gifted high school student steals plutonium from the secret nuclear weapons facility in his home town in order to construct his own nuclear bomb, win a national science fair, and expose the government's secrets.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Manhattan Project (1986) Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2020-02-09
Top Cast
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John Lithgow
John Mathewson
Christopher Collet
Paul Stephens
Cynthia Nixon
Jenny Anderman
Jill Eikenberry
Elizabeth Stephens
John Mahoney
Lt. Col. Conroy
Richard Jenkins
Radiation Controls Officer
Sully Boyar
Night Guard
Timothy Carhart
Relief Guard
Gregg Edelman
Science Teacher
JD Cullum
Eccles (as John David Cullum)
Abraham Unger
Roland (as Abe Unger)
Robert Sean Leonard
Max
Fred Melamed
Howard
Ned Eisenberg
C-4 Guy (uncredited)
Richard Council
Government Aide
Robert Schenkkan
Government Aide
Steve Blum
Laser Efficiency Kid (as Richard Cardona)
Sarah Burke
Jenny's Parent
Release History & Theatrical Window
June 13, 1986
Wide Cinema Exhibition
May 7, 2007
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$18M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$3.9M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
0.22x
-$14.1M deficit
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Marshall Brickman
- Screenplay & Story
- Thomas Baum, Marshall Brickman
- Original Score
- Philippe Sarde
- Original Title
- The Manhattan Project
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 58m
- Production Budget
- $18M
- Worldwide Gross
- $3.9M
- Production Studios
- Gladden Entertainment
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Marshall Brickman
Thomas Baum, Marshall Brickman
Philippe Sarde
Billy Williams
Nina Feinberg
Jennifer Ogden, Marshall Brickman, Bruce McNall
Department Leadership Roster
Marshall Brickman
Director
Thomas Baum
Writer
Jennifer Ogden
Producer
Billy Williams
Director of Photography
Marshall Brickman
Producer
Philippe Sarde
Original Music Composer
Nina Feinberg
Editor
Marshall Brickman
Writer
Philip Rosenberg
Production Design
Bruce McNall
Producer
Shay Cunliffe
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Manhattan Project.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Manhattan Project
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Manhattan Project about?
A gifted high school student steals plutonium from the secret nuclear weapons facility in his home town in order to construct his own nuclear bomb, win a national science fair, and expose the government's secrets.
Who directed The Manhattan Project?
The Manhattan Project was directed by Marshall Brickman.
Who stars in The Manhattan Project?
The principal cast of The Manhattan Project includes John Lithgow, Christopher Collet, Cynthia Nixon, Jill Eikenberry, John Mahoney.
When was The Manhattan Project released and how long is it?
The Manhattan Project was released in 1986 with a total runtime of 1h 58m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Manhattan Project?
The Manhattan Project had a reported production budget of $18M and grossed $3.9M at the worldwide box office (0.22 return on budget, classified as a underperformed).
Who composed the musical score for The Manhattan Project?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Manhattan Project was composed by Philippe Sarde.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Manhattan Project?
The Manhattan Project holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); US: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.).