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Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

Play trailer 2:25 Poster for Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit PG-13 2014 1h 45m Action Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
55% Tomatometer 185 Reviews 52% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
CIA recruit Jack Ryan is caught in a dangerous web of intrigue and espionage spun between a shadowy government agent, his unsuspecting fiancée and a fearless Russian power broker. To stop a devastating terrorist plot against the United States, Jack must quickly evolve from soldier to analyst to full-fledged operative.
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Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

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Critics Consensus

It doesn't reinvent the action-thriller wheel, but Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit offers a sleek, reasonably diverting reboot for a long-dormant franchise.

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Critics Reviews

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Wendy Ide The Times (UK) 08/02/2022
There’s quite a lot of action — a fight with a chauffeur turned assassin in a hotel room is insanely violent. Go to Full Review
Chris Stuckmann ChrisStuckmann.com 04/23/2015
B
The vulnerability of the Jack Ryan character is still present, something very important that keeps us rooting for him. Go to Full Review
David Denby The New Yorker 09/22/2014
"Shadow Recruit" is fun in a minor, winter-season way. Go to Full Review
Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Sep 25
4/10
Even with a satisfying finale and director Kenneth Branagh serving doubly as the severe main antagonist, this Tom Clancy-based actioner is exceptionally generic. Go to Full Review
JD Duran InSession Film 08/12/2024
While it’s not the greatest thing we’ve seen, there are elements that were good and fun to see. It was thrilling at times and it was interesting to see Jack Ryan as an action guy, rather than just a spy genius. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 02/26/2023
1.5/4
Clear and present slumber. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Zom L Sep 16 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit tries to breathe new life into Tom Clancy’s famous CIA analyst with Chris Pine stepping into the role. Pine is fine here—he’s youthful, energetic, and believable enough in the action beats—but compared to his predecessors (Alec Baldwin’s sharpness, Harrison Ford’s gravitas, and even Ben Affleck’s steadiness), his Jack Ryan feels thinner and less commanding. He does the job, but doesn’t elevate it. The film itself is very much a by-the-numbers spy thriller. Kenneth Branagh, who also directs, turns in a suitably menacing villain, and Kevin Costner as Ryan’s mentor brings some old-school weight. Keira Knightley has her moments, though her character is more of a sidepiece than a real player in the story. The action scenes are competent, the pacing is steady, and the Russian-conspiracy plot hits all the expected beats without ever surprising you. Where Shadow Recruit succeeds is as an easy, entertaining watch—it moves quickly, looks slick, and never drags. But it lacks the intelligence and tension that made earlier Jack Ryan films feel weightier and more memorable. This one is more popcorn spy flick than political thriller, and that keeps it squarely in “good, not great” territory. In the end, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit is the definition of average: a functional, entertaining, and harmless reboot that you’ll probably enjoy in the moment but forget not long after. See more Sean D Sep 12 A very structured and predictable film I found it boring to the point I couldn't be bothered to watch in one sitting. Actors were ok but it wasn't cast particularly well other than The two main characters of Chris Pine and Kevin. Kenneth Branagh is not a good fit in his role at all. See more I Am F @Creepblaster Sep 10 So boring that I want to sleep. See more Gareth v Aug 8 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit is a forgettable reboot that neither thrills nor surprises. It’s an adequate time filler but fails to leave a lasting impression. See more Ray C Aug 7 It's slickly produced, features a great cast and is superficially entertaining. However, this is easily the most forgettable entry in the franchise. Chris Pine is a fine Jack Ryan but his character here feels more like a Jason Bourne or Ethan Hunt. What stands out about Jack Ryan is that he isn’t your usual action hero. He’s not all muscles—he’s smart and solves problems with his brain as much as with his fists. Here he just feels like a generic action star that you would see in every other spy movie. It's disappointing too because I think Kenneth Branagh gives the best villain performance of the franchise. It's just a shame that it had to be in the weakest movie in the series. See more Ryan M @Ryan_Maley Jun 26 Although Chris Pine moves Jack Ryan from nerd to action hero, this was still entertaining, especially in the second half. See more Read all reviews
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

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Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit: Official Clip - Captured by Cossacks Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit: Official Clip - Captured by Cossacks 2:01 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit: Official Clip - Awaking the Sleeper Agents Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit: Official Clip - Awaking the Sleeper Agents 2:02 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit: Official Clip - Shot in the Face Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit: Official Clip - Shot in the Face 2:06 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit: Official Clip - Lightbulb Torture Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit: Official Clip - Lightbulb Torture 1:40 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit: Official Clip - Hotel Assassin Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit: Official Clip - Hotel Assassin 2:13 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit: Official Clip - Helicopter Crash Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit: Official Clip - Helicopter Crash 2:13 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit: Official Clip - Fake Cops, Real Terrorists Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit: Official Clip - Fake Cops, Real Terrorists 1:41 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit: Official Clip - Follow That Police Van Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit: Official Clip - Follow That Police Van 2:02 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit: Official Clip - Sewer Fight Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit: Official Clip - Sewer Fight 1:40 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit: Official Clip - Inebriated Infiltration Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit: Official Clip - Inebriated Infiltration 2:13 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis CIA recruit Jack Ryan is caught in a dangerous web of intrigue and espionage spun between a shadowy government agent, his unsuspecting fiancée and a fearless Russian power broker. To stop a devastating terrorist plot against the United States, Jack must quickly evolve from soldier to analyst to full-fledged operative.
Director
Kenneth Branagh
Producer
Mace Neufeld, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, David Barron, Mark Vahradian
Screenwriter
Adam Cozad, David Koepp
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Mace Neufeld Productions, Lorenzo di Bonaventura
Rating
PG-13 (Intense Action|Brief Strong Language|Sequences of Violence)
Genre
Action, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 17, 2014, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 31, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$50.5M
Runtime
1h 45m
Sound Mix
Datasat, Dolby Digital
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