The movie "The Day After," a television film depicting the effects of a nuclear war on the United States, was released and aired on ABC in the United States.
The early 1980s marked a period of heightened Cold War tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union, which provided the real-world context that influenced the creation and reception of "The Day After."
Tensions escalate between the United States and the Soviet Union leading to widespread fears of nuclear war.
Nuclear missiles are launched targeting cities including Lawrence, Kansas, leading to massive destruction and casualties.
Survivors in Lawrence experience the devastation and chaos following the nuclear blasts, dealing with injuries, radiation, and loss.
Attempts at organized rescue, medical treatment, and communication are overwhelmed and largely fail due to the scale of destruction.
The environmental effects of the nuclear exchange start to manifest, causing widespread cold and darkness.
Groups of survivors in and around Lawrence band together to support each other and seek help amid scarcity and radiation dangers.
