The Peacemaker (1997)

41% of critics liked it
(32 reviews)
40% of users liked it
(44,412 ratings)

The first motion picture produced by DreamWorks SKG, The Peacemaker (1997) was a spy thriller that married the exotic locations and derring-do of James Bond with the high-tech obsession and post-Cold War politics of Tom Clancy. Greedy Russian military officers crash two trains into each other, the… More The first motion picture produced by DreamWorks SKG, The Peacemaker (1997) was a spy thriller that married the exotic locations and derring-do of James Bond with the high-tech obsession and post-Cold War politics of Tom Clancy. Greedy Russian military officers crash two trains into each other, the warheads aboard one causing a nuclear blast. The accident is a cover for the theft of some of the weapons for sale to terrorists and rogue governments. In the U.S., intelligence officer Lt. Col. Tom Devoe (George Clooney), isn't fooled. Neither is Dr. Julia Kelly (Nicole Kidman), the acting head of a White House task force on nuclear smuggling. Devoe and Kelly team up to find the nukes, and they are able to stop the transfer of the weapons in a raid at the Iranian border, but one warhead is missing. It's in the hands of Dusan Gavrich (Marcel Iures), a grief-stricken terrorist planning to call the world's attention to the war in the former Soviet Union with a nuclear explosion in Manhattan. Although fictional, The Peacemaker was based on the magazine article "One Point Safe" by Andrew Cockburn and Leslie Cockburn, a factual investigative news report about nuclear weapons smuggling in Russia. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 3 min.
Directed By: Mimi Leder
Written By: Michael Schiffer
Genres: Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Sep 26, 1997 Wide
On DVD: Oct 24, 2000
Studio: Dreamworks

Critic Reviews

John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...it's got all the right goods without the right passion to make an audience care much about it. (Blu-ray Edition)
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...a frustrating picture with all the ingredients to be a truly outstanding action thriller, yet never quite achieving its ambitions.
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com
The Peacemaker is a critical reminder that nothing's quite as dynamic as fully bloomed, gung ho, widescreen descent into possible worldwide destruction.
Chuck O'Leary, FulvueDrive-in.com
Another formulaic action movie devoid of any suspense, feeling or realistic sense of danger.
John R. McEwen, Film Quips Online
HEY, HOLLYWOOD! THE COLD WAR IS OVER! Think they heard that? I doubt it.
Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)
The plot works on a mechanical level, but "The Peacemaker" reveals the Bond movies are smart to oil the cogs with humor and sex appeal.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Explores the theme of nuclear terrorism with zest and momentum.

Read all 7 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Featured Audience Ratings

Anthony L

An absolute stinker!
Film C

A pretty good film really good action packed film and good performances
Jani H

Today, when we're used to set high standards to action movies, and usually be satisfied with the end result, "The Peacemaker" just doesn't fit the picture of a high-class action thriller. The story develops fast, which is a good thing. It's just another… More
Today, when we're used to set high standards to action movies, and usually be satisfied with the end result, "The Peacemaker" just doesn't fit the picture of a high-class action thriller. The story develops fast, which is a good thing. It's just another manhunt for some terrorists, who are, suprise, from Russia. Some twists and turns and the end credits start to roll. So no originality here. There's a lot of action in the movie but it's just not that exciting. The production values have increased in the last 10 years but nevertheless, better action movies were made at the same time as "The Peacemaker". George Clooney in the male lead is just horrible. Don't get me wrong, I like Clooney and he has made several good performances after this movie. He just doesn't seem to fit the role. All the stupid grins and head shaking... Nicole Kidman in the female lead gives a mediocre performance. But what an iron lady! When Clooney's character is puffing his lungs out, Kidman acts like nothing remotelly to running ever even happened. Could've worked 10 years ago when I saw it for a first time but now... You'll just get disappointed.
Al S

An expertly crafted and superb thriller. A smart, thrilling, well-paced and action-packed thrill-ride. It explodes with white-knuckle tension, drilling suspense and teriffic speacial-effects. A story thats solid, intelligent and energetic all the way through. George Clooney and Nicole… More
An expertly crafted and superb thriller. A smart, thrilling, well-paced and action-packed thrill-ride. It explodes with white-knuckle tension, drilling suspense and teriffic speacial-effects. A story thats solid, intelligent and energetic all the way through. George Clooney and Nicole Kidman are perfectly matched. A breathtaking, gripping and riveting edge of your seat thriller.
Candy R

