Australia/USA/2020 — directed by Jeff Daniels | 90 min.

In the fall of 1983, the cover of Newsweek featured the words “TV’s NUCLEAR NIGHTMARE!” as millions of American viewers awaited the long-publicized premiere of a made-for-TV movie on the ABC network depicting the actual effects of an all-out nuclear exchange with the Soviet Union. 

The threat of nuclear annihilation loomed large at the time, and The Day After played directly on these fears, ultimately attracting a staggering viewership of 100 million Americans — the largest audience in history for any TV movie up to that point. Television Event documents the story behind this audacious project after it was greenlit by ABC. 

The Day After’s director, Nicholas Meyer (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan), details — often hilariously — the clashes with network executives and censors to finish and broadcast the film that so disturbed President Reagan it reportedly influenced his nuclear weapons policy. 

“Absolutely riveting and highly entertaining… a remarkable, often oddly funny look at a game-changing show business event. It is a wild ride to be sure.” — Pete Hammond, Deadline