  The retraction of thin films, as described by the Taylor-Culick (TC) theory,
is subject to widespread debate, particularly for films at the nanoscale. We
use non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations to explore the validity of
the assumptions used in continuum models, by tracking the evolution of holes in
a film. By deriving a new mathematical form for the surface shape and
considering a locally varying surface tension at the front of the retracting
film, we reconcile the original theory with our simulation data to recover a
corrected TC speed valid at the nanoscale.
