The movie was written by Mike Gray, T.S. Cook and James Bridges. It was directed by Bridges. The film illustrated the viewpoint that human depravity is of greater safety concern than flaws of technology.
It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Jack Lemmon), Best Actress in a Leading Role (Jane Fonda), Best Art Direction-Set Decoration and Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen.
The title refers to the concept, mentioned only jokingly in the film, that if a nuclear plant melts down, it will melt through the Earth until it reaches China. See nuclear meltdown.
The film was released on March 16, 1979, just days before the real-life events at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania.