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 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 88 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 88 Ratings

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THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER

Movie Details & Credits

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: March 2, 1990

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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Awards & Rankings

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Critic Reviews

Variety - Staff (Not Credited)

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

Chicago Sun-Times - 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

Time - 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]

San Francisco Chronicle - 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]

Chicago Tribune - 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]

Chicago Reader - 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

Christian Science Monitor - 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

Manatee634

Dec 7, 2011

This movie is just great. The fact that it's based on a Tom Clancy novel makes it even better. Sean Connery was great, so was Alec Baldwin. A thrilling climax (no spoilers), I would definitely recommend this movie.

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MitchellM.

Nov 28, 2005

I love this movie.

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EricT.

Apr 17, 2007

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

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Compi24

Nov 28, 2012

"The Hunt For Red October" is a 1990 film directed by John McTiernan and stars Alec Baldwin and Sean Connery. The film is adapted from the 1984 Tom Clancy novel about a Soviet nuclear submarine which drops off U.S. scanners, prompting a young CIA analyst (Baldwin) to scramble to find out"The Hunt For Red October" is a 1990 film directed by John McTiernan and stars Alec Baldwin and Sean Connery. The film is adapted from the 1984 Tom Clancy novel about a Soviet nuclear submarine which drops off U.S. scanners, prompting a young CIA analyst (Baldwin) to scramble to find out what the captain's (Connery) motives really are. To start off, I love Tom Clancy. I'm a fairly big fan of his Splinter Cell, Rainbow SIx, and Ghost Recon franchises. I had also heard of "Red October" and that it was directed by the guy who made "Predator" and "Die Hard", so I was already pretty excited to watch this movie. In short, the film did not, in any way, disappoint. What kind of shocked and worried me about this is that this film was filed under the "Thriller" section on Netflix. . .and it's rated PG. Needless to say, this fact sort of worried me. I was wrong though - just because this movie is PG does not mean it isn't "thrilling" in any sense of the word. "Red October" is in fact an "edge of your seat" thriller by definition. Almost every facet of this film is excellent. The script, I found, was very witty and well written by Larry Ferguson. The acting was spectacular, specifically of course from Connery and Baldwin. The score was very awesome and appropriate for the source material. The special effects were very good, especially for the late 80's. I'd say that "The Hunt For Red October" is a solid thriller that will have a hard time disappointing many of its viewers.… Expand

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anichels

Jan 24, 2017

I enjoyed this movie, the transitions between English and Russian speeches are well done - and I thought that the tone and direction was well done and easy to follow along. The plot was a bit gimmicky so that some events make the story progress forward.

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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.

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