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Robert De Niro, Jean Reno, Stellan Skarsgård, Sean Bean, Natasha McElhone ... see more see more... , Natascha McElhone , Skipp Sudduth , Michel Lonsdale , Jan Triska , Jonathan Pryce , Feodor Atkine , Katarina Witt , Bernard Bloch , Michael Lonsdale

John Frankenheimer directed this $20 million international action thriller from a screenplay by Richard Weisz (pseudonym for David Mamet) and J.D. Zeik. In Paris, Irish organizer Deidre (Natascha McEl... read more read more...hone) assembles a team to grab a mysterious briefcase from criminals. They are never told who hired them or the true identity of their targets. The hired specialists: Former CIA officer Sam (Robert De Niro), former Euro intelligence agent Vincent (Jean Reno), German electronics expert Gregor (Stellan Skarsgard), driver Larry (Skip Sudduth), and British weapons wrangler Spence (Sean Bean). After a Seine shootout, the action moves to the South of France, with a recon mission in Cannes, and a chase that brings everyone to Nice. Inevitable betrayals ensue, along with more pursuits. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

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76% liked it

110,306 ratings

Critics

68% liked it

60 critics

R, 2 hr.

Directed by: John Frankenheimer

Release Date: September 25, 1998

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DVD Release Date: February 23, 1999

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Stats: 5,078 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (5,078)

  • fb1463751009
    March 10, 2012
    fb1463751009
    A fun B-movie with one of the best car scene chases ever. Plot is lacking... but Robert De Niro is in it... He lifts this movie up. I loved the overall feel of this movie
  • fb619846742
    January 27, 2012
    fb619846742
    An entertaining, though extremely convoluted and occasionally way too silly action yarn detailing a team of mercenaries (led by Robert De Niro) who must recover a briefcase filled with contents they no nothing about. The plot, as said, is way to complicated to keep up with, and t... read morehe character development is pretty bad as well outside of De Niro, but this thing somehow, someway stays entertaining through a variety of breathtaking car chase sequences that match up against the best recorded in film. Sure, the chase sequences, like the movie as a whole, drift into silliness at more than one point, but the movie remains fun throughout. Think of it as a veteran's version "Eagle Eye", a film you kind of throw up your hands towards and go "it's....whatever man". If you turn your brain off and try to enjoy the action, you most likely will. But if you start to question the reality of, well, all of the film, then this thing has more holes than swiss cheese. So there you have it.
  • ironclad1609
    October 17, 2011
    ironclad1609
    This action thriller about a team of strangers being hired to retrieve a mysterious suitcase includes two of the most spectacular car chases of the 90s. Them being filmed almost at street level really makes you feel as if you're part of the pursuit and makes them stand out as the... read more highlights of the film. While the rest of the action may be a bit generic, the grumpy old men DeNiro and Reno make for excellent leading men, just being good at their jobs. The showdown falls a bit short after the excellent car action, and the final off-text feels oddly out of place, but that doesn't take much away from this exciting, old-fashioned thriller where friendships among men have to overcome mistrust but then would take a bullet for each other.
  • garyX
    September 11, 2011
    garyX
    A group of mercenaries are hired to steal a mysterious case from a heavily armed organisation. Although it has a similar set up to Reservoir Dogs, Ronin is a rather more "adult" affair, echoing cold war thrillers spiced up with a liberal smattering of action. Veteran director Joh... read moren Frankenheimer obviously devoted a lot of time to the shoot outs and car chases which have a visceral realism lacking in most Hollywood thrillers; in fact the whole film is beautifully engineered and features a superb cast making it all but technically flawless. It also has a very "European" flavour, not only because of the continental locations, but also the lack of shaky cam or over-saturated colour filters and a cast featuring real actors instead of underwear models make it feel a million miles from your average US shoot-em-up. My only criticism would be its sterility; it's rather lacking in heart because we learn so little about the characters and their motivations it's a little hard to care what happens to them, especially since we don't even find out what it is they're all fighting over! Still it's a perfectly crafted piece of entertainment and worth it for the thrilling chase sequences alone.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    June 18, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Ronin is one terrific action packed ride. Starring Robert De Niro and Stellan Skarsgard, A group of men are hired to steal a briefcase from criminals by an IRA operative, but they're never told whats in the briefcase, it's left up to the viewer to guess. Ronin is a non stop acti... read moreoner that puts the throttle to metal and doesn't slow down. This is an intense ride and one that takes many twist as the job goes sour and betrayals ensue. This is a well crafted action film that delivers top notch action, the cast at hand here are terrific and they deliver strong performances. Ronin is an entertaining ride that doesn't let you breath, theres always something going on. The cast is well assembled, and you impressive names that have graced previous, masterful action films. Sean Bean and Jean Reno for one. The scripts limitations are overcome by the action delivery and in the end the somewhat weak script doesn't truly matter. The film is an adrenaline ride and has enough thrills till the awesome climax. Sure they're could have been things done better, but for what it does, Ronin succeeds into delivering a solid action film Sometimes thats a good, a mindless action film is sometimes what a viewer needs to be thoroughly entertained, and it works. Ronin is a fun, thrillin action film that delivers.
  • bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    July 29, 2010
    bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    B+
  • CloudStrife84
    April 2, 2010
    CloudStrife84
    Good and solid action-thriller. Lots of nice action scenes and rife with suspense. The only real complaint I have regards the pacing. It's a tad uneven and some scenes could easily have been shorted down without damaging the story. Apart from that minor downside, however, this is... read more a very exciting film. Not least with all the great actors found within its cast.
  • SirPant
    September 14, 2009
    SirPant
    De Niro and Reno are brilliant together in this samurai influenced French heist thriller. Skarsgard also does well as an unlikely bad guy. This film is almost perfect but unfortunately Sean Bean ruins it by putting on one of the worst performances ever! Still, highly recommended!
  • phubbs1
    July 18, 2009
    phubbs1
    Real darkhorse of a movie here, came outta nowhere, the car chases are the best I've ever seen and the gun fights also rock bigtime. The story is basic but the cast is a real gem and possibly the best line up for along time. Great action that grips you to the end. Love Beans shor... read moret role.....'bit of rasberry jam back there eh..bit of rasberry jam' lol lol brilliant.
  • allan913
    July 11, 2009
    allan913
    A brilliant film. Smart, thrilling and explosive. It's stylish, well-crafted and original. Spectacular non-stop action and suspense. Filled with explosive gun battles and exhilerating car chases. Action films dont get any better than this. It's a pure adreniline-rush. Excitment y... read moreou can cut with a knife. Robert De Niro and Jean Reno are at their absolute best, their perfectly cast. A pulse-pounding ride that is really entertaining. It will keep you on the edge of your seat. A masterpiece. It ismade with real epic scope and is delivered expertly.

