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The Final Countdown

1980·Movie
1h 43min·PG
IMDb6.7Metacritic516.4Rotten Tomatoes52%60%

Where to watch

PrimefuboTVPhiloThe RokuKanopy

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

The Final Countdown fingerprint

High energy, striking style, no humor.

Energy

Thrilling and spectacular

Fast from start to finish.

  • Adrenaline8
  • Spectacle8
  • Tension7

Heart

Emotionally reserved

  • Hopefulness6
  • Nostalgia6
  • Catharsis5

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Dark Humor3
  • Wit & Wordplay2
  • Satire & Parody2

World

War and history

  • World Immersion7
  • Novelty7
  • Dialogue Centrality6

Craft

Solid, not remarkable

  • Acting7
  • Narrative Structure7
  • Intrigue7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7
  • Sound Centrality7

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFamily Movie NightFriends NightParty VibeIntergenerationalPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensBackground WatchDrop-in FriendlyPure EscapismThought-Provoking

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

Trapped outside the boundaries of time and space... 102 aircraft... 6,000 men... all missing.

During routine manoeuvres near Hawaii in 1980, the aircraft-carrier USS Nimitz is caught in a strange vortex-like storm, throwing the ship back in time to 1941—mere hours before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Time Travel ParadoxNaval ActionHistorical HypotheticalCold War AnxietyTechnological DisplacementEthical DilemmaPearl HarborSpectacular VisualsSuspenseful Narrative

Crew

Directed by:
Don Taylor, Pat Kehoe, Lynn A. Aber
Written by:
Thomas Hunter, Thomas Hunter, Gerry Davis
Produced by:
Lloyd Kaufman, Lloyd Kaufman, John W. Hyde
Composed by:
Mark Mangini, Richard L. Anderson, Warren Hamilton Jr.

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The Final Countdown

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Final Countdown legally?

PrimefuboTVPhiloThe RokuKanopyFandango at Home FreePluto TVNight Flight+

The Final Countdown is included with a subscription to Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Philo, and Night Flight+ in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Fandango at Home Free, and Pluto TV. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is The Final Countdown worth watching?

57
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 58/100 (IMDb 6.7, Rotten Tomatoes 52%, and Metacritic 51). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Final Countdown rated?

PGViolence

It's rated PG in the United States. Content advisories: violence.

How long is The Final Countdown?

1 h 43 min

The Final Countdown runs 1 h 43 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on The Final Countdown?

Critics52
Audiences64

Not quite. Audiences rate The Final Countdown higher (64) than critics (52). It's more of a crowd-pleaser than a critics' pick.

Was The Final Countdown a box office hit?

Budget$12 million
Box office$17 million

Roughly broke even. It cost about $12 million to make and earned $17 million worldwide, 1.4 times its budget.

What language is The Final Countdown in?

EnglishRussianJapanese

It was made in English, with some Russian, Japanese. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch The Final Countdown?

50AEATAUBEBRCACLCOCZDEECEGESFI+36

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Final Countdown in 50 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does The Final Countdown use?

The Gloves Come OffAlien Space BatsSwirly Energy ThingyJust Plane WrongYou Can't Fight FateThere Is No Kill Like OverkillHostage SituationRed AlertMade of ExplodiumYou Already Changed the PastTime TravelSemper Fiand 48 more

TV Tropes lists 60 storytelling tropes for The Final Countdown, including The Gloves Come Off, Alien Space Bats, Swirly Energy Thingy.