The War Game(1966)

BBC TV's film about a nuclear attack on Britain

The War Game is a docudrama that imagines a nuclear attack on Britain during the Cold War. Made in 1966, the film presents its terrifying scenario with documentary realism, depicting the catastrophic aftermath of atomic warfare on civilians and infrastructure. The BBC initially refused to broadcast it, deeming the content too disturbing for television audiences. Despite this censorship, the film gained critical acclaim through theatrical release and became a landmark work in nuclear anxiety cinema. It remained banned from British airwaves for nearly two decades before finally airing in 1985. The film's unflinching portrayal of nuclear devastation made it one of the most controversial and influential documentaries of its era.