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The Final Countdown

  • 1980
  • PG
  • 1h 43m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
28K
YOUR RATING
The Final Countdown (1980)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer3:14
3 Videos
75 Photos
Sea AdventureTime TravelActionAdventureSci-Fi

A modern aircraft carrier is thrown back in time to 1941 near Hawaii, just hours before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.A modern aircraft carrier is thrown back in time to 1941 near Hawaii, just hours before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.A modern aircraft carrier is thrown back in time to 1941 near Hawaii, just hours before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

  • Director
    • Don Taylor
  • Writers
    • Thomas Hunter
    • Peter Powell
    • David Ambrose
  • Stars
    • Kirk Douglas
    • Martin Sheen
    • Katharine Ross
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    28K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Don Taylor
    • Writers
      • Thomas Hunter
      • Peter Powell
      • David Ambrose
    • Stars
      • Kirk Douglas
      • Martin Sheen
      • Katharine Ross
    • 245User reviews
    • 78Critic reviews
    • 51Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations

    Videos3

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 3:14
    Official Trailer
    The Final Countdown
    Trailer 2:53
    The Final Countdown
    The Final Countdown
    Trailer 2:53
    The Final Countdown
    The Final Countdown: What The Hell Is That?
    Clip 3:21
    The Final Countdown: What The Hell Is That?

    Photos75

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    Top cast95

    Edit
    Kirk Douglas
    Kirk Douglas
    • Capt. Matthew Yelland
    Martin Sheen
    Martin Sheen
    • Warren Lasky
    Katharine Ross
    Katharine Ross
    • Laurel Scott
    James Farentino
    James Farentino
    • Cdr. Richard Owens…
    Ron O'Neal
    Ron O'Neal
    • Cdr. Dan Thurman
    Charles Durning
    Charles Durning
    • Sen. Samuel Chapman
    Victor Mohica
    Victor Mohica
    • Black Cloud
    James Coleman
    • Lt. Perry
    • (as James C. Lawrence)
    Soon-Tek Oh
    Soon-Tek Oh
    • Simura
    • (as Soon-Teck Oh)
    Joe Lowry
    • Cdr. Damon
    Alvin Ing
    Alvin Ing
    • Lt. Kajima
    Mark Thomas
    • Marine Cpl. Kullman
    Harold Bergman
    • Bellman
    Dan Fitzgerald
    Dan Fitzgerald
    • Navy Doctor
    Lloyd Kaufman
    Lloyd Kaufman
    • LCdr. Kaufman
    Peter Douglas
    Peter Douglas
    • Quartermaster
    Ted Richert
    • Tideman's Assistant
    George Warren
    • Tideman's Bodyguard
    • Director
      • Don Taylor
    • Writers
      • Thomas Hunter
      • Peter Powell
      • David Ambrose
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      A total of 48 real life U.S. Navy personnel from the USS Nimitz were credited in the closing credits for their performances as extras, background artists, or actors; some even had speaking parts.
    • Goofs
      When Mr. Lasky first arrives on board the Nimitz, he is met at the hatch into the island by the XO, CDR Thurman. CDR Thurman has his cover on, on the flight deck, during flight operations. As the XO, he should know that covers are never worn on the flight deck during flight ops. The hat could get blown off his head and become FOD, or Foreign Object Debris, and possibly get sucked into a jet intake and cause major damage to the engine and maybe cost some sailors their lives.
    • Quotes

      [an F-14 pilot is reporting the identity of a pair of enemy planes to Captain Yelland over the radio]

      Captain Yelland: Alert 1 this is Eagle 1, what've you got?

      Pilot: Two Japanese Zeroes, sir.

      Captain Yelland: Two what?

      Pilot: Two Trophy Class Mitsubishi A6Ms in original condition, complete with all markings. I mean, they look brand new sir!

      Captain Yelland: Have you been spotted?

      Pilot: Negative, we're right in the sun at their 6 o'clock high.

      Captain Yelland: Stay in visual contact, take no action without clearance.

      Pilot: Wilco Eagle 1, out.

    • Alternate versions
      UK cinema and video versions were cut by six secs to edit blood spurts from gunshots. In 2002 these cuts were waived by the BBFC.
    • Connections
      Edited from Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970)
    • Soundtracks
      Begin the Beguine
      (uncredited)

      Written by Cole Porter

    User reviews245

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10

    A Good Film that Has not Aged

    In 1980, the assistant of the Department of Defense Warren Lasky (Martin Sheen) is assigned by his mysterious chief Richard Tideman to visit the aircraft carrier USS Nimtz commanded by Capt. Matthew Yelland (Kirk Douglas) as an observer of the routines. Lasky finds that Wing Commander Richard T. Owens (James Farentino) has a great knowledge of history.

    Out of the blue, the vessel faces a weird storm and they find that they have traveled back in time to the eve of the attack of Pearl Harbor on 06 December 1941. When the two Japanese Zeros attack the motorboat of Senator Samuel Chapman (Charles Durning), the crew of the Nimitz rescues the senator and his assistant Laurel Scott (Katharine Ross). But sooner Lasky learns that the senator had disappeared on that day and Capt. Matthew Yelland is planning to attack the Japanese. Will these actions create a time paradox?

    Today I have seen "The Final Countdown" maybe for the fifth or sixth time, and it is impressive how this good film has not aged after more than thirty years. The story has time paradox but is engaging supported by a magnificent cast. The DVD released on Brazil by New Line distributor is excellent, with audio Dolby 5.1 and DTS 6.1 and a documentary with the unit production manager Lloyd Kaufaman (Troma) in the Extras. My vote is seven.

    Title (Brazil): "Nimitz - De Volta ao Inferno" ("Nimitz – Back to Hell")
    • claudio_carvalho
    • May 12, 2012
    • Permalink

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    FAQ22

    • How long is The Final Countdown?Powered by Alexa
    • What is the point of this film exactly?
    • Had they stopped the airstrike would it have averted US involvement in WW2?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 1, 1980 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Japanese
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • El final de la cuenta atrás
    • Filming locations
      • USS Nimitz, Atlantic Ocean
    • Production companies
      • Bryna Productions
      • Film Finance Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $12,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $16,647,800
    • Gross worldwide
      • $16,647,800
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 43 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
      • Dolby Atmos
      • Dolby Surround 7.1
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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