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For Sale Mar 26, 2026 at 3:10 PM

Cold War movies with a lot of 60s-80s tech?

Posted by Playful-Ease2278

Monochrome phosphorescent screens, switches, dials, etc all make me nostalgic for a futurism I never lived through. Think Wargames, the sonar room in Hunt for the Red October, etc. I really want more movies that show this off. Especially if they have heavy war themes. I am not so interested in spy movies, but am interested in black comedies like Dr. Strangelove. Thanks all!
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pmish Mar 26, 2026 +4
Colossus: the Forbin Project
4
JJNitrofan3944 Mar 26, 2026 +4
Three Days of the Condor, with Robert Redford. Not a ton of tech, but what’s there is 60’s/70’s, and the story is outstanding.
4
ahorrribledrummer Mar 26, 2026 +3
The Final Countdown Crimson Tide
3
ruet_ahead Mar 26, 2026 +3
>The Final Countdown Damn, one minute late.
3
Playful-Ease2278 Mar 26, 2026 +2
Ah these look excellent. Thank you!
2
Max-Ray38 Mar 26, 2026 +3
The Bedford Incident(1965) - US destroyer tracking a Soviet Sub Colossus: The Forbin Project(1970) - Build a supercomputer to control our nuclear arsenal (was Wargames inspired by this?)
3
Playful-Ease2278 Mar 26, 2026 +1
These look excellent and are very much what I was looking for. Thank you!
1
Onioncarbide Mar 26, 2026 +5
Spies Like Us? Also the original Red Dawn.
5
Playful-Ease2278 Mar 26, 2026 +1
Spies like us looks great and I love the original Red Dawn. Thanks!
1
davextreme Mar 26, 2026 +2
The original *Mission: Impossible* series had missions read on tapes, giant computers, and lots of other gear for Barney to use on missions. 
2
RonsonGlitter Mar 26, 2026 +2
Twilight's Last Gleaming is good.
2
Playful-Ease2278 Mar 26, 2026 +2
Another one that seems right on the money. Thank you!
2
OrpahsBookClub Mar 26, 2026 +2
Is that the one where James Earle Jones gives that salute? Edit: By Dawn’s Early Light.
2
RonsonGlitter Mar 26, 2026 +1
Yeah! Also a great movie. In a similar vein, "Special Bulletin". Although that's not so 80s techie, but still a good watch. I think it was actually a TV movie.
1
hotstupidgirl Mar 26, 2026 +2
Fail Safe 1964
2
LincHawkes Mar 26, 2026 +2
Some great high tech training montages for Ivan Drago in Rocky IV. Probably the best Cold War movie of all time too
2
Playful-Ease2278 Mar 26, 2026 +1
Ah I love this one. Yes you are totally right!
1
Academic_Bluebird455 Mar 26, 2026 +1
Watchmen (2009) is set during Nixon's time, with the Cold War being a central plot point behind two of the main characters' motivations.  The US and Russia are both on the brink of war; only one character can stop it, and a villain true to exploit this. 
1
dennythedinosaur Mar 26, 2026 +1
Futureworld (1976) - the sequel to Westworld The Groundstar Conspiracy (1972) - thriller with George Peppard Neither film is particularly good though.
1
OrpahsBookClub Mar 26, 2026 +1
How grounded do you want the films to be? For example, there are some great “analog tech” sets for Airplane! 2 and Dr Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam.  For lots of glorious footage of 60’s war planes, Gorgo. Check out The Final Countdown or Spacecamp, too?
1
PvtHudson093 Mar 26, 2026 +1
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
1
La_Mano_Cornuta Mar 26, 2026 +1
Sneakers - 1992 Fail Safe - 1964
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abidesthedudedoes Mar 26, 2026 +2
The Right Stuff
2
beebs44 Mar 27, 2026 +1
AMAZING GRACE AND CHUCK
1
twitch_delta_blues Mar 27, 2026 +1
Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970).
1
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