Deterrence

R

Released Mar 10, 1999

1h 41m

Drama

List

46%

39 Reviews

Tomatometer

59%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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.

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Audience Member

Surpringly well acted low budget thriller

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

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

Full Review

william s

A direct to video thriller that's a nice little one time watch and nothing more.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

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

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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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

A president wrestles with another Iraq war.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 22, 2010

Full Review

Susan Stark

Detroit News

Rated: 3/4

Feb 22, 2001

Full Review

Ernest Hardy

Film.com

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

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

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

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 1/5

Jun 30, 2005

Full Review

Widgett Walls

Needcoffee.com

Taut and intense. Pollak is outstanding.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 26, 2004

Full Review

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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
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

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