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The Sum of All Fears

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The Sum of All Fears

PG-13

Released May 31, 2002

1h 58m

Mystery & Thriller

Action

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Popcornmeter

59%

Tomatometer

177 Reviews

49%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Based on Tom Clancy's novel, this espionage thriller tracks a sinister plot to draw the United States and Russia into World War III. When the Russian president (Ciarán Hinds) suddenly dies, world tension escalates. Coupled with missing nuclear scientists and the threat of a nuclear detonation on United States soil, young CIA analyst Jack Ryan (Ben Affleck) must uncover who is behind the conspiracy.

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Critics Consensus

A slick and well-made thriller that takes on new weight due to the current political climate.

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Stanley Kauffmann

The New Republic

In this Bush-Ashcroft age, we do not especially need more strictures on civil liberties, but after this despicable film perhaps the great minds of Movieland could be persuaded to agree on a ground rule: films about nuclear terror must not be risible.

Jan 5, 2018

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Empire Magazine

Rated: 3/5

Dec 30, 2006

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Laura Bushell

BBC.com

Deals with a chillingly topical nuclear attack on Baltimore. But perhaps more disturbingly, it rehashes it into a Ben Affleck action romance.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 5, 2002

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Jason Caro

Radio Times

The intelligent twists and taut pacing ensure entertaining, albeit occasionally uncomfortable, viewing.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 9, 2024

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

If released in a calmer world, the movie would be received and understood, if not necessarily enjoyed, as yet another piece of militaristic pulp from the factory of Tom Clancy, in which only one ingenious American can avert catastrophe.

Rated: C-

Sep 17, 2022

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Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

Effective Hollywood thriller in which Ben Affleck replaces Harrison Ford as airport novel author Tom Clancy's favourite creation, CIA super-snoop Jack Ryan.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 9, 2020

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Madam D

A typical Jack Ryan plot with him the only intelligent person on the planet. An excellent cast did their best with this so-so CIA flick.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/30/25

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Anon A

Loved it, don’t get the hate at all. Very entertaining!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/27/25

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alan g

Morgan Freeloader ruins another otherwise good film with his "acting". When will hokeywood learn he is well past his prime. He never follows a script and makes it up as he goes along. Nuking Baltimore was good though.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

04/04/25

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Rob K

Very glitzy and well acted, at least by Morgan Freeman, but like others I always laugh at Hollywood's inability to kick the cold war mentality now that Russia's not communist. Plenty of dictators in the world (Romania!) worse than Putin that we just love, but the combination of Orthodoxy, 11 time zones full of minerals, oil, grain, timber, and more make them an enemy. Having a legendary Irish actor play a Russian dictator and fake an accent is absolutely hilarious.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/10/25

Full Review

Tenia V

This film is a vivid example of how stupid and ignorant Americans are about russia. And, as practice shows, nothing much has changed in 30 years, unfortunately....

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/04/25

Full Review

Drew B

Watching this movie almost 23 years after being released....It makes you appreciate the effectiveness and delivery of the message to how easily this country could be put into a nuclear war. While the movie has it's short coming in trying to have a romantic more human side, it's not needed as the human side come from the thought of morals and ethics and blatant right and wrong.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/25/25

Full Review

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Phil Alden Robinson

Director

Ben Affleck

Jack Ryan

Morgan Freeman

William Cabot

James Cromwell

President Fowler

Liev Schreiber

John Clark

Bridget Moynahan

Dr. Kathy Muller

The Sum of All Fears: Official Clip - The Bomb is in Play

2:03

The Sum of All Fears: Official Clip - This Virus Is Airborne

1:31

The Sum of All Fears: Official Clip - Terrorist Attack

0:57

The Sum of All Fears: Official Clip - Back Down

1:59

The Sum of All Fears: Official Clip - Keep The Back Channels Open

1:57

The Sum of All Fears: Official Clip - I Can't Tell You That

1:31

The Sum of All Fears: Official Clip - I Don't Think He Did It

2:12

The Sum of All Fears: Official Clip - I Like Him

2:11

The Sum of All Fears: Official Clip - Everyone Has Opinions

1:48

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Synopsis

Based on Tom Clancy's novel, this espionage thriller tracks a sinister plot to draw the United States and Russia into World War III. When the Russian president (Ciarán Hinds) suddenly dies, world tension escalates. Coupled with missing nuclear scientists and the threat of a nuclear detonation on United States soil, young CIA analyst Jack Ryan (Ben Affleck) must uncover who is behind the conspiracy.

Director: Phil Alden Robinson
Producer: Mace Neufeld
Screenwriter: Paul Attanasio, Daniel Pyne, Tom Clancy
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Mace Neufeld Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Disaster Images|Brief Strong Language|Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 31, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 21, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $118.5M
Runtime: 1h 58m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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