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The Manhattan Project

Name: The Manhattan Project
Director: Marshall Brickman
Released: 1986
Duration: 118 min

Representation Score

3.9/10

Limited

1986

PG-13

Director

Marshall Brickman

Runtime

118 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The film functions as a techno-thriller set in the 1980s, emphasizing scientific ethics and youthful rebellion. However, it stays within traditional demographic norms and does not challenge established hierarchies of identity. While the film offers a critique of state secrecy and the military-industrial complex, it does not engage with diverse social perspectives. The narrative remains centered on a conventional cultural framework.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Manhattan Project have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film follows traditional structures that assume everyone is straight or cisgender. There are no depictions of non-binary gender identities or same-sex relationships.

How does The Manhattan Project portray gender?

Limited

The story focuses mainly on male characters who drive the plot forward. While Grace appears as a peer, the main action is led by male protagonists.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Manhattan Project?

Limited

The casting is very homogeneous, featuring mostly white, middle-class teenagers. It lacks meaningful representation of non-Anglo-Saxon identities.

How does The Manhattan Project represent religion and culture?

Good

The film critiques the military-industrial complex by presenting scientific pursuits as a conflict with secretive government entities. This challenges the usual respect for state authority.

Does The Manhattan Project include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no significant portrayals of visible or invisible disabilities. Characters are shown as physically and mentally typical.

Present on Screen

Provides a strong critique of the military-industrial complex and state secrecy.
Highlights the tension between personal intellectual pursuits and restrictive state control.

Limited or Absent

Lacks meaningful representation of non-Anglo-Saxon identities or diverse racial backgrounds.
Reinforces traditional gender roles by centering male protagonists in technical roles.
Does not include portrayals of neurodivergence, chronic illness, or visible disabilities.
Operates within a strictly straight-centered framework without queer representation.

Official Synopsis

A gifted high school student steals plutonium from the secret nuclear weapons facility in his home town in order to construct his own nuclear bomb, win a national science fair, and expose the government's secrets.

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