The Hunt for Red October poster & wallpaper

Alec Baldwin, Courtney B. Vance, Fred Dalton Thompson

In 1984, the USSR's best submarine captain in their newest sub violates orders and heads for the USA. Is he trying to defect, or to start a war?

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84% liked it

150,056 ratings

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41 critics

PG, 2 hrs. 14 min.

Directed by: John McTiernan, Jonathan Zurer

Release Date: March 2, 1990

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DVD Release Date: December 1, 1998

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Stats: 5,031 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (5,031)

  • SirPant
    September 29, 2009
    SirPant
    I love the way Sean Connery goes from Russian to Scottish in a zoom in, it?s a classic movie moment! It?s an ok film but nothing special!
  • DrZeek
    October 2, 2008
    DrZeek
    Watson: Y'know, I seen me a mermaid once. I even seen me a shark eat an octopus. But I ain't never seen no phantom Russian submarine.

    The first Tom Clancy film adaptation, a submarine thriller, set during the end of the Cold War, involving a Russian sub commander defecting to t...( read more)he US and an American analyst who seems to understand that.

    Sean Connery stars as the Russian commander and while this choice initially feels ridiculous, his presence is aided by a choice to have a moment where Russian dialog switches over to English in a clever way. Early on Connery makes a choice to violate orders and head for the US, without many understanding why.

    Meanwhile, a CIA analyst, Jack Ryan played by Alec Baldwin, learns of a new type of Soviet sub, the very one piloted by Connery, and looks into what its trying to do.

    The film becomes a a series of segments devoted to both sides, the US and the Soviets, with only a few knowing the true knowledge of Connery's plan or at least what he is trying.

    The film also stars an assortment of supporting characters, including Scott Glenn, Fred Dalton Thompson, James Earl Jones, Jeffrey Jones, Tim Curry, and best of all Sam Neil as Connery's first mate, who is great.

    Capt. Vasili Borodin: I will live in Montana. And I will marry a round American woman and raise rabbits, and she will cook them for me. And I will have a pickup truck... maybe even a "recreational vehicle." And drive from state to state. Do they let you do that?
    Captain Ramius: I suppose.
    Capt. Vasili Borodin: No papers?
    Captain Ramius: No papers, state to state.
    Capt. Vasili Borodin: Well then, in winter I will live in... Arizona. Actually, I think I will need two wives.
    Captain Ramius: Oh, at least.

    Director John McTiernan is certainly doing his best here, coming off of Predator and Die Hard, but the problem lies in maintaining a level of excitement. Much of this movie is about characters talking out what could happen, along with shots of subs rising and lowering, and I'm really not the biggest fan of sub movies.

    The last half hour certainly amps things up action wise, but overall the movie isn't a whole lot of fun, save for some good performances.

    Captain Ramius: You're afraid of our fleet. Well, you should be. Personally, I'd give us one chance in three. More tea anyone?
  • senorperfecto1
    August 4, 2008
    senorperfecto1
    A Soviet submarine commander is in command of the strongest, deadliest, and most powerful Soviet submarine, The Red October. The sub is equipped with a silent propulsion engine that will make the sub undetectable to American sonar. The commander has other plans for the sub, he an...( read more)d his command crew want to defect to the United States of America, but the Soviet Naval fleet is on a mission to sink the sub before The Americans can get their hands on the technology. Now the fate of the sub and the defectors are in the hands of CIA analyst Jack Ryan, who is the only one that believes the commander wishes to defect, everyone else believes he wants to start a war. Can Ryan get to The Red October before either the American or Soviet Naval fleets sink the sub? Or is the fate of the defecting crew doomed to reach their freedom?
    The Hunt for Red October is based off an intriguing novel by military aficionado Tom Clancy. The movie is a solid adaptation of the book and Sean Connery is fascinating in the lead as usual. The movie is a great film for war film fans and espionage. The movie has very intense scenes filled with good action. The script is a solid effort and acting is superb. Alec Baldwin dawns the rein of Jack Ryan before being replaced by Harrison Ford then Ben Affleck. Baldwin does a good job and is more the type of person Clancy had in mind when he wrote the book. Clancy was never a big fan of any films, except Op-Center which he wrote and produce which failed to gain any interest with the public. The film will be criticized by the fans and author of the book, though the film does a great job standing on its own two feet. The Hunt for Red October receives four torpedoes out of five for being a solid espionage flick that will gain the interest of the conspirators among us.
  • jplong39
    July 6, 2008
    jplong39
    Red October...one of the best of the action-adventures of the 90's...smart, entertaining and suspenseful
  • Chiefilms
    March 1, 2008
    Chiefilms
    Sean Connery technically should of had a Russian accent being Russian in the film, but everyone wants him to keep that Scottish accent.
  • Yelverton
    November 20, 2009
    Yelverton
    A great movie, you'll love it.
  • odonoghuematthew
    November 20, 2009
    odonoghuematthew
    Best Sound editing 1990
  • SkywalkerJones
    November 19, 2009
    SkywalkerJones
    It s a great day,comrads.Today,we sail to history.-Commander Marko Ramius

