The Final Countdown

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2:47

The Final Countdown

PG

1980

1h 44m

Sci-Fi

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

57%

Tomatometer

21 Reviews

60%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

A time warp takes the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and its captain (Kirk Douglas) back to Pearl Harbor, Dec. 6, 1941.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Mar 26, 2009

As a documentary on the USS Nimitz, The Final Countdown is wonderful. As entertainment, however, it has the feeling of a telepic that strayed onto the big screen.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Oct 23, 2004

2/4

It's filled with technology, special effects and action. But it just doesn't make any sense.

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Vincent Canby

New York Times

Aug 30, 2004

The special effects are funnier than, I suspect, they were intended to be.

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Madeleine Harmsworth

Sunday Mirror (UK)

Apr 23, 2025

The carrier has the power to divert history. But should it be done? For most of the film, this issue is sustained with surprising intelligence. Only the ending is something of a letdown.

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Tom Milne

Observer (UK)

Apr 23, 2025

A silly film, if ever I saw one.

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Phil Edwards

Starburst

Jul 26, 2022

A disaster.

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Robert P

@Superbad Oct 18, 2026

The Final Countdown is a *3* star Movie!

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Richard M

@RT84055538 Oct 16, 2026

As a movie its very entertaining. Kirk Douglas, Michael Sheen, Charles Durning, Allie McGraw? Are you not entertained? As a, oh that's right, it cant be anything else but a movie.

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Howard H

@NonMindVirusReviews Jul 31, 2026

A documentary style, time travel Sci-Fi movie with little to no action. BUT, some people like that form of entertainment.

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Max M

@Househuntermax Jul 13, 2026

It’s not too bad. Some really good aerial photography and an interesting story. It’s kind of the Philadelphia Experiment in reverse. Although a bit better than that movie. Watch them as a double feature.

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Andrew W

@Kafinater Mar 10, 2026

I'm not like my wife when it comes to watching a film, no matter how bad the film is, she will watch it to the end, me, on the other hand will give up if it doesn't grip me. The Final Countdown came a close to me giving up with it, but it kept me thinking, what's about to happen? You can tell the film is dated, but the acting was ok, the story believable, and at the end of the film, a feel good factor, yes, I watched to the end! I do have one question though, what was Martin Sheens role in this film?

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Pongo K

@RT48921889 Feb 17, 2026

This movie is really cool. Watch it!

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Don Taylor

Director

Kirk Douglas

Capt. Matthew Yelland

Martin Sheen

Warren Lasky

Katharine Ross

Laurel Scott

James Farentino

Cdr. Richard Owens

Ron O'Neal

Cdr. Dan Thurman

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The Final Countdown: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

A time warp takes the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and its captain (Kirk Douglas) back to Pearl Harbor, Dec. 6, 1941.

Director: Don Taylor
Producer: Peter Douglas
Screenwriter: David Ambrose, Gerry Davis, Thomas Hunter, Peter Powell
Production Co: United Artists, The Bryna Company
Rating: PG
Genre: Sci-Fi
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 7, 2017
Runtime: 1h 44m
Sound Mix: Surround

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