Fears of World War 3 grow: 5 nuclear war movies that show what a global conflict could look like

Conversations in the month of October for netizens mostly oscillate around the changing weather to a lingering cool autumn, shorter days, and sometimes about the myth of a plethora of breakups. But this time this month was also frightening for the future of humans on this planet.

Yes, you read it right, in the ongoing war in Europe, Russian strikes on Ukraine killed more than 100 civilians across the country, missile attacks shut down Riyadh airport, Poland’s warning of the hybrid Russian attacks inside the EU, China’s massive live-fire exercise, and the most powerful nation on Earth warning its military to prepare to survive without outside help for 90 days; it all happned within the months of October. And people who are aware of these events may be rightfully asking on social media, are we really going for World War 3 this time?

Also Read: Is the world preparing for war? Why US, UK, Japan and Europe are ringing emergency alarm bells


Collectively, the answer depends on the respective countries' chosen leaders and how diplomacy decides our fate. But one thing is that most of the experts are convinced that whether or not the entire world is fighting for the third time, the way would be ‘nuclear’ this time, nothing we have seen before.

Keeping the question for the future, realistically, there is a way to find out what it is like to witness a third world war, which possibly will be a nuclear one, from the greatest of artists.

Internet Movie Database, or popularly known as IMDb, has listed some of the films that show the “buildup and/or detonation and/or aftermath of nuclear war or nuclear bomb attack.”

Below are some of them you can watch before October ends

1. Threads (1984)- It shows the effect of a nuclear holocaust on the working-class city of Sheffield, England, and its long-term consequences. There are plenty of options to watch Threads, including Amazon Video and Apple TV

2. By Dawn's Early Light (1990)- This Jack Sholder-directed movie shows a possible way how a Necluer missile from Turkey to the Soviet Union triggered a US response. It is available on Netflix, Amazon Video, and Apple TV.

3. The Day After (1983)- As the name suggests, it shows the devastating consequences of a nuclear holocaust for the residents of Kansas.

4. On the Beach (1959)- This American apocalyptic science fiction drama film, starring Gregory Peck, is based on Australians' facing the inevitable destruction of all life as deadly radiation following a global nuclear war.

5. The War Game (1966)- A British docudrama depicting a hypothetical nuclear attack on the UK, it is available on various platforms, including Netflix and Amazon Prime.