    ...( read more)er="0"/>
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    Director:John McTiernan
    Cast:Sean Connery,Alec Baldwin,James Earl Jones,Sam Neil
    Genre:Action,Suspense
    Year of release:1990
    Running Time:130 minutes

    Plot:
    Red October is a new Soviet Submarine. When the Americans are given photographs of it, they are extremely curious as to why is it so special. Jack Ryan, a CIA analyst, consults with a friend, who deduces that it's equipped with a new engine that can make it run virtually silent and with such a device, they can position themselves on the outskirts of any coastal city and launch their missles and not give their target any warning. Marko Ramius the sub's captain kills their political officer after they open their orders which basically has them conducting routine maneuvers but he kills him and burns their orders and replaces it. He then tells the crew that they are going to test their new engine by positioning themselves by New York and run missile drills. Ryan is then called by his boss to attend a briefing that concerns Red October. It is at this briefing that they discover that Ramius sent a letter to high ranking Soviet official, who after reading the letter went to meet with the Soviet Premier and it was shortly after that meeting that the Soviet navy was deployed to find Red October and sink it. Everyone assumes that Ramius has turned rogue but Ryan who once did research on Ramius assumes that he might be trying to defect. While everyone dismisses him, the National Security Adviser tells Ryan to go out there and find out for sure if he is right cause once Ramius is in position to fire his missiles they have take him out. Ryan reluctantly goes and is not use to fieldwork, is having a hard time coping with the sea. At the same time someone in the Red October crew knows that Ramius has deviated from his assignment and is doing what he can to stop him.

    Review:soon...
  • blandbethany
    November 13, 2009
    blandbethany
    Not a big fan of war movies, but this has to be a very good movie I give it a 4
  • minhvanl
    November 2, 2009
    minhvanl
    not bad at all.very exciting movie
    to watch

View All The Hunt for Red October Reviews

Critic Reviews

May 29, 2003
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine

Politics aside, however, The Hunt for Red October is a thrilling edge-of-your-seat trifle that has admirably withstood the test of time. full review

January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

A skillful, efficient film. full review

View more The Hunt for Red October reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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The Hunt for Red October Trivia

  • In the film The Hunt for Red October,who or what was the KGB spy,who sabotaged the submarine,pretending to be?   Answer »
  • What colour can go in each of the blanks to complete the titles of 3 movies? 1. The Hunt for _______ October 2. _______ Sonja 3. Woman In _______  Answer »
  • This movie, inspired by a Tom Clancy novel, was released in 1990. It was directed by John McTiernan, and starred Alec Baldwin, Sean Connery, and Scott Glenn to name a few. The title implied that they were hunting for a colored month.  Answer »
  • Of the 4 movies based on books by Tom Clancy, name the movie that casts Alec Baldwin as the first to play 'Jack Ryan'.  Answer »
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