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Trailer+1 trailer

The Hunt for Red October

1990Movie2 h 15 minPG-13

Thriller
75
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.5Metacritic587.6Rotten Tomatoes88%88%

A nerve-racking, gripping action movie about war and mystery, with standout score and sound design.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Where to watch

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Not for laughs or tears.

Movies with

Story

Invisible. Silent. Stolen.

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!

Feels like

  • Cold War Thriller
  • Submarine Warfare
  • High-Stakes Tension
  • Iconic Sound Design
  • Sean Connery Performance
  • Geopolitical Suspense
  • John McTiernan Direction
  • Classic Action Drama
  • Intellectual Cat-and-Mouse

Cast

24 of 47

Crew

Directed by
John McTiernan
Written by
Donald E. Stewart, Larry Ferguson, Tom Clancy
Produced by
Mace Neufeld
Music by
Basil Poledouris

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

March 2, 1990 · 2 h 15 min · PG-13

Released
March 2, 1990
Runtime
2 h 15 min
Age rating
PG-13
Content
Violence, Strong Language
Genres
Action, Thriller
Original language
English
Also spoken
Russian
Made in
United States
Budget
$30 million
Box office
$201 million
Available in
115 countries
Keywords
based on novel or book

Tropes

Awesome, but Impractical, Grey-and-Gray Morality, Silent Running Mode +9

  • Awesome, but Impractical
  • Grey-and-Gray Morality
  • Silent Running Mode
  • Chekhov's Gunman
  • Super Prototype
  • Rule of Three
  • Character as Himself
  • The Medic
  • Traitor Shot
  • Informed Flaw
  • Recognizable by Sound
  • A Nuclear Error

12 of 210 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream The Hunt for Red October?"

Questions about The Hunt for Red October

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Hunt for Red October?

HooplaKanopyPluto TVFawesome

In the United States, The Hunt for Red October is free with ads on Hoopla, Kanopy, Pluto TV, and Fawesome. You can rent or buy it from JustWatch TV Store, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 78 other countries.

Is The Hunt for Red October worth watching?

75
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 75 (IMDb 7.5, Rotten Tomatoes 88%, and Metacritic 58).

Is The Hunt for Red October okay for kids?

PG-13ViolenceStrong language

Yes: it's rated PG-13 in the United States for violence and strong language, and the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

Will I feel good after watching The Hunt for Red October?

BleakHopeful

Yes, it's an uplifting movie: the title analysis rates it 7 of 10 for hopefulness and 3 for wholesome.

Is The Hunt for Red October plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly plot-driven: intrigue (10 of 10) and mystery (9 of 10) carry it more than its characters do.

Was The Hunt for Red October a box office hit?

Budget$30 million
Box office$201 million

Yes, a big one: it cost about $30 million to make and earned $201 million worldwide, 6.7 times its budget.