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Chain Reaction

Play trailer 1:47 Poster for Chain Reaction PG-13 1996 1h 46m Action Play Trailer Watchlist
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18% Tomatometer 33 Reviews 28% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
At a Chicago university, a research team that includes brilliant Eddie Kasalivich (Keanu Reeves) experiences a breakthrough: a stable form of fusion that may lead to a waste-free energy source. However, Dr. Paul Shannon (Morgan Freeman) has ties to a private company that wants to exploit the technology, so Kasalivich and Dr. Lily Sinclair (Rachel Weisz) are framed for murder, and the fusion device is stolen. On the run from the FBI, they must recover the technology and exonerate themselves.
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Chain Reaction

Chain Reaction

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Critics Consensus

Ironic given the scientific breakthrough at the story's core, Chain Reaction is a man-on-the-run thriller that mostly sticks to generic formula.

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Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 01/01/2000
2.5/4
It's not a bad film in individual moments and in the energy of itsperformances, but it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Go to Full Review Edward Guthmann San Francisco Chronicle 01/01/2000
4/4
[Chain Reaction] has better acting, better writing, more spectacular chase sequences and more genuine drama than all of this summer's blockbusters. Go to Full Review Mike Clark USA Today 01/01/2000
1.5/4
The movie is so uninvolving that it inspires renewed respect for Broken Arrow, which was equally stupid but excitingly filmed. Go to Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins 01/02/2022
4/10
At least the overarching theme of humankind's contributions to planetary annihilation grows increasingly more relevant throughout the years. Go to Full Review Leigh Paatsch Herald Sun (Australia) 07/16/2020
2.5/5
An enjoyably mindless action adventure flick welded to a ludicrously cumbersome storyline. Go to Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews 07/02/2009
2.5/4
...the movie often feels like an attempt by filmmaker Andrew Davis to replicate the massive (and entirely justified) success of 1993's The Fugitive. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 Oct 13 I love this action movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The worldwide gross is $60,209,334.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ages 13 and older!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Ava T @RT77374624 Sep 8 Personally I don't know why it's so hated, yeah the plot is a little wonky but it's so much better than alot of TV nowadays, and it's one of my favorites. See more Korra N @RT88131552 Jul 27 Not remotely as bad as it's made out to be but still far from great. The acting is solid & the direction is fun, but the script & pacing are not so good. See more Farah R @Farah May 30 A star-studded cast that gave it their all makes up for the outrageous plot and corny script. See more Dylan E @RT73324554 02/13/2025 The critics got this wrong. A solid chase thriller with an interesting premise. Great casting. The plot will keep you engaged until the end. They don’t make films like these anymore. Fun ‘90’s throwback. Relevant today with Toyota’s new water powered car engine. See more Barrie C @RT71316135 11/27/2024 I can't believe such a talented cast signed up for such a terrible movie. Corny plot, awful dialogue, ridiculous premise. Who or what was Morgan Freeman's character? Total waste of time See more Read all reviews
Chain Reaction

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Cast & Crew

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Andrew Davis

Director

Keanu Reeves

Eddie Kasalivich

Morgan Freeman

Paul Shannon

Rachel Weisz

Dr. Lily Sinclair

Fred Ward

FBI Agent Leon Ford

Kevin Dunn

FBI Agent Doyle

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Chain Reaction

Chain Reaction: Trailer 1 Chain Reaction: Trailer 1 1:47 View more videos
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Chain Reaction

Chain Reaction (1996) Chain Reaction (1996) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis At a Chicago university, a research team that includes brilliant Eddie Kasalivich (Keanu Reeves) experiences a breakthrough: a stable form of fusion that may lead to a waste-free energy source. However, Dr. Paul Shannon (Morgan Freeman) has ties to a private company that wants to exploit the technology, so Kasalivich and Dr. Lily Sinclair (Rachel Weisz) are framed for murder, and the fusion device is stolen. On the run from the FBI, they must recover the technology and exonerate themselves.
Director
Andrew Davis
Producer
Arne Schmidt, Andrew Davis
Screenwriter
Arne Schmidt, Rick Seaman, Josh Friedman, J.F. Lawton, Michael Bortman
Distributor
20th Century Fox, Fox
Production Co
20th Century Fox
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Action
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 2, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$20.6M
Runtime
1h 46m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo
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