The Manhattan Project

In this 1986 film directed by Marshall Brickman, a high school student discovers that a nearby research facility is secretly developing nuclear weapons. With the help of his girlfriend, he decides to build his own atomic bomb to expose the dangers and ethical dilemmas of nuclear proliferation. The movie stars John Lithgow and Christopher Collet, delivering compelling performances that drive the narrative. For those interested, it can be viewed on Soap2day for free.