Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

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Zom L 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. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/16/25 Full Review Sean D 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. Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 09/12/25 Full Review I Am F So boring that I want to sleep. Rated 1.5/5 Stars •  Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 09/10/25 Full Review Gareth v 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. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 08/08/25 Full Review Raymond C 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. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/08/25 Full Review Ryan M Although Chris Pine moves Jack Ryan from nerd to action hero, this was still entertaining, especially in the second half. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/26/25 Full Review Read all reviews

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

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