--- title: "The Hunt for Red October: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-hunt-for-red-october/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-hunt-for-red-october" critics_score: 71 critics_reviews: 12 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Hunt for Red October (1990): what the critics said Critics' score 71 from 12 reviews: 10 positive, 0 mixed, 2 negative. Most critics take to this as a sturdy, intelligent submarine thriller that keeps a complicated plot clear. The praise gathers around John McTiernan’s direction: his taut set pieces, his patient crosscutting between the Soviet boat and American intelligence, and the spatial clarity that lets a talky story move like an action film. Sean Connery’s commanding Soviet captain is the performance singled out most often, with Alec Baldwin’s nervier Jack Ryan close behind, and several admire its handling of the language barrier between crews. The dissent is small but sharp, and the spread is wide: ten warm reviews, none lukewarm, two cold. Time Out finds the attempts to give the characters lives beyond the plot perfunctory. The New York Times calls it unconvincing and lazy, with punches pulled and effects that fall short, while Empire says the handling of Russian dialogue and heavy exposition sink the first ninety minutes before the action arrives. Later reassessments run warmer than the original notices. ## Variety — Variety Staff Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1989. The film is a terrific adventure yarn, thoughtfully adapted from the novel to reflect mellowing US-Soviet relations, with splendid performances from Connery and Baldwin and strong special effects. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1989/film/reviews/the-hunt-for-red-october-1200428202/) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 2 March 1990. Ebert praises the film as a skillful and efficient thriller that keeps its complex plot clear while highlighting the intelligence of its characters and strategy. He singles out the strong performances, particularly Sean Connery as Ramius and Alec Baldwin as Ryan, along with the film's focus on clever deception over crude motivations. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-hunt-for-red-october-1990) ## Radio Times — John Ferguson Rating 4/5. This submarine drama is an engaging thriller in which a Soviet commander sparks an international crisis. John McTiernan's no-frills direction maintains high tension throughout, aided by a strong supporting cast. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-bcsnbq/the-hunt-for-red-october/) ## Slant Magazine — Nick Schager Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 29 May 2003. The critic calls the film a thrilling edge-of-your-seat trifle that has admirably withstood the test of time. They single out director John McTiernan's knack for taut set pieces and the credible performances, particularly Alec Baldwin's as Jack Ryan. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-hunt-for-red-october/) ## The Telegraph — Tom Fordy Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 6 July 2023. The critic describes the film as sturdy and immersive, praising director John McTiernan for handling it like a thunderous action film despite its talky nature. They highlight Sean Connery's commanding performance as the standout element. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/hunt-for-red-october-tom-clancy-sean-connery-alec-baldwin/) ## Los Angeles Times — Sheila Benson Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 2 March 1990. The underwater thriller has an amiable smartness, a crackerjack premise, and a satisfying upbeat message, with strong performances especially from Connery and effective production values. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-03-02-ca-1561-story.html) ## Time Out — TCh Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2012. The film offers an engrossing and exciting battle of wits among the superpowers and the defecting captain. Attempts to give characters interior lives beyond the plot feel perfunctory or corny despite the strong cast. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-hunt-for-red-october) ## Empire — Angie Errigo Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The review criticizes the film's handling of Russian dialogue and over-exposition in the first 90 minutes, which sink a promising submarine thriller premise. It notes that the action finally picks up in the final stretch with stunts and effects, though the overall pace leaves much to be desired from the director of Die Hard. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/hunt-red-october-review/) ## The New York Times — Vincent Canby Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 2 March 1990. The film is an elegy for the Cold War that is entertaining in fits and starts but ultimately unconvincing and lazy, with punches pulled and special effects that fall short. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/02/movies/reviews-film-connery-as-captain-of-a-renegade-soviet-sub.html) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 25 February 2020. The critic finds the film a strong submarine thriller and the best depiction of Jack Ryan, praising its ensemble cast, direction, and ability to handle complex plotting without confusion. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-hunt-for-red-october-4k-review-jack-ryan/) ## Den of Geek Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 28 March 2025. The critic praises the film's innovative handling of language barriers as a masterstroke that remains unmatched in Hollywood. They single out director John McTiernan's spatial clarity and rhythmic editing as key strengths that elevate the submarine thriller. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/hunt-for-red-october-english-switch-best-way-languages/) ## The Ringer — Adam Nayman Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 3 May 2021. The film is slow, stately, and patient in its construction, with McTiernan’s rhythmic crosscutting between the submarine and American intelligence creating intense suspense reminiscent of 1960s classics. Connery’s gravitas as the Soviet captain carries the show, supported by Baldwin’s nervy performance as Ryan. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2021/05/03/movies/tom-clancy-movie-rankings-without-remorse-the-hunt-for-red-october) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-hunt-for-red-october.md