Directed by Richard W. Haines and Lloyd Kaufman (the latter under the pseudonym "Samuel Weil"), the film follows a high school impacted by radioactive drugs obtained from a nearby nuclear power plant.

The accident causes a radioactive water leak which ends up gruesomely killing a student named Dewey.

The mutated drug shows itself to have potent aphrodisiac effects, leading to Warren and Chrissy having sex in Eddie's loft.

Meanwhile, Warren, tired of the Cretins' constant harassment, ends up going on a radiation-fueled rampage, killing two of them, with no memory of the event once he comes to his senses.

The soundtrack to the film remained unreleased until 2014, when Troma licensed its release on the Ship to Shore PhonoCo.

[2] The album was released in physical form exclusively on LP record as a limited pressing of 1,300 copies, with 700 being black, 300 of a green-colored version known as "Atomic High", and another 300 of a green/blue color known as "Dewey's Meltdown".

Each copy included a card with a code that allowed for download of an expanded digital release that contained commentary on each song from Troma President and Class of Nuke 'Em High co-director Lloyd Kaufman.

"We Are One" by Ethan & the Coup who had previously written the song for the movie in 1986, but missed the deadline for submission for the film to be included.

There are some nice action sequences involving motorcycles and even some gun play that are tightly edited and help the film to zip along.

Michael Mayers’ cinematography adds a layer of beauty to sequences that otherwise risk appearing cheap and jokey.

A fourth installment of the series called Return to Nuke 'Em High Volume 1 was released in January 2014.