Reactor Reels: Pop Cultures Role in Shaping Australia's Views on Nuclear Power

Jo Coghlan

Peter Dutton, the leader of the Australian Liberal Party, has proposed to introduce nuclear energy to the nation’s power grid by constructing seven nuclear power plants by 2050, with the first reactor expected to be operational between 2035 and 2037. Australians seem ambivalent about the plan. An ABC Vote Compass survey indicates a divided stance on nuclear energy: 47% of respondents oppose the construction of nuclear power plants, while 38% support the initiative.

The cinematic representation of nuclear energy and nuclear accidents has been a significant cultural lens through which society processes the potential benefits and catastrophic risks of nuclear technology. In the aftermath of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and throughout the Cold War, nuclear energy became a symbol of both hope for energy independence and the terror of annihilation. These early representations were fraught with images of uncontrollable radiation, monstrous mutations, and apocalyptic futures. However, as the world moved into the late 20th and early 21st centuries, these representations began to evolve, offering more nuanced perspectives that reflect societal concerns over nuclear power’s role in an environmentally conscious world.

The 1950s marked the beginning of nuclear energy’s dual identity in popular culture: a symbol of progress and hope for a clean energy future, but also a reminder of its potentially disastrous consequences. Films like Godzilla (1954), directed by Ishirō Honda, illustrate the destruction caused by nuclear radiation in the form of a mutated monster. The film’s metaphorical representation of nuclear weapons and their aftermath tapped into the global anxiety of the atomic age. For audiences in Japan, the monster symbolised the very real threat of nuclear annihilation that had been visited upon them by the atomic bombings. Similarly, Hollywood films like Dr. Strangelove (1964), directed by Stanley Kubrick, satirised the Cold War fears surrounding nuclear weapons, highlighting the absurdity of a system that could potentially lead to global destruction. These early portrayals helped to cement nuclear technology, particularly in the form of weapons, as both a symbol of modernity and an ever-present threat to humanity. In Australia, these films likely resonated due to the country’s geopolitical position during the Cold War and its involvement in nuclear testing at the Maralinga test site in South Australia. The government’s nuclear testing programs, conducted between the 1950s and 1960s, and the subsequent health and environmental fallout created a profound mistrust of nuclear technology among the public.

As the Cold War escalated, films continued to depict nuclear energy and radiation as harbingers of doom. Films like The China Syndrome (1979), directed by James Bridges, presented the public with the very real potential of a nuclear meltdown at a power plant, tapping into fears about the uncontrollability of nuclear energy. The film focused on the negligence of corporations and governments in ensuring nuclear safety, themes that would resonate powerfully in any political debate about nuclear power, including Australia’s current discussions. The Chernobyl disaster in 1986, one of the most devastating nuclear accidents in history, was also a major influence on popular culture. Films like The China Syndrome reflected not only on the technical dangers of nuclear power but also on the human element, the social and environmental costs of such energy technologies. The nuclear accidents in the late 20th century further fueled public fears, with Threads (1984), a British miniseries, portraying the harrowing aftermath of nuclear war in stark, unforgiving terms. In Australia, the image of nuclear disaster, reinforced by these depictions in popular media, remains one of the strongest arguments against the adoption of nuclear power. Many Australians continue to resist nuclear energy due to the lingering memories of the nation’s nuclear testing past and the catastrophic imagery surrounding nuclear accidents. The narrative of environmental damage, irrevocable harm to health, and societal collapse, which has been present in popular culture, arguably continues to shape public opinion.

The more recent cinematic exploration of nuclear accidents reflects a new set of anxieties, focused less on the fear of nuclear weapons and more on the environmental and health consequences of nuclear energy use. The 2019 HBO miniseries Chernobyl presented a chilling account of the 1986 nuclear disaster in Ukraine, focusing on the systemic failures, the devastating effects of radiation exposure, and the lives of those affected by the accident. The series struck a deep chord internationally, bringing attention to the dangerous legacy of nuclear energy and its long-term consequences. Similarly, the Fukushima disaster in Japan, following the 2011 tsunami, has been the subject of numerous documentaries and films, which depict the catastrophic consequences of the accident. Films like The Fukushima 50 (2020) dramatise the heroic yet tragic efforts of workers at the nuclear plant who stayed behind to try to prevent further disaster, while also exposing the corporate and governmental malfeasance that contributed to the disaster. This portrayal of Fukushima has deepened the skepticism surrounding nuclear energy, illustrating that even the most advanced technologies can fail catastrophically when handled improperly.

The ongoing political debate in Australia about nuclear energy comes in the context of these cultural representations. While proponents of nuclear power argue that it is a necessary step in achieving Australia’s climate goals, particularly in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, these arguments are often countered by public fears, many of which are shaped by the toxic legacy of nuclear accidents portrayed in films and media. The public resistance to nuclear power in Australia is not just a reflection of environmental concerns; it is also a reflection of the cultural narratives surrounding nuclear accidents. These films, documentaries, and media representations portray nuclear energy as a dangerous and uncontrollable force and one that can lead to widespread environmental destruction, health crises, and the collapse of social order. In Australia, where the public is still grappling with the effects of past nuclear testing, such images are potent. The portrayal of nuclear power in popular culture thus arguably plays a significant role in shaping the political resistance to nuclear energy. The fear of catastrophic accidents, the imagery of irradiated landscapes, and the social disintegration following nuclear incidents serve as cautionary tales that continue to inform public opinion and political discourse.

Australian Government. Environmental and Health Impacts of Nuclear Testing in Australia. Australian Institute of Environmental Studies, 2021.

“Australians Divided on Nuclear Energy.” ABC News, April 12, 2025. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-12/vote-compass-data-2025-nuclear-power-renewables/105127902.

Burchill, Jon. “The Cold War and the Cinematic Image of Nuclear Energy.”The Journal of Cold War Studies 18, no. 1 (2016): 125–146.

Chernobyl. USA: HBO, 2019. Directed by Johan Renck.

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. USA: Columbia Pictures, 1964. Directed by Stanley Kubrick.

Dutton, Peter, David Littleproud, and Ted O'Brien. “Dutton, Littleproud, O’Brien – Media Release – Australia’s Energy Future.” Peter Dutton MP, 19 June 2024. https://peterdutton.com.au/dutton-littleproud-obrien-media-release-australias-energy-future/

Godzilla. Tokyo: Toho Company, 1954. Directed by Ishirō Honda.

Guardian, The. “The Legacy of Australia’s Nuclear Testing: How It Shapes Public Opinion.” March 15, 2025. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/15/australian-nuclear-testing-past-shaping-public-opinion.

Hasegawa, Tsuyoshi. The Atomic Bomb and the Origins of the Cold War. Harvard University Press, 2000.

Heffernan, Thomas. The Politics of Nuclear Disasters: International Film and Media. Routledge, 2019.

Higgins, Isabella, and Claudia Williams. “Coalition's Nuclear Power Pitch Falling Flat with Some Voters, Vote Compass Data Suggests.” ABC News, April 12, 2025. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-12/vote-compass-data-2025-nuclear-power-renewables/105127902

Hughes, William H. “Godzilla, Nuclear Fear, and Japanese Cultural Memory.” Postcolonial Studies 7, no. 2 (2004): 245–266.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The Fukushima Accident: A Report on the 2011 Nuclear Disaster. Vienna: IAEA, 2013.

Zelizer, Barbie. “The Cultural Politics of Nuclear Energy.” Political Communication 30, no. 3 (2013): 426–449.