The China Syndrome
People who know the meaning of "The China Syndrome" are scared... Soon you will know.
1979 | 122m | English
Popularity: 1 (history)
| Director: | James Bridges |
|---|---|
| Writer: | T.S. Cook, Mike Gray, James Bridges |
| Staring: |
| While doing a series of reports on alternative energy sources, opportunistic reporter Kimberly Wells witnesses an accident at a nuclear power plant. Wells is determined to publicize the incident, but soon finds herself entangled in a sinister conspiracy to keep the full impact of the incident a secret. | |
| Release Date: | Mar 16, 1979 |
|---|---|
| Director: | James Bridges |
| Writer: | T.S. Cook, Mike Gray, James Bridges |
| Genres: | Drama, Thriller |
| Keywords | california, telecaster, energy policy, radiation, earthquake, nuclear power plant, cinematographer, conspiracy, tv reporter, atomic reactor, whistleblower, falsification, nuclear accident, picketing, turbine |
| Production Companies | Columbia Pictures, IPC Films |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $51,718,367
Budget: $5,900,000 |
| Updates |
Updated: Aug 03, 2025 Entered: Apr 13, 2024 |
![The China Syndrome (1979) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]](/extra_thumbs/bIGH1AfIS18.jpg)
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Jane Fonda | Kimberly Wells |
| Michael Douglas | Richard Adams |
| Jack Lemmon | Jack Godell |
| Scott Brady | Herman De Young |
| James Hampton | Bill Gibson |
| Peter Donat | Don Jacovich |
| Wilford Brimley | Ted Spindler |
| Richard Herd | Evan McCormack |
| Daniel Valdez | Hector Salas |
| Stan Bohrman | Pete Martin |
| James Karen | Mac Churchill |
| Michael Alaimo | Greg Minor |
| Donald Hotton | Dr. Lowell |
| Khalilah Ali | Marge |
| Paul Larson | D.B. Royce |
| Ron Lombard | Barney |
| Tom Eure | Tommy |
| Nick Pellegrino | Borden |
| Daniel Lewk | Donny |
| Allan Chinn | Holt |
| Martin Fiscoe | Control Guard |
| Alan Kaul | TV Director |
| Michael Mann | TV Consultant |
| David Eisenbise | Technical Director |
| Frank Cavestani | News Reporter |
| Reuben Collins | Sportscaster |
| E. Hampton Beagle | Mort |
| David Pfeiffer | David |
| Lewis Arquette | Hatcher |
| Dennis McMullen | Robertson |
| Rita Taggart | Rita Jacovich |
| James Hall | Harmon |
| Carol Schlanger | Waitress |
| Trudy Lane | Alma Spindler |
| Jack Smith Jr. | Tom |
| David Arnsen | KXLA Cameraman |
| Betty Harford | Woman at Demonstration |
| Donald Bishop | Hearings Chairman |
| Al Baietti | Pro-Nuclear Witness |
| Diandra Morrell | Sasha |
| Darrell Larson | Young Demonstrator |
| Roger Pancake | Gate Guard |
| Joe Lowry | Security Agent |
| Harry M. Williams | Fire Rescue |
| Dennis Barker | Jaws of Life |
| Joseph Garcia | Highway Patrolman |
| James Kline | Jim |
| Alan Beckwith | Technician |
| Clay Hodges | SWAT Squad Leader |
| Val Clenard | Self |
| Robert A. Bowen | Camera Operator (uncredited) |
| Robert Buckingham | Party Guest (uncredited) |
| John Philip Dayton | Young Photographer (uncredited) |
| Paul DeCeglie | Man at Meeting (uncredited) |
| Peter Eastman | Reporter (uncredited) |
| Bart Greene | Man at Meeting (uncredited) |
| Michael Jeffers | Board Member (uncredited) |
| Stephen M. Kienzle | Swat Shooter (uncredited) |
| Paul LeClair | Board Member (uncredited) |
| Monty O'Grady | Party Guest (uncredited) |
| Ray Pourchot | Man at Meeting (uncredited) |
| Hank Robinson | Reporter (uncredited) |
| George Simmons | Waiter (uncredited) |
