A formulaic Chernobyl-themed popcorn movie with heavy doses of nationalism, sentimentality and historical inaccuracy that doesn't try or wants to answer the big questions and instead focuses on a sentimental romance and tedious heroic dramatizations. However, if there's one good thing about it, it's Oksana Akinshina's great performance that shouldn't go unnoticed.
155 Reviews
Soviet Propaganda
Master T21 July 2021
The interesting part of this movie is to see how the Soviets see things as opposed to the western world (which we've seen in HBO's Chernobyl).
All government officials are amazing, helpful and only care about the well being of the country and its citizens. Seems somewhat unbelievable...
All government officials are amazing, helpful and only care about the well being of the country and its citizens. Seems somewhat unbelievable...
What was the point of this movie?
ssanitta21 June 2021
This movie adds no value to the historic events or anything else for that matter. It was boring and dull. The storyline seemed forced and unwatchable.
The main character was like a bad rip-off of any Hollywood hero from the 80's with no substance.
Waste of time... If it's in Netflix's top 10, it doesn't mean it's good. It just means that there are many people like me who wanted to watch another point of view of the events at Chernobyl, but were heavily disappointed.
The main character was like a bad rip-off of any Hollywood hero from the 80's with no substance.
Waste of time... If it's in Netflix's top 10, it doesn't mean it's good. It just means that there are many people like me who wanted to watch another point of view of the events at Chernobyl, but were heavily disappointed.
Personal and Propaganda
kosmasp3 October 2021
Now I think it is safe to say, that after the HBO drama, there had to be a response or a movie that tried to show things ... a bit differently. Do not try to compare the series with this if you can. The movie will lose out for sure.
Politics are thrown out (mostly, maybe if you are good willing you are able to see some small references) and it is all about the personal journey of 3 main characters - a "family" of sorts. Now I do not know what they were based on and I read there are many things that are anything but accurate. Having said that, if you suspend your disbelief and go with the flow you'll be able to enjoy the movie.
Well enjoy may be too strong of a word. There is enough tension from start to finish - although it does take a few moments ... or an introduction to the characters before it goes on. There are quite a few things that bugged me, but overall the movie worked and I was there with the characters. Again, it will depend how willing you are to suspend your disbelief ... otherwise you may not want to watch this at all.
Politics are thrown out (mostly, maybe if you are good willing you are able to see some small references) and it is all about the personal journey of 3 main characters - a "family" of sorts. Now I do not know what they were based on and I read there are many things that are anything but accurate. Having said that, if you suspend your disbelief and go with the flow you'll be able to enjoy the movie.
Well enjoy may be too strong of a word. There is enough tension from start to finish - although it does take a few moments ... or an introduction to the characters before it goes on. There are quite a few things that bugged me, but overall the movie worked and I was there with the characters. Again, it will depend how willing you are to suspend your disbelief ... otherwise you may not want to watch this at all.
Seriously?
barrygonion13 June 2021
Definitely, not as bad as the ratings suggest !!
madhukar3026 July 2021
I am really astonished at the low ratings for this Netflix version of Chernobyl called Chernobyl 1986. Yes, I have seen the HBO mini series, Chernobyl and loved every bit of it, except for the fact that it was terribly odd to see Ukrainians and Russians speaking in English. Compared to the HBO version head on, yes this one doesn't stand a chance, as the HBO version Sheds more details on the catastrophic events and had a far superior impression on the viewers minds. Chernobyl 1986, focuses on the personal life of a fictional character who plays a major role in containing certain aspects of the disaster.
The problem with Chernobyl 1986 is that, the movie looses about a good thirty minutes in introducing the lead character and his love life. Things get on track when disaster unfolds, it is when things get intense and sometimes even gripping. Lot of other characters are introduced along the way, and the core story moves to, locating and opening a valve near the reactor, though this part was already covered in the HBO series, but still, it keeps the viewers minds interested.
Cinematography is brilliant, with some shots really exceptional. Screenplay is good enough to keep the viewer interested by just telling a human side of the story, than a technical one. Production design, music, costumes and makeup were excellent. Editing is good and the movie has a runtime of 135 minutes. CGI has some good and bad bits equally. Sound design is excellent. Most of the actors play their parts decently with Oksana Akinshina's performance the best among the lot.
