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Deterrence

Play trailer Poster for Deterrence R 1999 1h 41m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
46% Tomatometer 39 Reviews 59% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
The President of the United States finds himself snowed in at a Colorado diner. The President must confront a national crisis and impending war when Iraq invades Kuwait. Trapped in the snowbound diner, faced with the prospect of a two-front war, the President has less than two hours to decide whether to deploy the ultimate weapon.

Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media Dec 22, 2010
3/5
A president wrestles with another Iraq war. Go to Full Review Jessica Winter Village Voice Jan 1, 2000
The film begins and ends with footage of FDR intoning "I hate war," something the film takes two interminable hours to say. Go to Full Review Marc Savlov Austin Chronicle Jan 1, 2000
1/5
Hardly the refried Cold War piece it longs to be. Go to Full Review Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies Mar 10, 2025
4/5
Twenty-five years later, Deterrence remains a thought-provoking thriller. Go to Full Review Michael Dequina TheMovieReport.com Jul 16, 2005
2.5/4
Lurie quickly glazes over one important bit of backstory in the early going, a point that is crucial to understand some motivation. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Jun 30, 2005
1/5
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Audience Reviews

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Jul 22, 2016 Surpringly well acted low budget thriller See more Feb 12, 2014 Thought provoking and sobering. Hutton was great, as usual. See more Jan 5, 2014 I just cannot find this movie anywhere!!!!!! See more Sep 22, 2012 This is the first effort from Lurie, who went on to make the superior "The Contender" after this. See more Sep 25, 2011 Pollak's performance is very good but the film itself falls flat. The film isn't terrible but it is nothing all that good either, simply mediocre. See more Sep 20, 2011 I really liked this film. The film drew me in. See more Read all reviews
Deterrence

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Cast & Crew

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Rod Lurie

Director

Kevin Pollak

President Walter Emerson

Timothy Hutton

Marshall Thompson

Sheryl Lee Ralph

Gayle Redford

Sean Astin

Ralphie

Clotilde Courau

Katie

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Deterrence

Timothy Hutton, Ryan Cutrona, Kevin Pollak, Joe McCracken and Sheryl Lee Ralph. Rod Lurie, writer/director. Deterrence (1999) Deterrence (1999) Deterrence (1999) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis The President of the United States finds himself snowed in at a Colorado diner. The President must confront a national crisis and impending war when Iraq invades Kuwait. Trapped in the snowbound diner, faced with the prospect of a two-front war, the President has less than two hours to decide whether to deploy the ultimate weapon.
Director
Rod Lurie
Producer
Marc Frydman, James Spies
Screenwriter
Rod Lurie
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
TF1 International, Moonstone Entertainment, Battleplan Productions
Rating
R (Violence|Language)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 10, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 15, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA)
$144.6K
Runtime
1h 41m
Sound Mix
Surround
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