Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

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

View More (21)
Derek Malcolm Guardian 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. Mar 14, 2023 Full Review Victoria Mather Daily Telegraph (UK) 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. Mar 14, 2023 Full Review Wally Hammond Time Out 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. Jan 26, 2006 Full Review Richard Freedman Newhouse News Service 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. Nov 5, 2019 Full Review Cathy Burke United Press International 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. Oct 10, 2016 Full Review TV Guide A competent, if unremarkable, espionage thriller that is enjoyable while it lasts and forgotten moments after the credits roll. Rated: 2.5/4 Aug 12, 2014 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More (102)
simon b 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! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/13/25 Full Review Charles L Yes Worth A Watch Caine and Bronson are good together Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/24/24 Full Review Shawndell J 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. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/22/24 Full Review Colin M Spy drama involving Britain and Russia. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/15/24 Full Review xx x Pretty good spy thriller. Better than some newer spy films- The Gray Man I am looking at you. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review paul d 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. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Fourth Protocol

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW
The Two Jakes 61% 38% The Two Jakes Watchlist The Falcon and the Snowman 83% 70% The Falcon and the Snowman Watchlist Apartment Zero 74% 74% Apartment Zero Watchlist A Prayer for the Dying 50% 54% A Prayer for the Dying Watchlist Everybody Wins 13% 34% Everybody Wins Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

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