Overall, assuming that the viewer has seen the HBO mini series of the same name and knows all the technical details of the disaster, this movie will give you, a further crash course on true blue patriotism, soul touching love, sacrifice, some nail biting action sequences and a lesson on humanity. All these may sound very cheesy, but thankfully Chernobyl 1986 is definitely not, One has to thank its director Danila Kozlovskiy for that. I would recommend this movie to all the people who have watched HBO mini series, for a follow up of things. Watch it if you don't have anything else to do. 6.7 stars out of 10 for a movie that celebrates humanity and love above everything else.
The problem with Chernobyl 1986 is that, the movie looses about a good thirty minutes in introducing the lead character and his love life. Things get on track when disaster unfolds, it is when things get intense and sometimes even gripping. Lot of other characters are introduced along the way, and the core story moves to, locating and opening a valve near the reactor, though this part was already covered in the HBO series, but still, it keeps the viewers minds interested.
Cinematography is brilliant, with some shots really exceptional. Screenplay is good enough to keep the viewer interested by just telling a human side of the story, than a technical one. Production design, music, costumes and makeup were excellent. Editing is good and the movie has a runtime of 135 minutes. CGI has some good and bad bits equally. Sound design is excellent. Most of the actors play their parts decently with Oksana Akinshina's performance the best among the lot.
Overall, assuming that the viewer has seen the HBO mini series of the same name and knows all the technical details of the disaster, this movie will give you, a further crash course on true blue patriotism, soul touching love, sacrifice, some nail biting action sequences and a lesson on humanity. All these may sound very cheesy, but thankfully Chernobyl 1986 is definitely not, One has to thank its director Danila Kozlovskiy for that. I would recommend this movie to all the people who have watched HBO mini series, for a follow up of things. Watch it if you don't have anything else to do. 6.7 stars out of 10 for a movie that celebrates humanity and love above everything else.
I don't get all the hate
Gabriel441622 July 2021
First of all this movie isn't at all a copycat of or competitor for the HBO show Chernobyl.
The plot is obviously built around the same real historical event but similarities end right around there.
It has a whole different approach really being not a grand and comprehensive drama about the catastrophe but more a story about a vagabond reluctant to commit to anything learning about dedication, selflessness and sacrifice in the time of hardship and becoming a full fledged hero in the end.
A rather well written character arc.
Now the way the USSR of the 1980's is presented is typical of more recent Russian movies meaning a tad romanticized showing a cleaner, happier, more modern, more free country than it was in reality but not overly so and there is still plenty of honesty and criticism involved in the narrative too.
All in all this is a decent movie, not propaganda and not a rip off.
The plot is obviously built around the same real historical event but similarities end right around there.
It has a whole different approach really being not a grand and comprehensive drama about the catastrophe but more a story about a vagabond reluctant to commit to anything learning about dedication, selflessness and sacrifice in the time of hardship and becoming a full fledged hero in the end.
A rather well written character arc.
Now the way the USSR of the 1980's is presented is typical of more recent Russian movies meaning a tad romanticized showing a cleaner, happier, more modern, more free country than it was in reality but not overly so and there is still plenty of honesty and criticism involved in the narrative too.
All in all this is a decent movie, not propaganda and not a rip off.
Terrible
85122212 June 2021
Greetings from Lithuania.
"Chernobyl: Abyss" (2021) is a terrible movie. I think that after this disastrously bad movie, Danila Kozlovskiy's carrier as a director will end pretty soon. This movie felt like it took / ripped all from Hollywood movies produced some 20 years ago. It was like a rollecoster of all bad scenes from movie like "Peal Harbor" (2000) and beyond, with quick cuts every second showing and focusing on nothing meaningful for a second.
Overall, skip "Chernobyl: Abyss" and better watch HBO's masterpiece series than this crap. This movie done everything wrong. Even a very talented Oksana Akinshina did not had anything to do in this movie, which says a lot. Its not just a bad film, its a terrible one.
