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The Hunt for Red October

The Hunt for Red October

Action · Thriller · 1990

A new technologically-superior Soviet nuclear sub, the Red October, is heading for the U.S. coast under the command of Captain Marko Ramius. The American government thinks Ramius is planning to attack. Lone CIA analyst Jack Ryan 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 Ramius, too. The hunt is on!

Movie details

The Hunt for Red October

“Invisible. Silent. Stolen.”

1990 Action · Thriller 2h 15m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.4 / 10

Community rating

A new technologically-superior Soviet nuclear sub, the Red October, is heading for the U.S. coast under the command of Captain Marko Ramius. The American government thinks Ramius is planning to attack. Lone CIA analyst Jack Ryan 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 Ramius, too. The hunt is on!

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Hunt for Red October?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

John McTiernan

Written by

Larry Ferguson · Donald E. Stewart

Sean Connery

Sean Connery

Capt. 1st Marko Ramius

Alec Baldwin

Alec Baldwin

Dr. Jack Ryan

Scott Glenn

Scott Glenn

CDR Bart Mancuso (USS Dallas)

Sam Neill

Sam Neill

Capt. 2nd Vasily Borodin

James Earl Jones

James Earl Jones

Vice ADM James Greer

Joss Ackland

Joss Ackland

Ambassador Andrei Lysenko

Richard Jordan

Richard Jordan

Dr. Jeffrey Pelt, National Security Advisor

Court is in session

Put The Hunt for Red October on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Adrenaline Seeker

“Momentum is a formal choice.”

The velocity sharpens instinct and tension, making every beat land before self-importance can settle in.

The prosecution The Auteur Devotee

“Speed as an alibi.”

The film races past its weak spots and hopes acceleration will keep the audience from inspecting the evidence.