The Hunt for Red October (1990)
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!
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| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 2 March 1990 |
| Genre | Action, Thriller |
| Director | John McTiernan |
| Starring | Alec Baldwin, Sean Connery and Scott Glenn |
| Runtime | 135 min |
| Rated | PG-13 |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 7.7/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 88% · Metacritic 58/100 · TMDB users 7.4/10 |
| Budget | $30 million |
| Box office | $201 million worldwide |
Where to watch The Hunt for Red October
The Hunt for Red October is streaming on Paramount+ ($13.99 a month) in the US. If that is the only reason to subscribe, one month of Paramount+ is $13.99 at list price.
We check availability daily. Page last updated 1 November 2026. Prices are standard monthly plans and change often, so check with the service before you sign up.
Rent or buy
You can rent The Hunt for Red October on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home and JustWatch TV Store. It is also for sale on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube and Fandango at Home.
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What kind of watch this is
The Hunt for Red October runs 135 minutes and moves at the speed of a submarine running silent. John McTiernan directs a chase that happens mostly underwater, where the only sound is the creaking of metal under pressure. Sean Connery plays a captain who is running toward the wrong coast, and Alec Baldwin plays an analyst who is the only person in the room trying to stop the guns. The tension comes from the fact that the hero and the villain are looking for the same man, but for opposite reasons. It is a tight, loud, and surprisingly logical thriller. It does not need to be quiet to be tense.
What the critics said
Rotten Tomatoes reports an 88% approval rating from 76 reviews as of August 2024, alongside a 7.7 average score from October 2021. Metacritic sits lower at 58 out of 100 as of July 2025, indicating mixed views. Roger Ebert called it a skillful, efficient film. Peter Travers was less kind, suggesting the only sensible reaction is mayday. The consensus finds it perfectly cast and packed with suspense. Critics praised the technical achievement. It remains a competent thriller, even if some find the characters merely functional.
How it did with audiences
The Hunt for Red October cost $30 million to make and collected $201 million worldwide. In North America, it pulled in $122 million. Audiences flocked to the theaters, with the film opening at number one and holding that spot for three weeks. On TMDB, users rate it 7.4 out of 10. That opening weekend was the 20th biggest of all time.
What came next for the cast
Alec Baldwin arrived from Beetlejuice and Working Girl, then drifted toward The Departed and A Star Is Born. Sean Connery came off Indiana Jones and The Untouchables, before The Rock and Entrapment. Scott Glenn stepped out of Apocalypse Now and The Right Stuff, heading into The Silence of the Lambs and Training Day. Sam Neill left Possession and Dead Calm behind, only to pop up in Jurassic Park and Peaky Blinders. The timeline does not prove the submarine caused the shifts. It just marks where each actor was when the propeller stopped.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched The Hunt for Red October.
Sources
- The Hunt for Red October on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q507994 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “The Hunt for Red October (film)” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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