"Chernobyl: Abyss" (2021) is a terrible movie. I think that after this disastrously bad movie, Danila Kozlovskiy's carrier as a director will end pretty soon. This movie felt like it took / ripped all from Hollywood movies produced some 20 years ago. It was like a rollecoster of all bad scenes from movie like "Peal Harbor" (2000) and beyond, with quick cuts every second showing and focusing on nothing meaningful for a second.
Overall, skip "Chernobyl: Abyss" and better watch HBO's masterpiece series than this crap. This movie done everything wrong. Even a very talented Oksana Akinshina did not had anything to do in this movie, which says a lot. Its not just a bad film, its a terrible one.
Not great, not terrible
ives-269-64440021 July 2021
Good movie
annamargret56-927-25921525 July 2021
You just have to keep in mind that part of the plot is fiction, even if it's based on the Chernobyl disaster. I honestly don't understand this low rating on the movie. Maybe because the plot is not accurate to the real event and that maybe irritates people? I get that but give the movie a try. Not best movie ever but way far from the worst!
Disaster on Disaster...
sachinmini5 June 2021
I saw the chernobyl serial before it and it was so good and to the point and after that i saw this film just making no point at any of the scene...It just ruined everything...A very bad film...I will recommend not to watch and if u really want to know about Chernobyl them go watch the serial ...It is soo much better than this film...Highly disappointed...
Just hurry up and end!
AgentMosco26 July 2021
Those were my thoughts in the last 40 minutes. This film fails at making any sort of drama, or tension, and you can see clearly where they're trying. Laughed a little bit at some points. And how can they make it so really really boring? So, clearly I'm not a fan at all.
WTF
HakanGurkan21 July 2021
Decent enough to watch
royhectorkabanlit28 July 2021
A decent Movie, nothing special, watchable enough with some good Thrills here and there. The Love Story angle is a bit too idealized, something which an Authoritarian State like Russia would approve.
I mean 2 good looking People staying single for a Decade because they sort of waited for each other? Also typical Politically Incorrect Russian Scenese like stopping a Bus to get a Girl to go with him. The Wokes would go livid with that Scene, LOL.
I mean 2 good looking People staying single for a Decade because they sort of waited for each other? Also typical Politically Incorrect Russian Scenese like stopping a Bus to get a Girl to go with him. The Wokes would go livid with that Scene, LOL.
Bad movie in general, disastrous movie about Chernobyl
imargarel8 August 2021
I am not going to compare it with the HBO series. Taking the movie as it is, it's horribly bad, from so many points of view. Plot, layout, historical accuracy, characters and so on. It's all a big cliche of a movie that fails to deliver the message that the director really wanted to send. The movie makes you feel nothing, not only about the main characters but also about the whole Chernobyl disaster. How can you take such a horrible event and transform it in to a boring story that makes you feel nothing. If you want to watch it, know you'll waste your time. This movie has NOTHING to offer.
Does not deserve all the hate
jamie-5081724 July 2021
This is not a great film, but it's not as awful as the stars it's got. It's loosely based on the same events as the HBO series, but comparisons are pointless - the tone and approach are completely different. And while the HBO series wasn't documentary accurate, this one is even less so - often completely fictional and regularly quite silly.
But it's still interesting enough - especially to see a modern Russian interpretation of the USSR during that period. Some shots and ideas were engaging. The lead actress' performance was great (as it was in Sputnik) - I hope to see her in a lot more movies.
Unfortunately it fails to make the main characters believable or likeable, so in the melodramatic moments I really didn't care. If that aspect had been more successful then the dubious history may have been better received.
But it's still interesting enough - especially to see a modern Russian interpretation of the USSR during that period. Some shots and ideas were engaging. The lead actress' performance was great (as it was in Sputnik) - I hope to see her in a lot more movies.
Unfortunately it fails to make the main characters believable or likeable, so in the melodramatic moments I really didn't care. If that aspect had been more successful then the dubious history may have been better received.
