The Hunt for Red October

Name: The Hunt for Red October
Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller
Released: March 2, 1990
Duration: 134 min
Rating: 58
Cast: Alec Baldwin, Sean Connery

1990

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 17 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 134 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	Your Score
7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 134 Ratings

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The Hunt For Red October

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Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: March 2, 1990 | PG

Starring: Alec Baldwin, Sean Connery

Summary: A new technologically-superior Soviet nuclear sub, the Red October, is heading for the U.S. coast under the command of Captain Marko Ramius (Connery). The American government thinks Ramius is planning to attack. A lone CIA analyst (Baldwin) has a different idea: he thinks Ramius is planning to defect, but he has only a few hours to find himA new technologically-superior Soviet nuclear sub, the Red October, is heading for the U.S. coast under the command of Captain Marko Ramius (Connery). The American government thinks Ramius is planning to attack. A lone CIA analyst (Baldwin) has a different idea: he thinks Ramius is planning to defect, but he has only a few hours to find him and prove it-because the entire Russian naval and air commands are trying to find him, too. (Paramount Pictures)… Expand

Director: John McTiernan

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Thriller

Rating: PG

Runtime: 134 min

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Critic Reviews

Staff (Not Credited)

The Industrial Light & Magic special visual effects unit does yeoman work in staging the action with cliffhanger intensity. Read full review

Roger Ebert

A skillful, efficient film that involves us in the clever and deceptive game being played by Ramius and in the best efforts of those on both sides to figure out what he plans to do with his submarine - and how he plans to do it. Read full review

Richard Schickel

McTiernan does not fall too much in love with any scene, character or gadget. He has judged his material (and our attention spans) very well. His alternation of menace and human interest, technological wizardry and action sequences is subtly calibrated, ultimately hypnotic in its effect. [5 Mar 1990, p.70]

Mick LaSalle

Even when it's hard to follow, it looks good. The undersea action is visually convincing, and Ramius' submarine, with all its rooms and compartments, is always believable. The moonlit photography in the picture's final scene is stunning. [2 Mar 1990, Daily Datebook, p.E1]

Dave Kehr

An idealized, dreamy fantasy of life in the business world-harmless as airplane reading, a bit dull on the big screen. [2 Mar 1990, Friday, p.C]

Jonathan Rosenbaum

The film mechanically uses the crosscutting technique made famous by Kubrick's "Dr. Strangelove" without any of its wit or focused energy. Read full review

David Sterritt

Like the nuclear sub it's named after, the picture is big, shiny, and expensive. It's also cold, hard, and cumbersome, and lacking the barest hint of emotional or psychological depth. [9 Mar 1990, Arts, p.10]

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User Reviews

EricT.

Apr 17, 2007

Great special effects (except for the torpedo scenes). Kept me thinking.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

gracjanski

Jan 16, 2021

top cat and mouse game with some intelligent twists and top actors. Of course the movie is a little propaganda.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Kai82

Jul 3, 2021

A classic movie that is at the same time highly valued but rarely spoken about anymore. It has a good cast, tactical cat and mouse games atop on a good story. Lets start at the beginning. The movie is based of the (debut) book from Tom Clancy and is also the first appearance of Jack Ryan whoA classic movie that is at the same time highly valued but rarely spoken about anymore. It has a good cast, tactical cat and mouse games atop on a good story. Lets start at the beginning. The movie is based of the (debut) book from Tom Clancy and is also the first appearance of Jack Ryan who will become one of his most famous characters. The story is set in the cold war era in1984 and starts when the legendary Russian submarine captain Marko Ramius is given the command of the “Red October” a new type of submarine called Typhoon class. It has a new type of impulse engine that makes it practically invisible to (passive) sonar. After an American submarine shadowing the Red October losses contact all alarm bells ring in the USA. Even more a bit later the Soviets deployed all their available navy assets to hunt down Ramius. It seems he got mad and wants to attack the USA on his own. However CIA analyst Jack Ryan has a different idea and believes that Ramius wants to defect and hand over the submarine to the USA. With this set up the story starts. It is engaging, immersive and is enhanced by the good characters. I like also the suspense and tactical cat and mouse games. It is no wonder that it worked well because the book was a bestseller and started Tom Clancy’s legacy as legendary novelist. Director John McTiernan successfully adapted the book into a great movie and I praise him for this. Lets continue with the cast. We have a lot of great actors for the movie. Sean Connery is a fantastic captain Marko Ramius. It is one of his great performances even when it is not as much praised as his other roles. He fully delivers his role. Alec Baldwin plays an excellent Jack Ryan that is truly convincing. Sidenote it is an interesting discussion topic which actor is the best Jack Ryan. Back to the movie. Stellan Skarsgard as captain Tupolev is really good and I wanted more of him in the movie. The other roles have fine actors too with for example Tim Curry, James Earl Jones, Scott Glenn or Joss Ackland. A truly good cast. I enjoyed how they fill their roles with life and make them believable characters with understandable motives. Visually the movie creates an intense and realistic feeling atmosphere. They put a lot of effort into the sets and details. I highly appreciate this but must remark that I have not even basic level of understanding about the Navy, how life on a submarines is and naval warfare in general like most of the viewers. I say a realistic approach is wasted on most if the main audience does not have the knowledge to evaluate it (In an entertainment movie. For a documentary it is a no brainer must have). The soundtrack by Basil Poledouris is amazing and also nearly never brought up on favorite list. It enhance the atmosphere. Overall this was a movie I enjoyed a lot. It is a classic for its time and the good performance is worth an additional point to get a 10/10 rating. Worth watching and remembering.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

ovi_bz

Jan 5, 2011

Great movie and a very nice story. Sean Connery was big again.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

tonyGreen

Jul 18, 2020

A classic. So many aspects are done very well, from the pacing, to the way they deal with Russian dialogue to avoid captioning pr faux accents. An effective thriller with a lot of humor, intrigue and the mandatory submarine movie elements. It is also one of those refreshing films thatA classic. So many aspects are done very well, from the pacing, to the way they deal with Russian dialogue to avoid captioning pr faux accents. An effective thriller with a lot of humor, intrigue and the mandatory submarine movie elements. It is also one of those refreshing films that doesn't treat the audience like idiots. Even the visual effects are not to bad for the era.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Spangle

Jan 16, 2014

Gripping from beginning to end, the only real issue I had with The Hunt for Red October was that the plot was a bit convoluted at times and tough to follow. However, despite that, it was extremely enjoyable and filled with satisfying thrills, as well as good acting performances from theGripping from beginning to end, the only real issue I had with The Hunt for Red October was that the plot was a bit convoluted at times and tough to follow. However, despite that, it was extremely enjoyable and filled with satisfying thrills, as well as good acting performances from the leads, Alec Baldwin and Sean Connery.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JJA23

Sep 12, 2018

This movie was so boring until the the last 20 minutes.For most of the movie their was so much backtracking about the Russian submarines being silent and American political propaganda that it made the whole good 20 minutes not worthwhile.

0 of 6 users found this helpful06

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