PG-13

Fat Man and Little Boy

The story of the extraordinary people who changed our world.

1989 • 127 min • Drama · History · War

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Synopsis

Assigned to oversee the development of the atomic bomb, Gen. Leslie Groves is a stern military man determined to have the project go according to plan. He selects J. Robert Oppenheimer as the key scientist on the top-secret operation, but the two men clash fiercely on a number of issues. Despite their frequent conflicts, Groves and Oppenheimer ultimately push ahead with two bomb designs — the bigger "Fat Man" and the more streamlined "Little Boy."

Our family guide

Best from age 13

Movie Knight Score

169 reviews

62 Audience · 169 · 100%

General Leslie Groves and J. Robert Oppenheimer lead the top-secret Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb during WWII. Despite their personal clashes, they race against time to create "Fat Man" and "Little Boy," forever changing warfare.

Violence & peril: 6/10
Language: 2/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking: 3/10
Romance & sensuality: 1/10
Scary moments: 7/10

Heads up

Discussions of war and destruction
Ethical questions around atomic weapons
Brief moments of tension and peril

What it models well

Scientific innovation
Historical impact
Leadership under pressure

Talk about it after

Moral dilemmas of scientific progress
Consequences of war
The weight of leadership decisions

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for Fat Man and Little Boy. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.