The new historical drama "The Brink of War" is now playing in select U.S. theaters, offering a cinematic look at the high-stakes 1986 Reykjavik Summit between then-U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev.
Written and directed by Michael Russell Gunn, the film stars Jeff Daniels as Reagan and Jared Harris as Gorbachev. The movie recounts the critical weekend where the two leaders navigated the possibility of peace or war between the United States and the Soviet Union. The supporting cast includes J. K. Simmons as Secretary of State George Shultz, Hope Davis as First Lady Nancy Reagan, and Branka Katić as Raisa Gorbacheva.
Research and Development
Gunn spent years researching the film, including conducting an interview with the real George Shultz prior to his death in 2021. The film is distributed by Angel Studios, an independent company known for faith-based and conservative-leaning content.
Theatrical and Digital Release
"The Brink of War" opened in select theaters on Friday, August 14. Information on showtimes can be found via Fandango. The film is not currently available for streaming on services like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. A digital release date has not yet been announced.
Based on the release patterns of other Angel Studios films, such as "Young Washington," "The Brink of War" might become available for digital purchase or rent approximately one month after its theatrical debut, potentially in mid-to-late September 2026. It may also become available to Angel Guild members through the Angel Studios website around the same time. However, the studio's release schedules have varied, with some films taking over three months to reach digital platforms or remaining exclusive to the Angel Studios streaming service.
At present, viewing "The Brink of War" requires attending a theatrical showing.