---
title: "Under Siege"
year: 1992
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/under-siege"
fi1m_id: "under-siege"
imdb_id: "tt0105690"
tmdb_id: 8845
wikidata_id: "Q385798"
fi1m_score: 77
critics_score: 72
critics_reviews: 7
published: "2026-10-04T22:07:49.787128+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-04T22:07:50.241129+00:00"
region: "NZ"
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."
---

# Under Siege (1992)

Directed by Andrew Davis · 1h 42m · Action, Thriller

## Identity

Under Siege

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/under-siege
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** under-siege
- **IMDb ID:** tt0105690
- **TMDB ID:** 8845
- **Wikidata ID:** Q385798
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105690/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/8845, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q385798

**Fi1m score: 77** · Critics 72 from 7 reviews

*In a sentence:* We would be more worried about the nuclear warheads if Tommy Lee Jones weren’t enjoying himself quite so much

> Andrew Davis makes a brisk, satisfying battleship thriller from a familiar siege plot. Steven Seagal supplies the resistance; Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Busey supply most of the pleasure, with performances cheerfully larger than necessary.

## Synopsis

A battleship is sabotaged in 1992, leaving Casey Ryback (Steven Seagal) surrounded by terrorists intent on stealing its nuclear warheads. The confrontation involves William Strannix (Tommy Lee Jones), Commander Krill (Gary Busey) and Jordan Tate (Erika Eleniak), as the armed vessel becomes the target of a raid on its own weapons. Ryback wants to prevent the theft, but has to act from inside the ship. Outnumbered, he begins planning an attack of his own before the intruders can make off with the warheads.

## Review

*Under Siege* is an entertaining siege thriller that knows the value of an unreasonable villain. Andrew Davis gives Steven Seagal a battleship, nuclear weapons to protect and terrorists to resist, then leaves much of the showing off to the opposition. The premise makes immediate sense: the raiders want something dangerous, and Casey Ryback stands in their way. We recommend it for the action and the bad company, even if its leading man supplies less of the fun than his billing might suggest.

Steven Seagal’s stillness is useful up to a point. He gives Ryback the assurance of someone who expects to deal with the problem, which suits a film built around one man resisting an armed takeover. But assurance becomes monotonous when it gives us so little doubt, surprise or pleasure to read in his performance. J. F. Lawton’s screenplay supplies an adequate objective and keeps the threat easy to grasp; it does less to make us interested in Ryback when he is not dealing with it.

Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Busey give the film the disruptive energy it needs. Their William Strannix and Commander Krill seem determined to be the least sensible people aboard, and the exaggeration suits a story about stealing nuclear warheads. We laughed at their excessive performances; the pleasure they take in behaving badly makes the threat enjoyable without making it disappear. There are stretches when we would happily leave the hero to his work and spend longer with the men making it necessary.

Frank Tidy’s cinematography gives the battleship a physical presence that the story needs. It looks like something worth taking seriously, even when the people trying to seize it do not. Bill Kenney’s production design supports that impression, giving the action a solid setting rather than asking the dialogue to convince us that something important is at stake. Andrew Davis keeps the ship central to the film’s appeal, and its imposing scale helps make a lone man’s resistance seem an unreasonable undertaking.

The editing by Don Brochu, Dov Hoenig, Robert A. Ferretti and Dennis Virkler gives the action a brisk, dependable pace. At 102 minutes, the film has enough room to enjoy its villains without making their company feel like an obligation. Gary Chang’s score keeps the pressure on, although it contributes less to the pleasure than the performances do. The film rarely lingers long enough for its thin characterisation to become a serious obstacle to enjoying the action.

Within the contained action thriller, this is a capable, uncomplicated piece of work. The screenplay remains predictable, and its leading man gives us too little to care about beyond his ability to get things done. Those are real limitations, but they do not cancel the enjoyment of a clearly stated threat, energetic action and opponents who are allowed some personality. If a charming hero is essential, choose something else.

*Fi1m score 77, published 4 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

The reviews lean positive on Under Siege, with praise centring on energetic action and villains who make the familiar plotting entertaining. Most critics with substantive comments available find it effective escapism, particularly when Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Busey are allowed to be extravagant. Davis’s direction also earns credit for keeping the action brisk and forceful, while The Hollywood Reporter singles out the battleship as a commanding presence in its own right.

Reservations concern formula, excess and how much the film offers beyond uncomplicated thrills. Variety faults the thin political context and a brief, disappointing climax. Seagal divides opinion more clearly: The Hollywood Reporter finds his performance part of the appeal, while Radio Times argues that Jones and the supporting cast compensate for his lack of charisma. The scores span mixed to positive, with no outright negative verdicts recorded, though two reviews lack enough accessible text to establish their reasoning.

## Straight answers

**Is Under Siege worth watching?**

*Under Siege* is worth watching for fans of brisk, contained action thrillers, and we score it 77 out of 100. Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Busey supply much of the pleasure as extravagant villains; the predictable screenplay and Steven Seagal’s monotonous assurance matter less if action is the main attraction.