| Robert S. Woods | Man (uncredited) |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| T.S. Cook | Screenplay |
| Mike Gray | Screenplay |
| Sally Dennison | Casting |
| David Rawlins | Editor |
| Les Fresholtz | Sound Re-Recording Mixer |
| Eileen Peterson | Publicist |
| Marshall Schlom | Script Supervisor |
| Stanzi Stokes | Casting Assistant |
| Kaye Pownall | Hairstylist |
| Mike Sweeten | Camera Operator |
| Michael Minkler | Sound Re-Recording Mixer |
| John Szajner | Second Assistant Camera |
| Gene Corso | Sound Effects Editor |
| Eddie Marks | Costumer |
| Mary McGlone | Sound Effects Editor |
| James Crabe | Director of Photography |
| George Jenkins | Production Design |
| Robert Duggan | Best Boy Grip |
| Arthur Piantadosi | Sound Re-Recording Mixer |
| Samuel C. Crutcher | Assistant Sound Editor |
| Don Schoenfeld | Makeup Artist |
| Bruce Nahin | Production Assistant |
| Bruce Mattox | Special Effects Assistant |
| Terry E. Lewis | Property Master |
| Robert W. Harris | Cableman |
| Jim Henrikson | Music Editor |
| Henry Millar Jr. | Special Effects |
| James O. Blair | Gaffer |
| Douglas E. Stoll | Location Manager |
| Tom Prophet Jr. | Key Grip |
| Arthur Jeph Parker | Set Decoration |
| S. Bruce Wineinger | Construction Foreman |
| Ronnie Kramer | Production Secretary |
| Bryce Guy Williams | Stunt Double |
| Reynaldo Villalobos | Additional Camera |
| Bernadine M. Anderson | Makeup Artist |
| Kim Kurumada | First Assistant Director |
| Joel Chernoff | Second Unit Director |
| Matthew Yuricich | Matte Painter |
| R. Chris Westlund | Leadman |
| James A. Dennett | Production Manager |
| Fred J. Brown | Sound Effects Editor |
| Craig Pinkard | Transportation Coordinator |
| Daryl Smith | Best Boy Electric |
| Michael Boddicker | Musician |
| Edward Baken | Transportation Captain |
| William Ladd Skinner | Set Designer |
| Rudy Reachi | Assistant Property Master |
| Francesca Emerson | Assistant Editor |
| Dan Wallin | Scoring Mixer |
| Peter Sorel | Still Photographer |
| William Maldonado | Construction Coordinator |
| Robert Isenberg | Assistant Camera |
| Marvin E. Lewis | Boom Operator |
| Lorane Mitchell | Sound Effects Editor |
| James Bridges | Screenplay, Director |
| Donfeld | Costume Design |
| Richard Edlund | Visual Effects Camera |
| Barrie M. Osborne | Second Assistant Director |
| Willie D. Burton | Sound Mixer |
| Aggie Guerard Rodgers | Costumer |
| James Nelson | Unit Production Manager |
| Marty P. Ewing | Production Assistant |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Michael Douglas | Producer |
| Bruce Gilbert | Executive Producer |
| James Nelson | Associate Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person | |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAFTA Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Jack Lemmon | Nominated |
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 20 | 27 | 15 |
| 2024 | 5 | 19 | 32 | 10 |
| 2024 | 6 | 18 | 33 | 11 |
| 2024 | 7 | 19 | 34 | 10 |
| 2024 | 8 | 18 | 31 | 9 |
| 2024 | 9 | 11 | 19 | 7 |
| 2024 | 10 | 14 | 21 | 9 |
| 2024 | 11 | 13 | 23 | 8 |
| 2024 | 12 | 13 | 26 | 7 |
| 2025 | 1 | 14 | 25 | 8 |
| 2025 | 2 | 10 | 17 | 3 |
| 2025 | 3 | 6 | 26 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| 2025 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Trending Position
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | 575 | 807 |
| Year | Month | High | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | 881 | 895 |