The Day After (1983)

Set in Kansas City, the narrative starts by portraying the daily lives of locals, including Dr. Russell Oakes and his wife Helen. Yet, things don't stay normal for long. The Soviet Union's East Germany military buildup to pressure the U.S. and NATO escalated tensions swiftly. Unheeded ultimatums lead to conflict, intensifying into full-scale nuclear war. Its impact on real-life politics was deep; upon its initial broadcast, U.S. President Ronald Reagan admitted feeling "deeply depressed" by the movie.