The Day After Trinity backdrop
DOCUMENTARY . 1981 . 1h 29m . 7.5/10

The Day After Trinity_

This essential, Academy Award–nominated documentary offers an urgent warning from history about the dangers of nuclear warfare via the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the enigmatic physicist and all-around Renaissance man who led the Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb that America unleashed on Japan in the final days of World War II. Through extensive interviews and archival footage, THE DAY AFTER TRINITY traces Oppenheimer’s evolution, from architect of one of the most consequential endeavors of the twentieth century to an outspoken opponent of nuclear proliferation who came to deeply regret his role in ushering in the perils of the atomic age.

Starring Paul Frees, Jon Else, J. Robert Oppenheimer
7.5/10
Rating
1h 29m
Runtime
1981
Year
Updated Feb 16, 2026
The Day After Trinity poster

This essential, Academy Award–nominated documentary offers an urgent warning from history about the dangers of nuclear warfare via the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the enigmatic physicist and all-around Renaissance man who led the Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb that America unleashed on Japan in the final days of World War II. Through extensive interviews and archival footage, THE DAY AFTER TRINITY traces Oppenheimer’s evolution, from architect of one of the most consequential endeavors of the twentieth century to an outspoken opponent of nuclear proliferation who came to deeply regret his role in ushering in the perils of the atomic age.

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DROPTHE_ GOSSIP

Cast
Paul Frees stars as Self - Narrator (voice) in The Day After Trinity.
Paul Frees →
Year context
The Day After Trinity was released 45 years ago in 1981.
Overview
This essential, Academy Award–nominated documentary offers an urgent warning from history about the dangers of nuclear warfare via the story of J. Robert Opp...
The Day After Trinity is a Documentary, History film with a runtime of 1h 29m.

CAST (20)

Paul Frees
Paul Frees
Self - Narrator (voice)
Jon Else
Jon Else
Interviewer
J. Robert Oppenheimer
J. Robert Oppenheimer
Self (archive footage)
Hans Bethe
Hans Bethe
Self
Frank Oppenheimer
Frank Oppenheimer
Self
Haakon Chevalier
Haakon Chevalier
Self
Robert Serber
Robert Serber
Self
HB
Holm Bursom
Self
SC
Stirling Colgate
Self
Freeman Dyson
Freeman Dyson
Self
SE
Susan Evans
Self
FF
Francis Fergusson
Self
Leslie Groves
Leslie Groves
Self (archive footage)
EI
Elizabeth Ingram
Self
RK
Robert Krohn
Self
DM
Dave MacDonald
Self
Joseph McCarthy
Joseph McCarthy
Self (archive footage)
DM
Dorothy McKibben
Self
RP
Robert Porton
Self
Isidor Isaac Rabi
Isidor Isaac Rabi
Self

DETAILS

Release
Status
Released
Runtime
89 min (1h 29m)
Country
Rating
7.5/10 (19 votes)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is The Day After Trinity about?
This essential, Academy Award–nominated documentary offers an urgent warning from history about the dangers of nuclear warfare via the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the enigmatic physicist and all-around Renaissance man who led the Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb that America unleashed on Japan in the final days of World War II. Through extensive interviews and archival footage, THE DAY AFTER TRINITY traces Oppenheimer’s evolution, from architect of one of the most consequential endeavors of the twentieth century to an outspoken opponent of nuclear proliferation who came to deeply regret his role in ushering in the perils of the atomic age.
How long is The Day After Trinity?
The Day After Trinity has a runtime of 89 minutes (1h 29m).
Who stars in The Day After Trinity?
The cast of The Day After Trinity includes Paul Frees, Jon Else, J. Robert Oppenheimer, Hans Bethe, Frank Oppenheimer.
What is the rating of The Day After Trinity?
The Day After Trinity has a rating of 7.5 out of 10 based on 19 votes on TMDB.

GENRES (2)

Documentary History
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