The Hunt for Red October
1990 · Directed by John McTiernan
Sean Connery as a Soviet sub captain trying to defect with the world's quietest submarine. Alec Baldwin as Jack Ryan, before Harrison Ford was Jack Ryan, before Affleck was Jack Ryan, before Krasinski was Jack Ryan.
Why It's Cult
Red October is the rare military thriller that respects your intelligence. McTiernan directs it the same year as Die Hard and Predator, three for three. Connery's accent is whatever he wants it to be and you accept it. The chess-match plotting still works. James Earl Jones gives a supporting performance for the ages. The Russian-to-English transition mid-sentence is a trick that took the whole studio to greenlight.
The Plot, Officially
In November 1984, at the height of the Cold War, the Soviet Union creates a new nuclear submarine that runs silent due to a revolutionary propulsion system. The Russian submarine Captain, Marko Ramius (Sir Sean Connery), defects. His goal is taking it to the U.S. to prevent the Russians from using it to start nuclear war against the U.S.
Starring
Sean Connery, Alec Baldwin, Scott Glenn
Where to Watch
via JustWatch →
