The Formula

Year: 1980

Runtime: 117 mins

Language: English

Director: John G. Avildsen

ThrillerMysteryCrime

Los Angeles detective Barney Caine investigates a fellow officer’s death and uncovers evidence that Nazi scientists created a synthetic gasoline during World II. The secret formula could dismantle the global oil monopoly, making it priceless and perilous. Caine soon clashes with oil magnate Adam Steiffel, whose own designs on the formula threaten to spark a deadly corporate war.

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Timeline & Setting – The Formula (1980)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Formula (1980). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Location

Berlin, Los Angeles

The story shifts between wartime Berlin, where secret documents about a Nazi fuel formula are pursued, and modern-day Los Angeles, where a detective chases a murder tied to that past. Berlin is depicted as a city dense with political intrigue and danger, while Los Angeles serves as a hub of international deals and corporate power plays. The contrast highlights how the shadows of history reach into present-day crime and espionage.

🗺️ Berlin 🌆 Los Angeles 🕰️ War-era to contemporary settings

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:13

Main Characters – The Formula (1980)

Meet the key characters of The Formula (1980), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:13

Major Themes – The Formula (1980)

Explore the central themes of The Formula (1980), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:13

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Conspiracy Thrillers with Historical Baggage like The Formula

Present-day investigations unearth dangerous secrets from a dark past.If you enjoyed The Formula's blend of a modern detective story with a dark historical secret, you'll find similar tension in these movies. This thread gathers thrillers where investigating a present-day mystery leads to uncovering perilous truths from the past, often involving cover-ups by powerful institutions.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically begin with a seemingly straightforward contemporary incident—a murder, a disappearance—that serves as a gateway to a much larger, older conspiracy. The narrative structure is often an investigative procedural, peeling back layers of deception to reveal how historical events (like wartime secrets or political assassinations) continue to manipulate the present. The protagonist's journey is one of increasing isolation and paranoia as they challenge a well-entrenched system.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped together because they share a specific narrative engine: the collision of past and present. They create a unique tension by showing that history is not dead but actively shaping current power dynamics. The mood is consistently paranoid and methodical, driven by the protagonist's race against time to expose the truth before they are silenced.

Cynical Corporate Espionage Movies like The Formula

Stories where the real enemy is the cold calculus of corporate greed.Fans of The Formula's depiction of a deadly battle against an oil monopoly will appreciate these films. Discover movies where individual protagonists take on powerful, greedy corporations in stories filled with tense intrigue, moral compromise, and endings that question the possibility of true justice.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves an ordinary person or investigator stumbling upon a corporate secret so valuable that it justifies any number of crimes. The corporation is portrayed as a monolithic, patient enemy that operates above the law. The protagonist's journey is less about a clear triumph and more about survival and exposing a fraction of the truth, often concluding with a bittersweet acknowledgment of the system's enduring power.

Why These Movies?

These movies are united by their thematic focus on the corrupting influence of immense corporate power and the futility of fighting it alone. They share a cold, pessimistic mood where human life is secondary to profit and market control. The tone is consistently tense and the pacing steady, building a sense of inescapable paranoia.

Unlock the Full Story of The Formula

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Formula in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Formula is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Formula Summary

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The Formula Timeline

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The Formula Spoiler-Free Summary

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More About The Formula

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