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.