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When the Wind Blows

Play trailer Poster for When the Wind Blows 1986 1h 25m Drama Animation Play Trailer Watchlist
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88% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
In this hand-drawn animated tale, elderly married couple Hilda and Jim Bloggs have their quiet, simple lives in the English countryside interrupted when they learn of an impending nuclear attack. Not completely understanding the gravity of their situation, Hilda and Jim react archaically and insufficiently after the attack -- and the film takes a dark turn as the radiation begins taking its toll on the unsuspecting couple.
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When the Wind Blows

Critics Reviews

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Jordan M. Smith IONCINEMA.com Nov 3, 2020
3/5
A bleak, but lavishly animated marvel. Go to Full Review Sergio Benítez Espinof Sep 4, 2019
A jewel, with capital letters, of the animated cinema of all time. [Full Review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Scott Clark Starburst Feb 14, 2018
8/10
What begins as a comfy film about an old (if stubborn) British couple in their twilight years becomes a scathing attack on apathy. Go to Full Review Tim Brayton Antagony & Ecstasy Jul 10, 2016
10/10
Political documents from prior generations can't help but lose their force, and yet this is just as powerful now as it ever could have been. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Oct 19, 2005
2/5
Luke Y. Thompson LYTRules.com Mar 3, 2005
3/5
The images from the movie are haunting, and have stuck with me the past few days, but I feel like maybe I've dragged them out of my subconscious, where they no longer belong. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jay W @RT52162311 Jun 21, 2026 If you watched a film like "Grave of Fireflies" or "This Corner of the World" and wished that they would focus more on bombings that didn't happen in Japan, than "When the Wind Blows" is the movie for you. A truly tragic tale, not in the fact that the people in the movie lose hope. But the fact that through the whole mess they maintain this relentless optimism that things will work out. And you as the audience just watch as... well, I won't spoil things here. Maybe things do work out. See more Jim P @RT08384096 Feb 15, 2026 Beautiful. And haunting... See more Alec B @Alec97 Sep 4, 2025 Incredibly bleak stuff. At times it might feel like the movie is cruelly mocking the main characters' "Keep Calm and Carry On" mindset but then you have to remember that most people typically would have a hard time understanding that they would be doomed in this scenario. See more Maka M @RT77345836 Aug 11, 2025 Blind trust, positiv attitude asks the question, who had the better end. See more Simon O @RT15038115 Aug 3, 2025 A disturing film, about the nuclear war and it's effects. See more Lluvia A @RT77312457 Jul 20, 2025 A very depressing film, but good. See more Read all reviews
When the Wind Blows

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Cast & Crew

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Jimmy T. Murakami

Director

Peggy Ashcroft

Hilda Bloggs

John Mills

Jim

Raymond Briggs

Writer

John Coates

Producer

Roger Waters

Music

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When the Wind Blows

When the Wind Blows (1986) When the Wind Blows (1986) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In this hand-drawn animated tale, elderly married couple Hilda and Jim Bloggs have their quiet, simple lives in the English countryside interrupted when they learn of an impending nuclear attack. Not completely understanding the gravity of their situation, Hilda and Jim react archaically and insufficiently after the attack -- and the film takes a dark turn as the radiation begins taking its toll on the unsuspecting couple.
Director
Jimmy T. Murakami
Producer
John Coates
Screenwriter
Raymond Briggs
Production Co
TVC London, British Screen Productions, Penguin Books, Film Four International, Meltdown Productions
Genre
Drama, Animation
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 12, 2020
Runtime
1h 25m
Sound Mix
Surround
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