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Critic Reviews

Chris Vognar
January 1, 2000
Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News

John Frankenheimer used to make real movies.

Todd McCarthy
January 1, 2000
Todd McCarthy, Variety

Ronin reps a pleasurable throwback to the sort of gritty, low-tech international thriller that was a staple of the 1960s. Full Review

Michael O'Sullivan
January 1, 2000
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

Run-of-the-Mill! Full Review

Michael Wilmington
January 1, 2000
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

At times, amid this movie's flurry of robustly filmed heists, betrayals and car chases, it's so good, you begin to wonder if inspiration and depth aren't overrated.

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

I enjoyed the film on two levels: for its skill and its silliness. Full Review

Kevin Maynard
January 1, 2000
Kevin Maynard, Mr. Showbiz

Clunky and contrived!

Jay Carr
January 1, 2000
Jay Carr, Boston Globe

Ronin plays like death warmed over!

Susan Stark
January 1, 2000
Susan Stark, Detroit News

Ronin is a generally familiar if murky and occasionally pretentious exercise. Full Review

Janet Maslin
January 1, 2000
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Frankenheimer propels this tale of intrigue through its tightly plotted paces with such conviction that he even makes an action hero out of Robert De Niro. Full Review

Sean Means
January 1, 2000
Sean Means, Film.com

A cunning spy thriller!

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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    • Vincent: What would I profit from your death?
    • Sam: I don't remember. That's lesson number two.
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Ronin Trivia

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  • What car is preferred by Larry when planning for the first mission in Ronin?  Answer »
  • In Ronin, what did Sam (Robert DeNiro) ambush Spence (Sean Bean) with?  Answer »
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