The Hunt for Red October (1990)
Kernel Score: 83% · 3,559 ratings · Rated PG-13
Genres: Action, Thriller
Released: 1990-03-02
Runtime: 135 minutes
Is The Hunt for Red October worth watching?
Must-watch. A Soviet submarine captain heads for America and one CIA analyst thinks he wants to defect. It's smart, tense and well cast, with Sean Connery excellent, and the underwater cat-and-mouse still works.
Watch it if you
- like submarine thrillers
- enjoy smart Cold War suspense
- want action driven by tension, not explosions
Skip it if you
- want constant action
- dislike technical talk
Best for: Thriller night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch The Hunt for Red October
- Free with ads: Kanopy, Hoopla, Fawesome, Pluto TV
- Rent: JustWatch TV Free, Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
A new technologically-superior Soviet nuclear sub, the Red October, is heading for the U.S. coast under the command of Captain Marko Ramius. The American government thinks Ramius is planning to attack. Lone CIA analyst Jack Ryan has a different idea: he thinks Ramius is planning to defect, but he has only a few hours to find him and prove it - because the entire Russian naval and air commands are trying to find Ramius, too. The hunt is on!
The Hunt for Red October parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that The Hunt for Red October is a PG-13 Cold War submarine thriller with military tension and intelligence intrigue.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Suspenseful military and political thriller with the threat of nuclear conflict but limited graphic violence.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Hunt for Red October
If you liked The Hunt for Red October, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Crimson Tide (1995) — 80%: Another tense submarine standoff built on clashing commanders.
- Greyhound (2020) — 86%: Naval tension at sea with lean pacing.
- The Enemy Below (1957) — 76%: Classic cat-and-mouse between ships and a submarine.
- Die Hard (1988) — 87%: Another sharply made 80s action classic.
- Seven Days in May (1964) — 82%: Cold War political thriller about a plot at the top.
- The Courier (2020) — 80%: Tense Cold War spy story based on real events.
Director
Cast
- Sean Connery as Capt. 1st Marko Ramius
- Alec Baldwin as Dr. Jack Ryan
- Scott Glenn as CDR Bart Mancuso (USS Dallas)
- Sam Neill as Capt. 2nd Vasily Borodin
- James Earl Jones as Vice ADM James Greer
- Joss Ackland as Ambassador Andrei Lysenko
- Richard Jordan as Dr. Jeffrey Pelt, National Security Advisor
- Peter Firth as Capt. 2nd Ivan Putin (Political Officer, Red October)
- Tim Curry as Dr. Yevgeni Petrov (Red October)
- Courtney B. Vance as Petty Officer Ronald 'Jonesy' Jones (USS Dallas)
The Hunt for Red October FAQ
Is The Hunt for Red October worth watching?
Must-watch. A Soviet submarine captain heads for America and one CIA analyst thinks he wants to defect. It's smart, tense and well cast, with Sean Connery excellent, and the underwater cat-and-mouse still works.
Where can I watch The Hunt for Red October?
In the US you can watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, Fawesome and Pluto TV and rent it from JustWatch TV Free, Prime Video, Apple TV and Google Play.
Is The Hunt for Red October OK for kids?
The Hunt for Red October is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that The Hunt for Red October is a PG-13 Cold War submarine thriller with military tension and intelligence intrigue.
What movies are like The Hunt for Red October?
If you liked The Hunt for Red October, try Crimson Tide, Greyhound, The Enemy Below and Die Hard.