Good actors. Good thriller for the time.
Aaron N

Julia Kelly: You will not take action without authorization. Devoe: What do you think I am, some gung-ho, stupid son of a bitch? Julia Kelly: No, I don't think you're stupid. A standard action movie, elevated by Clooney and some well done action scenes. Basically some… More
Julia Kelly: You will not take action without authorization. Devoe: What do you think I am, some gung-ho, stupid son of a bitch? Julia Kelly: No, I don't think you're stupid. A standard action movie, elevated by Clooney and some well done action scenes. Basically some special group involved in watching out for nuclear weapons gets involved in a heavy situation after a train robbery of warheads goes successfully enough to not only steal them, but blow one up to cover their tracks. Clooney and Kidman are in this special group, looking way too good for the jobs they have and are of course the only ones available (Jack Bauer, Chuck Norris, and Val Kilmer in Spartan were unavailable) to figure things out. This leads to other plot developments about the bad guys, what they are about, how our heroes get into action and escape it, and so on. It's standard, but its very well made. This was the first flick produced by Dreamworks and it lookds very slick. The dialog works using Clooney's charm mixed with real enough dialog for these situations. Kidman looks good. And there are a number of cool action scenes. Even the villain is a neat enough character and not just standardly evil. Its a fun flick, well paced, and good looking. Ken: Colonel, the guy you bagged is Dr. Amir Teraki, Pakistani. PhD in Astrophysics, educated at Harvard. Colonel Tom Devoe: That's right, people. We educated half the world's terrorists.
Wildaly M

It's not spectacular but it's fun. The action is good, the dialogue is smart and the actors are top-notch.
Ginny

Clooney goes all GI-Joe-y lol! Its all just action! Action! And hell yeah, ACTION! They dont make movies like this anymore. Kidman looked so young in this. You might find the storyline a bit humm-humm if you analyze it too much, but if youre willing to go with the flow, you might… More
Clooney goes all GI-Joe-y lol! Its all just action! Action! And hell yeah, ACTION! They dont make movies like this anymore. Kidman looked so young in this. You might find the storyline a bit humm-humm if you analyze it too much, but if youre willing to go with the flow, you might just find yourself enjoying this. :) Russians & weapons of mass destruction, those two made it enticing enough for me to watch this again!! ^_^
danny d

this was a decent action flick.
Leigh R

Great action.
Michael G

I think Clooney just wanted to make a movie at this point.
Dean M

I always watch the best scenes of George Clooney and Nicole Kidman chasing after a nuclear terrorist around New York City that thrills me.
Deb S

The plot is nothing new. Some terrorists decides that New York must be eradicated to teach America a lesson so they steal some nukes and one of them (a revenge-obsessed Bosnian suicide bomber ) tries to set one off in NYC. Enter Dr Julia Kelly (Nicole Kidman) and Col. Tom Devoe… More
The plot is nothing new. Some terrorists decides that New York must be eradicated to teach America a lesson so they steal some nukes and one of them (a revenge-obsessed Bosnian suicide bomber ) tries to set one off in NYC. Enter Dr Julia Kelly (Nicole Kidman) and Col. Tom Devoe (George Clooney). Kelly is a spunky US presidential advisor - attractive, smart and courageous - but one who has never seen combat or watched someone die. Devoe is a battle-hardened veteran. There is inevitable conflict between Kelly and Devoe but mercifully no romance between the two, who are in any case too busy saving the world from a nuclear bomb to get physical. The movie fails to satisfy due to many holes and non-credible series of events. Major Spoiler: I can't believe a nuke weapon will make it through international customs just because it was in a box marked "Diplomatic papers - Confidential". Then right at the end of the movie, why does the terrorist blow his brains out two minutes before the nuke goes off? That gives our heroes a few minutes to disarm the bomb!!!! Wouldn't he keep talking to push through those two minutes?
Curt C

Great acting, great special effects, great villian. A 'by-the-numbers' thriller that's actually intelligent.
Miriam K

Good action film.
Haley A

Clooney and Kidman are good, but the movie is so-so.