Disrespectful
totex-127 July 2021
Good movie
wael-eter25 July 2021
Love the vibe of the 80s
aleq48321 July 2021
The problem with some viewers nowadays is that they have been so obsessed with facts and all the little details to be in movies yet forgetting that not all movies have to be accurate for cinematic purposes. There are documentaries for this category. Anyway, the movie is very entertaining and to see the catastrophe head-on gives us a glimpse of what could happen in certain disasters as terrible as the Chernobyl accident.
Give it a try and watch it with an open mind. Chernobyl is just the backdrop of the story, yet full of love.
Give it a try and watch it with an open mind. Chernobyl is just the backdrop of the story, yet full of love.
A little bit underated
aggelousia29 August 2021
This is the first movie I saw about Chernobyl. I haven't seen yet the series so it was good for me. I learned a lot about liquidators. I didn't know at all this operation. The only negative thing about this movie is the propaganda. I can't believe all the facts about Soviet Union and how they controled the situation. I don't think it's absolutely objective. Nevertheless, it's a good way to see the other side, how Russians see this catastrophe, their own perspective. The direction in my opinion is good and realistic, definately not apocryphal. They did a good job and I liked the love story. It wasn't only a history but a romantic movie.
A cheap imitation of the vastly superior HBO Series
fjhuerta-25 March 2022
No spoilers here, but if you want to watch a movie about Chernobyl.. don't waste your time. Every event, and the timeline itself, is fabricated. There's not an ounce of historical truth here, but plenty of made up drama. Skip, and watch the vastly, vastly superior HBO Series.
Sensationalized Propaganda
Alienmoon6 July 2021
It's a shame that Reality was very different and this comes across as Sensationalized Propaganda!
No one cared whether the the brave firemen died in those days, in fact, they knew what would happen to them but ordered them to their deaths,... It was do your Duty to the motherland or be branded a coward.
The whole operation was run by ignorant unintelligent individuals with ignorance beyond belief.
No one cared whether the the brave firemen died in those days, in fact, they knew what would happen to them but ordered them to their deaths,... It was do your Duty to the motherland or be branded a coward.
The whole operation was run by ignorant unintelligent individuals with ignorance beyond belief.
Help me finding the song playing
emeliemchristensen5 August 2021
Hi!
20 minutes into the song (more precisely, 21:53), there is a song playing where the firefighter Alexey Karpushin get in to the car he has borrowed. What song is it? Have looking for it like crazy, whitout any luck.
THANKS!
20 minutes into the song (more precisely, 21:53), there is a song playing where the firefighter Alexey Karpushin get in to the car he has borrowed. What song is it? Have looking for it like crazy, whitout any luck.
THANKS!
Is it the Russian depiction of what really happened?
Chriper726 July 2021
In a word, no, it's not.
I remember the Chernobyl incident from when I was young. I remember the culture of silence and secrecy from the USSR. So, being a Russian movie, I was curious to see whether things had changed and whether we'd get openness about the events in 1986. But we didn't learn anything new, especially that wasn't covered in the HBO series.
The movie was more a fictional depiction on what it could have been been like for one of the locals (a fire-fighter) who had to respond to the disaster and those people who were in his life, namely a former girlfriend and her son and the fire-fighter's questionable paternity
I enjoyed it for what it was. I thought the effects were good and the drama was convincing and well acted, never mind how accurate it was to history. I have to disagree with other reviewers who have given it 1 star and said what a terrible movie it was. Maybe their expectations were for something akin to the HBO series.
I remember the Chernobyl incident from when I was young. I remember the culture of silence and secrecy from the USSR. So, being a Russian movie, I was curious to see whether things had changed and whether we'd get openness about the events in 1986. But we didn't learn anything new, especially that wasn't covered in the HBO series.
The movie was more a fictional depiction on what it could have been been like for one of the locals (a fire-fighter) who had to respond to the disaster and those people who were in his life, namely a former girlfriend and her son and the fire-fighter's questionable paternity
I enjoyed it for what it was. I thought the effects were good and the drama was convincing and well acted, never mind how accurate it was to history. I have to disagree with other reviewers who have given it 1 star and said what a terrible movie it was. Maybe their expectations were for something akin to the HBO series.
A political movie
ReelreviewFORu22 July 2021
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