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The Fourth Protocol

Play trailer Poster for The Fourth Protocol R 1987 1h 58m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
67% Tomatometer 21 Reviews 56% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
British spy John Preston (Michael Caine), recently demoted by his boss for a well-intentioned but unsanctioned mission, stumbles onto a covert plot by KGB agent Valeri Petrofsky (Pierce Brosnan), who is attempting to build and detonate a nuclear bomb on British soil and blame it on the Americans. With the support of the ailing MI5 director, Preston, who is still at odds with several of his superiors, attempts to uncover and thwart the plot before it's too late.

Critics Reviews

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Derek Malcolm Guardian 03/14/2023
This is a pretty boring piece of work, festooned with articulate actors given 30 seconds flat to make their mark and feeling the pinch a bit. Go to Full Review Victoria Mather Daily Telegraph (UK) 03/14/2023
The Fourth Protocol is a good, old-fashioned thriller. Which is what is wrong with it. Movies have come in from the cold war now, yet "Protocol" in essence lukewarms up the format. Go to Full Review Wally Hammond Time Out 01/26/2006
What is missing is any real tension or psychological detail that might lend plausibility to all the hocus-pocus about East-West political and military intrigue. Go to Full Review Richard Freedman Newhouse News Service 11/05/2019
Caine, as always, is a joy to watch, whether grimly tracking his man, telling off his supercilious boss, or, sloshed on New Year's Eve, blowing a wall safe in a posh London pad. Go to Full Review Cathy Burke United Press International 10/10/2016
The Fourth Protocol not only does what a good spy movie should do, twist and turn through treachery and deceit to the inevitable surprising conclusion, it also does what any good movie should do, entertain by telling a good story well. Go to Full Review TV Guide 08/12/2014
2.5/4
A competent, if unremarkable, espionage thriller that is enjoyable while it lasts and forgotten moments after the credits roll. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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simon b Aug 13 Michael Caine was under contract to the studio in the late 80's, so didn't always choose what films he was in. some were pretty awful - Blue Ice being one, but 4th Protocol is really rather good. Thumbs up from here! See more Charles L 06/24/2024 Yes Worth A Watch Caine and Bronson are good together See more Shawndell J 06/22/2024 Excellent Cold War thriller. Very young Pierce Brosnan already positioning himself as a spy film prodigy to include being the 5th iteration of James Bond. See more Colin M 02/15/2024 Spy drama involving Britain and Russia. See more xx x 09/03/2022 Pretty good spy thriller. Better than some newer spy films- The Gray Man I am looking at you. See more paul d @PaulusLoZebra 01/13/2021 The Fourth Protocol is a very good spy thriller, with well-developed characters, an excellent, believable premise, and a good story. The film is entirely believable, with no superheroes, no James Bond, and no obvious special effects. Both Brosnan and Caine are excellent, and Joanna Cassidy has a small but crucial role as a mysterious and businesslike Russian scientist. The supporting cast of Russian and British are also convincing. The film proceeds at an excellent pace, with a score that highlights the suspense. See more Read all reviews
The Fourth Protocol

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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John Mackenzie

Director

Michael Caine

John Preston

Pierce Brosnan

Valeri Petrofsky

Joanna Cassidy

Irina Vassilievna

Ned Beatty

Borisov

Betsy Brantley

Eileen McWhirter

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The Fourth Protocol

The Fourth Protocol (1987) The Fourth Protocol (1987) The Fourth Protocol (1987) The Fourth Protocol (1987) The Fourth Protocol (1987) The Fourth Protocol (1987) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis British spy John Preston (Michael Caine), recently demoted by his boss for a well-intentioned but unsanctioned mission, stumbles onto a covert plot by KGB agent Valeri Petrofsky (Pierce Brosnan), who is attempting to build and detonate a nuclear bomb on British soil and blame it on the Americans. With the support of the ailing MI5 director, Preston, who is still at odds with several of his superiors, attempts to uncover and thwart the plot before it's too late.
Director
John Mackenzie
Production Co
Fourth Protocol
Rating
R
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Box Office (Gross USA)
$12.4M
Runtime
1h 58m
Sound Mix
Surround