Black Sunday

Black Sunday

Year: 1977

Runtime: 143 min

Language: English

Director: John Frankenheimer

AdventureDramaThrillerCrime

Haunted by his experiences in Vietnam, Michael Lander descends into instability and joins forces with Palestinian terrorist Dahlia. Together, they plot a devastating attack at the Super Bowl, threatening thousands of lives. As Lander's sanity deteriorates, Israeli agent Kabakov and the FBI race against time to uncover the conspiracy and prevent a catastrophic event.

Black Sunday (1977) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

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In a restless America still echoing the shadows of the Vietnam War, a fragile peace hangs over everyday life, yet beneath the surface a storm of obsession and ideology brews. The world of Michael Lander is a fragile one, forged in the crucible of combat and now teetering on the edge of sanity. Haunted by what he witnessed and endured, he drifts between the ordinary demands of a civilian pilot and the disquieting pull of a darker purpose that promises redemption through extreme action.

When Dahlia enters his orbit, she brings a fervent conviction rooted in a distant, violent struggle. Their uneasy partnership fuses personal trauma with a radical vision, setting their sights on an event that commands the nation’s attention. The looming spectacle of the Super Bowl becomes both a symbolic stage and a ticking clock, offering a chilling canvas for a plan that could alter countless lives in a single, decisive moment. The tone is taut, an uneasy blend of psychological tension and geopolitical intrigue, where every glance carries the weight of hidden agendas and every breath hints at the possibility of catastrophe.

Opposite them, Kabakov, an Israeli operative, and Sam Corley, a determined FBI agent, find themselves drawn into an escalating cat-and-mouse chase. Their worlds collide as each seeks to untangle a web of secrecy before the impending deadline closes in. The film balances the inner turmoil of its troubled protagonists with the relentless pressure of an investigative pursuit, creating a mood that is both brooding and urgent. As the clock ticks, the audience is left to wonder whether fragile minds can be steered away from disaster, or if the convergence of obsession and duty will ignite an irreversible blaze.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 14:14

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Black Sunday

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