**How long is Under Siege, and what is it rated?**

*Under Siege* runs 1h 42m. It is an action and thriller film.

**Where can I watch Under Siege in New Zealand?**

*Under Siege* is not on any streaming or rental service in New Zealand at the moment. It is available in 1 other country; change your country at the top of the page to see where. Availability is checked daily.

**How violent or frightening is Under Siege, and is it suitable for children?**

*Under Siege* has a UK 15 certificate, so it is not suitable for children under 15. Its armed takeover and threatened theft of nuclear warheads make it an action thriller for older teenagers and adults; we find the villains entertaining, but their excesses do not make the threat disappear.

**How does Under Siege compare to Die Hard?**

*Under Siege* is an enjoyable enclosed-battlefield thriller, but we recommend [*Die Hard*](https://film.one/film/die-hard) ahead of it for its more vulnerable hero and stronger central contest. Seagal gives us less reason to care about his resistance than Willis does; Jones and Busey compensate with extravagant villainy, making *Under Siege* a satisfying choice when uncomplicated action is enough.

**What should I watch after Under Siege?**

After *Under Siege*, try [*Die Hard*](https://film.one/film/die-hard) (1988, Fi1m 89): An enclosed battlefield, resourceful resistance and a hero allowed to be vulnerable. Then [*The Raid*](https://film.one/film/the-raid) (2011, Fi1m 83): Close combat in a sealed building, with little time wasted on reassurance.

### Reviews we read (7)

- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Duane Byrge (88/100, inferred): Byrge considers the film a thrilling, well-crafted action hit, with Seagal’s performance adding to its appeal. He especially praises Davis’s visceral direction and the battleship’s commanding presence as a character in its own right. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/under-siege-review-1992-movie-1044304/)
- **Radio Times**, John Ferguson (4/5): Ferguson calls the film a slick nautical spin on the Die Hard concept. He says Tommy Lee Jones’s flamboyant performance, backed by Gary Busey and Colm Meaney, compensates for Seagal’s lack of charisma. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-nac6dw/under-siege/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, MICHAEL WILMINGTON (70/100, inferred): Wilmington finds the film an entertaining, cheerfully over-the-top thriller despite its excesses and a possible commercial miscalculation. He praises its willingness to embrace its own absurdity and single outs Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Busey’s wild comic performances. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-10-09-ca-431-story.html)
- **Variety**, Emanuel Levy (70/100, inferred): Levy finds the film slick and entertaining despite its formulaic action and weak political context. He praises the action set-pieces and strong performances from Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Busey, while faulting the brief, disappointing climax. [Read](https://variety.com/1992/film/reviews/under-siege-2-1200430831/)
- **Empire**, Ian Nathan (65/100, inferred): Nathan finds the film entertaining as uncomplicated escapism, while noting it offers little beyond that. He praises the energetic, well-paced action and the villains’ over-the-top performances. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/siege-3-review/)
- **The New York Times**, Janet Maslin (64/100, inferred): The review text was inaccessible, so its verdict cannot be determined. No specific praise or complaint can be reliably identified from the available page. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/1992/10/09/movies/review-film-steven-seagal-on-a-ship-in-hot-water.html)
- **Time Out**, CM (64/100, inferred): The review’s verdict cannot be determined from the available page text. No specific praise or complaint is visible. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/under-siege)

## Details

- **Director:** Andrew Davis
- **Director:** Andrew Davis
- **Screenplay:** J. F. Lawton
- **Cinematography:** Frank Tidy
- **Editor:** Robert A. Ferretti, Don Brochu, Dov Hoenig, Dennis Virkler
- **Music:** Gary Chang
- **Production design:** Bill Kenney
- **Costume design:** Richard Bruno
- **Producer:** Steven Reuther, Arnon Milchan, Steven Seagal
- **Cast:** Steven Seagal as Casey Ryback; Tommy Lee Jones as William Strannix; Gary Busey as Commander Krill; Erika Eleniak as Jordan Tate; Colm Meaney as Daumer; Damian Chapa as Tackman; Andy Romano as Admiral Bates; Patrick O'Neal as Captain Adams
- **Runtime:** 1h 42m
- **First release (Germany):** 8 October 1992
- **Genres:** Action, Thriller
- **Budget:** $35 million
- **Box office:** $157 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvBwrhI8fR8

## Where to watch in New Zealand

Not streaming, renting or buying in New Zealand at the last check.

Also available in: AU. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Academy Awards 1993: Best Sound (nominated); Best Sound Editing (nominated)

## If you liked this

- *Die Hard* (1988), Fi1m 89: An enclosed battlefield, resourceful resistance and a hero allowed to be vulnerable. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/die-hard.md)
- *The Taking of Pelham One Two Three* (1974): A confined hostage crisis whose criminal professionalism leaves room for dry humour.
- *The Train* (1964): Stolen cargo makes machinery, geography and physical effort matter at every stage.
- *The Raid* (2011), Fi1m 83: Close combat in a sealed building, with little time wasted on reassurance. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-raid.md)
- *A Hijacking* (2012): A quieter shipboard ordeal, where negotiations make the danger painfully tangible.

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/under-siege