The Russia House

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The Russia House

R

1990

2h 3m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

70%

Tomatometer

20 Reviews

50%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

While visiting Moscow, British publisher Barley Blair learns of a manuscript detailing the Soviet Union's nuclear missile capabilities. British intelligence and the CIA consider the book to contain crucial information and recruit Blair to investigate its editor, Katya Orlova. As Blair learns the origin of the manuscript and discovers Russian military secrets, he falls in love with Katya and fights to protect her family.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Jan 1, 2000

2/4

To judge by this film, the life of a Cold War spy consists of sitting for endless hours in soundproof rooms with people you do not particularly like, waiting for something to happen. Sort of like being a movie critic.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Feb 8, 2023

3/4

Connery and Pfeiffer are both excellent, but much of the film’s pleasure comes from watching the consummate pros filling out the roles of various bureaucrats

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Nov 11, 2022

Visually spectacular, and very well acted. [Full review in Spanish]

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Alistair Lawrence

Common Sense Media

Jan 5, 2022

2/5

An unconvincing love story wrapped inside a spying drama that's as gray as a Moscow winter skyline, this John le Carré adaptation is slow, tedious, and instantly forgettable.

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Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

Sep 30, 2020

2/5

Compelling more so for capturing elements of a certain time and place rather than as a significant treatment of espionage or romantic intrigue, The Russia House fails to stir any real emotional development or excitement.

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Ellie Lucas

From the Front Row

Jun 5, 2019

3.5/4

Eschews the chase scenes and shoot-outs usually associated with espionage thrillers for dazzling wordplay, character-driven intrigue, and a strong emotional core,

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Diaulas F

@RT13630323 Oct 3, 2026

Michelle Pfeiffer tem uma atuação grande ao lado do Sean Connery.

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Joaquin U

@Joaquin1 Jun 26, 2026

Barely entertaining. A typical Cold War espionage flick. The cast is good, with Connery a bit too old for the role, though he still pulls it off with his usual charm. It drags, and the themes are dated. The Moscow scenery is awesome, one of the main reasons to watch it today, but there's not much more to it.

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Leaburn O

@RT35452347 Oct 29, 2025

A solid, if seriously unspectacular spy thriller from the very close of the Cold War. It’s about the death of the spy agencies as we knew them and the dawn of a suspicious new era. Has its Le Carre type feel to it, with grey trench coats and lada driving spies. Pfeiffer is the star turn and there’s an awkward bit part from a young Martin Clunes. It’s nothing too impressive but well enough executed to tell a predictable story fairly well. Watched on Amazon Prime.

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Frans B

@FransB Aug 20, 2025

Brilliant interpretation of a classic Le Carré story. Sean Connery and Michelle Pfeiffer shows amazing chemistry here. Whole cast convincing in character. Great cinematography and settings. Very well written and brought to screen by Fred Schepisi. Timeless classic

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Alain E

@AlainE Jul 16, 2025

Sadly, overall a waste of good actors and a John le Carre book.

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Merrick S

@RT51542740 May 30, 2025

This movie is better than the entire pile of Bond flicks. One of the best LeCarre films. Michelle Pfeiffer is stunning and Connery is at the very peak of his powers. Fox and Scheider stand out in a strong cast. Beautifully shot in Moscow. I think the looping structure was off-putting to the pre-Nolan audience. One line of dialogue was a little off (imo) but the Tom Stoppard script is true to the spirit of the novel with many great lines. Better than the entire list of RT's ranked spy movies, except (maybe) for classics like Notorious. Way smarter than Hollywood fare, as the audience reviews indicate.

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Fred Schepisi

Director

Sean Connery

Barley

Michelle Pfeiffer

Katya

Roy Scheider

Russell

James Fox

Ned

John Mahoney

Brady

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Synopsis

While visiting Moscow, British publisher Barley Blair learns of a manuscript detailing the Soviet Union's nuclear missile capabilities. British intelligence and the CIA consider the book to contain crucial information and recruit Blair to investigate its editor, Katya Orlova. As Blair learns the origin of the manuscript and discovers Russian military secrets, he falls in love with Katya and fights to protect her family.

Director: Fred Schepisi
Producer: Paul Maslansky, Fred Schepisi
Screenwriter: Tom Stoppard
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Pathé Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 19, 1990, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $22.6M
Runtime: 2h 3m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

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