Overview
- The memo, dated October 16 and reported by Bloomberg, calls the Netflix thriller’s apocalyptic scenario inexact and says on-screen failures serve dramatic effect.
- Defense officials say current ground-based interceptors have achieved a 100% success rate in tests over more than ten years, contrasting with the film’s depiction.
- Director Kathryn Bigelow and screenwriter Noah Oppenheim defend their portrayal, saying they consulted many missile-defense experts in developing the story.
- Commentators and weapons specialists note that controlled test outcomes do not guarantee real-world performance and that no system offers complete assurance.
- The dispute gains urgency as President Donald Trump orders U.S. nuclear testing to resume and the Kremlin touts a Poseidon capability, elevating policy stakes around deterrence and defense.