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Poster for The China Syndrome

The China Syndrome

People who know the meaning of "The China Syndrome" are scared... Soon you will know.

1979 · 2h 2m · PG Drama, Thriller
Directed by James Bridges

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Overview

While doing a series of reports on alternative energy sources, opportunistic reporter Kimberly Wells witnesses an accident at a nuclear power plant. Wells is determined to publicize the incident, but soon finds herself entangled in a sinister conspiracy to keep the full impact of the incident a secret.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
88%
Tomatometer
Fresh

A tightly assembled didactic thriller.

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Rotten

A moderately compelling thriller about the potential perils of nuclear energy, whose major fault is an overweening sense of its own self-importance.

Variety Staff, Variety
Fresh

All a bit too earnest, despite the seriousness of the subject, with Fonda setting her jaw and stepping into father's footsteps as Tinseltown's very own protector of humanity; but it's tightly scripted and directed, and genuinely tense in places.

Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Fresh

A terrific thriller that incidentally raises the most unsettling questions about how safe nuclear power plants really are.

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Fresh

The three stars are splendid, but maybe Miss Fonda is just a bit more than that. Her performance is not that of an actress in a star's role, but that of an actress creating a character that happens to be major within the film.

Vincent Canby, New York Times

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