Deterrence

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Deterrence

R

Released Mar 10, 1999

1h 41m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

48%

Tomatometer

40 Reviews

60%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

The President of the United States finds himself snowed in at a Colorado diner. The President must confront a national crisis and impending war when Iraq invades Kuwait. Trapped in the snowbound diner, faced with the prospect of a two-front war, the President has less than two hours to decide whether to deploy the ultimate weapon.

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

A president wrestles with another Iraq war.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 22, 2010

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Susan Stark

Detroit News

Rated: 3/4

Feb 22, 2001

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Ernest Hardy

Film.com

It may be a little too dour, a little too self-inflated.

Jan 1, 2000

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Twenty-five years later, Deterrence remains a thought-provoking thriller.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 10, 2025

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Michael Dequina

TheMovieReport.com

Lurie quickly glazes over one important bit of backstory in the early going, a point that is crucial to understand some motivation.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jul 16, 2005

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 1/5

Jun 30, 2005

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Audience Member

Surpringly well acted low budget thriller

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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Frances H

Although this film was well acted and scripted, I hate the message that this movie puts out--that dropping nuclear weapons is necessary under some circumstances and that it is the duty of the United States to police the world. With Donald Trump vying to be president, and the fact that he says that his foreign policy against any country vs the US is to "nuke 'em, " this a dangerous film to run at this time on any TV channel. And Sean Astin's character certainly typifies the type of person who supports Trump. It's a bad example for any time and place.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

05/03/16

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Audience Member

Thought provoking and sobering. Hutton was great, as usual.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

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Audience Member

I just cannot find this movie anywhere!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

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Audience Member

This is the first effort from Lurie, who went on to make the superior "The Contender" after this.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

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Audience Member

Pollak's performance is very good but the film itself falls flat. The film isn't terrible but it is nothing all that good either, simply mediocre.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

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Rod Lurie

Director

Kevin Pollak

President Walter Emerson

Timothy Hutton

Marshall Thompson

Sheryl Lee Ralph

Gayle Redford

Sean Astin

Ralphie

Clotilde Courau

Katie

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Synopsis

The President of the United States finds himself snowed in at a Colorado diner. The President must confront a national crisis and impending war when Iraq invades Kuwait. Trapped in the snowbound diner, faced with the prospect of a two-front war, the President has less than two hours to decide whether to deploy the ultimate weapon.

Director: Rod Lurie
Producer: Marc Frydman, James Spies
Screenwriter: Rod Lurie
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Battleplan Productions, TF1 International, Moonstone Entertainment
Rating: R (Violence|Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 10, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 15, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $144.6K
Runtime: 1h 41m
Sound Mix: Surround