Project received mixed reviews from critics. It holds a rating of 47% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 17 reviews. Chicago Sun-Times critic Roger Ebert gave the film four out of four stars and called it "a clever, funny and very skillful thriller ... that stays as close as possible to the everyday lives of convincing people, so that the movie's frightening aspects are convincing". He particularly took note of how "sophisticated" the film was about the relationship between Paul Stephens and John Matthewson, while praising Brickman's ability to "combines everyday personality conflicts with a funny, oddball style of seeing things, and wrap up the whole package into a tense and effective thriller. It's not often that one movie contains so many different kinds of pleasures." Brickman received the President's Award from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films for The Manhattan Project. Brickman would not direct again until the 2001 Showtime television movie Sister Mary Explains It All. In the role of Jenny, Cynthia Nixon was nominated for the Young Artist Award in the category of Exceptional Performance by a Young Actress, Supporting Role. References External links Roger Ebert review, The Manhattan Project DVD Talk review by David Cornelius 1980s thriller films 1980s teen films 1986 films American thriller films American teen films Cold War films Films about nuclear war and weapons Films about the Manhattan Project Films directed by Marshall Brickman Films shot in New Jersey Films shot in New York City Films with screenplays by Marshall Brickman Films scored by Philippe Sarde Teen thriller films 1980s English-language films 1980s American films