The Day After (1983)

Factual error: SAC's airborne command post is shown in several scenes. Problem is, while there is such an aircraft, it is not a KC-135 Stratotanker, which is what is shown.

Grumpy Scot

Other mistake: When the Soviet attack occurs, farmer Jim Dahlberg carries his blinded son to the farm's shelter. The dust cloud from the nuclear blast in this shot is blowing from right to left, yet the flag in front of the house is blowing into the opposite direction. (00:59:50)

Revealing mistake: When Denis runs out into the field after the nuclear attack, she brushes up against a dead cow, and the cow moves like a stuffed prop. Real cows are much heavier than that.

Trivia: The US department of defence did not allow the producers to use stock footage of actual mushroom clouds so they had to rely on special effects of the time, which is why the clouds appear so fake. They also wanted the script changed to state that the Russians started the war.

Mercury

Denise Dahlberg: Phones working?
Stephen Klein: Are you kidding? There aren't going to be any phones.

First Air Force Officer: Confidence is high. I repeat, confidence is high. Roger, we've got 32 targets in track and 10 impacting points. I want it confirmed... is this an exercise? Roger, copy. This is not an exercise.
Second Air Force Officer: Roger, understand. Major Reinhardt, we have a massive attack against the U.S. at this time. ICBMs... numerous ICBMs... Roger, understand. Over 300 missiles inbound now.

Joe Huxley: You know what Einstein said about World War III? He said he didn't know how they were gonna fight World War III, but he knew how they would fight World War IV: With sticks and stones.