The Sum of All Fears

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The Sum of All Fears

PG-13

2002

2h 4m

Mystery & Thriller

Action

Drama

War

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Popcornmeter

57%

Tomatometer

173 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

Jan 5, 2018

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.

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Laura Bushell

BBC.com

Aug 5, 2002

3/5

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

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Michael Wilmington

Chicago Tribune

Jul 20, 2002

2/4

An implausible apocalypse without depth or resonance, a cartoon of international politics presented with no James Bond-like playfulness and with all the superficial realism money can buy.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Sep 25, 2025

5/10

The acts of snooping and slinking about in darkness are rather engaging, even if the obvious components of the plot drag along with little concern for swift pacing.

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Jason Caro

Radio Times

Feb 9, 2024

4/5

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

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Sep 17, 2022

C-

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.

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Jacob W

@RT17896586 Nov 4, 2026

Despite a good cast. Sadly however this Tom Clancy adaptation is not as good as it could have been.

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Robert P

@Superbad Oct 24, 2026

The Sum of All Fears is a 2.5 star Movie!

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Jelisije J

@jjosifovic May 21, 2026

A great Jack Ryan movie that shows that the man is not 007 but he is a CIA analyst and a lot of the new generation of Jack Ryan fans don't understand that. Not to mention in this movie the good guys don't necessarily come out unscathed.

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Laurie S

@Karlwinters Mar 24, 2026

So,. no mention of the estimated 100,.000 deaths then?

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mark G

@Mark_Alan_G. Mar 4, 2026

This was awful. Can't believe Clancy greenlit this piece. Just came off like a Bruckheimer film, shallow and empty. Casting was terrible.

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Sean M.

@Thymeout Feb 21, 2026

Ben Affleck once again proving his poor acting skills again. He and Matt Damon aka the Boston bog dwellers, are terrible actors as well as people

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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

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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
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Mace Neufeld Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Disaster Images|Brief Strong Language|Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Action, Drama, War
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 31, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 21, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $118.5M
Runtime: 2h 4m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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