Because of a technical defect an American bomber team mistakenly orders the destruction of Moscow. The President of the United States has but little time to prevent an atomic catastrophe from occurring.
Directed by Sidney Lumet
new york city
usa president
general
atomic bomb
missile
cold war
interpreter
pentagon
bunker
hydrogen bomb
strategic air command
bomber
fighter pilot
destroy
moscow, russia
air attack
airborne attack
armed attack
ww3
Rank
#3 in 1964·#188 overall
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
Cast
Henry Fonda
The President
Walter Matthau
Prof. Groeteschele
Fritz Weaver
Col. Cascio
Larry Hagman
Buck
Frank Overton
Gen. Bogan
Edward Binns
Col. Jack Grady
Dan O'Herlihy
Brig. Gen. Warren A. Black
William Hansen
Defense Secretary Swenson
Russell Hardie
Gen. Stark
Janet Ward
Helen Grady
Dom DeLuise
TSgt. Collins
Russell Collins
Knapp
Crew
Sidney Lumet
Director
Walter Bernstein
Screenplay
Gerald Hirschfeld
Director of Photography
Sidney Lumet
Executive Producer
Harry Falk
Assistant Director
Popular Reviews
232 reviews
BS
7.0★ · 03/12/26
I liked the themes or classism in the beginning and how it leads into such a complex situation. It was about a 3 star the whole movie untill the last 15 minutes, great ending this would be a great watch in the theater
I liked the themes or classism in the beginning and how it leads into such a complex situation. It was about a 3 star the whole movie untill the last 15 minutes, great ending this would be a great watch in the theater
1
ara
8.0★ · 12/22/25
for having the exact same premise and plot as dr. strangelove they couldn't feel more different. i enjoyed both and they still hold up as relevant. although (and maybe this is a rare opinion) i have to say i did enjoy dr. strangelove more... but of course fail safe is still overall really great
for having the exact same premise and plot as dr. strangelove they couldn't feel more different. i enjoyed both and they still hold up as relevant. although (and maybe this is a rare opinion) i have to say i did enjoy dr. strangelove more... but of course fail safe is still overall really great
1
JacobRobPRO
8.0★ · 07/13/26
Sidney lumet really saw Dr strangelove and thought " what if this was film was incredibly bleak and hopeless rather than a funny cold war satire with Peter sellers"
Sidney lumet really saw Dr strangelove and thought " what if this was film was incredibly bleak and hopeless rather than a funny cold war satire with Peter sellers"
