Clear and Present Danger

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2:32

Clear and Present Danger

PG-13

1994

2h 21m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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Popcornmeter

81%

Tomatometer

47 Reviews

74%

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50,000+ Ratings

Agent Jack Ryan (Harrison Ford) becomes acting deputy director of the CIA when Admiral Greer (James Earl Jones) is diagnosed with cancer. When an American businessman, and friend of the president, is murdered on a yacht, Ryan starts discovering links between the man and drug dealers. As CIA agent John Clark (Willem Dafoe) is sent to Colombia to kill drug kingpins in retaliation, Ryan must fight through multiple cover-ups to figure out what happened and who's responsible.

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Critics Consensus

Perfecting the formula established in earlier installments, Clear and Present Danger reunites its predecessor's creative core to solidly entertaining effect.

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Wendy Ide

The Times (UK)

02/01/2024

The story is satisfyingly complex and the characters have been developed beyond the two-dimensional ciphers that usually serve in this kind of movie.

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Tom Tunney

Sight & Sound

02/06/2020

In both novel and film, Ryan is the moral centre, but the film jettisons the book's range of supporting characters whose differing values help define his position.

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Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

01/13/2010

This is the third movie with Jack as its hero, so he is a known quantity -- a humanist spook with an overdeveloped moral sense -- but Ford, playing the part for the second time, knows how to keep his earnestness fresh.

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David Parkinson

Radio Times

01/25/2024

3/5

Harrison Ford is on commanding form for his second outing as CIA troubleshooter Jack Ryan and director Phillip Noyce makes a much better job of this than he did of The Saint.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

06/14/2023

3.5/4

...a methodically-paced yet mostly gripping political thriller...

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James Croot

The Post NZ

12/14/2022

4/5

With Ford leading the way, Clear and Present Danger is still by far the most consistently entertaining and engaging take on Clancy’s beloved literary character.

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JoeR D.

@Daisan Jun 7

Expertly woven story of political intrigue and plenty of action. The acting is superb and the director makes sure you feel the intensity in all the right ways, at just the right times. Great movie!

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Noah H.

@Noah85 May 27

Good movie! It had a lot of fun action! Surprised to see that this has so many subpar reviews. I really enjoyed it! Thought Harrison Ford was great in this! Something tells me this may be one of his most underrated roles. It’s a shame he didn’t return for the sequel. Rating: 10/10. It’s a blast!

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shane O

@Shanes_DVD_Shack Apr 27

It’s very slow m, talks a while to get to the point . The action isn’t great. The acting isn’t bad . Over all worth a watch but don’t expect to much

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Blake- N

@PBSAniDom Apr 16

Clear and Present Danger is a very good military thriller and a strong adaptation of the novel. It captures the tension, politics, and danger of covert operations in a way that feels serious and believable. What makes it work is how it blends action with strategy, showing that the conflict is not just about combat but also about power, corruption, and the risks of decisions made behind the scenes. Harrison Ford gives a solid performance as Jack Ryan, and the film does a good job building suspense without losing its sense of realism. The military aspects feel grounded, and the story stays engaging from beginning to end. Overall, it is smart, intense, and well-made, making it a strong film based on the book. I would rate it an 8/10.

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CT 8

@ct8787 Nov 24

Harrison Ford decided to dazzle us all with the idea the mind is the more powerful than any weapon. So to prove his point he refuses to pick up and defend himself using firearms when a crazed drug lord and his henchmen are trying to eliminate him. Even as he dispatches one henchman after another he refuses to pick up their weapons…you can’t make this stuff up. The movie is more a comedy than an action film to be taken seriously. What a huge after Patriot Games.

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Jason H

@RT50328122 Nov 13

Imagine a time when things like this happened in secret...

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Phillip Noyce

Director

Harrison Ford

Jack Ryan

Willem Dafoe

John Clark

Anne Archer

Cathy Muller Ryan

Joaquim de Almeida

Col. Felix Cortez

Henry Czerny

Robert Ritter

Clear and Present Danger: Official Clip - Motorcade Ambush

2:07

Clear and Present Danger: Official Clip - Bombing the Cartel

2:10

Clear and Present Danger: Official Clip - If I Go Down You're Going With Me!

2:12

Clear and Present Danger: Official Clip - Computer Theft is a Crime

2:07

Clear and Present Danger: Official Clip - You Gave Your Word

2:09

Clear and Present Danger: Official Clip - Blowing Up the Bunker

1:44

Clear and Present Danger: Official Clip - Two Million Dollar Helicopter

1:10

Clear and Present Danger: Official Clip - Sniper Training

2:13

Clear and Present Danger: Official Clip - Presidential Cover-up

1:52

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Clear and Present Danger: Trailer 1

2:32

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Synopsis

Agent Jack Ryan (Harrison Ford) becomes acting deputy director of the CIA when Admiral Greer (James Earl Jones) is diagnosed with cancer. When an American businessman, and friend of the president, is murdered on a yacht, Ryan starts discovering links between the man and drug dealers. As CIA agent John Clark (Willem Dafoe) is sent to Colombia to kill drug kingpins in retaliation, Ryan must fight through multiple cover-ups to figure out what happened and who's responsible.

Director: Phillip Noyce
Producer: Mace Neufeld, Robert Rehme
Screenwriter: Donald Stewart, Steven Zaillian, John Milius
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 3, 1994, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 2, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $121.5M
Runtime: 2h 21m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital, DTS