Overview
- The film dramatizes the U.S. response to a single, unattributed ICBM on course for Chicago, replaying the same roughly 18 minutes from multiple perspectives.
- Idris Elba plays a president forced to weigh retaliation as Rebecca Ferguson’s Situation Room officer manages crisis communications and protocol.
- Production leaned on real-world expertise, with former White House Situation Room director Larry Pfeiffer and military advisers guiding terminology and workflows.
- Bigelow says the project is intended to prompt discussion about nuclear posture and the concentration of launch authority in a single decision-maker.
- Following a brief U.S. theatrical run and a high-profile Venice premiere, critical reaction ranges from praise for tension and realism to sharp critiques of the repeated structure and conclusion.