The Fourth Protocol poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Michael Caine, Pierce Brosnan, Joanna Cassidy, Ned Beatty, Betsy Brantley ... see more see more... , Ray McAnally , Ian Richardson , Peter Cartwright , Matt Frewer , Anton Rodgers , Caroline Blakiston , Sarah Bullen , Sean Chapman , Rosy Clayton , David Conville , Cyril Conway , Joanna Dickens , Mick Ford , Julian Glover , Michael Gough , Jerry Harte , Gordon Honeycombe , John Horsley , Boris Isarov , Michael J. Jackson , Alexei Jawdokimov , Sally Kinghorn , Matthew Marsh , Alan North , Stephen Persaud , Neville Phillips , Ronald Pickup , Richard Ridings , Mark Rolston , Patsy Smart , Phil Smeeton , Jirí Stanislav , Christopher Walker , Tariq Yunus , George Zenios , Roy Alon , Philip Jackson , Julian Jacobson , Sam Douglas , Johnny Allan , Michael Bilton , Joseph Brady , Rebecca Burrill , Nancy Crane , Ronnie Golden , Steve Halliwell , Ronnie Laughlin , Renos Liondaris , Peter Manning , Kenneth Midwood , John Murtagh , James Older , George Phillips , Michael Seezen , Aaron Swartz , Ocrtavia Verdin , Juanita Waterman , Clare Kelly , William Parker

Scripted by Frederick Forsyth from his own novel, The Fourth Protocol is a fact-based spy thriller. The titular protocol is a secret agreement between America, Britain and Russia to cease smuggling nu... read more read more...clear weapons into their respective countries. This figures into the schemes of several rogue spies, who hope to destroy NATO by embarking on just such a smuggling endeavor. Russian agent Valeri Petrofsky (Pierce Brosnan) is ordered to stage a nuclear accident in England, then arrange the evidence to point to the Americans. British intelligence agent John Preston (Michael Caine) begins wondering why such nuclear-weapon components like lithium are showing up in the unlikeliest places. Ignored by his superiors, who figure that Preston is merely an old-line anti-Commie paranoic, Preston gathers the clues that will enable him to find out who's behind the potential breaking of The Fourth Protocol. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

57% liked it

1,901 ratings

Critics

64% liked it

14 critics

R, 1 hr. 59 min.

Directed by: John Mackenzie

Release Date: August 28, 1987

Invite friends to see

Get It:

Stats: 111 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

The Fourth Protocol
Upload a Photo | View All The Fourth Protocol Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (111)

  • matertenebraum
    December 26, 2009
    matertenebraum
    ome comments on this film have stated that there are unnecessary killings of agents or witnesses, this is done to show the politics of the film and how there must be no trace back to those who planned the operation, whilst also portraying that petrofsky is a lethal killer, and as... read more Caine says in the film "the best". A great story, and very believable, spies that remain hidden from each other and no excruciating scene where the bad guy reveals his plot to the good guy. Would have been interesting to see what would have happened if the operation had turned out differently, or the ending for that matter!

    Of course one of the best things about this film is the acting as previously stated by other people. Caine brings his character to life and is very believable in the role of John Preston, the agent who cares, and will "bend" the rules to make sure things get down. Brosnan is similarly good, his character will stop at nothing to complete his mission, he is a stone cold killer and this is portrayed well, he doesn't let anything get in the way of the mission.

    All in all a very good little film, much better than some of the tripe we get from Hollywood and with one of the finest British casts i've seen in some time.
  • deano
    March 22, 2007
    deano
    An okay spy thriller in this wildly implausible, but moderately entertaining, adaptation by Frederick Forsyth of his own novel, Michael Caine has to stop Russians exploding one of the atomic bombs American keeps in Britain.
  • Lyndaofwirral
    January 17, 2011
    Lyndaofwirral
    A lot more action orientated than the Frederick Forsyth novel that it was based on and Michael Caine's character is, equally, far more of an action hero. Whilst it may have been deemed necessary to beef up the action to make a more exciting film, it loses some on the book's logic... read more, depth and flow.
  • DrLappos
    May 23, 2009
    DrLappos
    Brilliant cold war thriller with the very young Brosnan acting as a baddy russian spy.....Quality.
  • sayers1977
    April 3, 2008
    sayers1977
    Remember this film being better than it is. Very dated now and it looks like a lot of it was done on the cheap but it's good to see a spy thriller where the lead actor actually does some spying and investigating. Keeps the interest and Caine and Brosnan are great (Caine especiall... read morey seems to enjoy stepping back into the Harry Palmer type of role. He would do the same thing a few years later with 'Blue Ice') but not a classic.
  • oneronin
    June 15, 2007
    oneronin
    If you grew up in the Cold War, you'll realize what a very possible, and scary scenrio this movie plays out. Although it was made in the 80's, it still has the intrigue and suspense of any movie, of the same genre, made today. It is interesting to see Pierce as the villian for once.

View All The Fourth Protocol Reviews

Critic Reviews

Rita Kempley
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

An engrossing and thoroughly enjoyable adaptation of the bestselling spy thriller by Frederick Forsyth. n engrossing and thoroughly enjoyable adaptation of the bestselling spy thriller by Frederick Fo... Full Review

Wally Hammond
January 26, 2006
Wally Hammond, Time Out

What is missing is any real tension or psychological detail that might lend plausibility to all the hocus-pocus about East-West political and military intrigue. Full Review

Clint Morris
May 12, 2005
Clint Morris, Moviehole

A captivating, well-performed picture

Rob Thomas
November 6, 2003
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)

Above-average spy thriller, with Brosnan making a great baddie.

Brian Mckay
March 18, 2003
Brian Mckay, eFilmCritic.com

Decent but unremarkable spy thriller, with an intersting villain provided by Pierce Brosnan.

Scott Weinberg
July 25, 2002
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

Well-mounted espionage thriller with strong work from Caine and Brosnan.

Janet Maslin
May 20, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

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

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
July 19, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • The Peacemaker
    The Peacemaker (67%)
  • Detonator (Death Train)
    Detonator (Death Train) (100%)

More Movies like The Fourth Protocol

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

The Fourth Protoc... : Watch Free on TV

The Fourth Protocol Trivia

  • Who played the russian agent in "The Fourth Protocol"?   Answer »
  • Who plays the villain Valeri Petrofsky in the film "The Fourth Protocol"?   Answer »
  • Who played the role of Major Valeri Petrofsky in 'The Fourth Protocol'?   Answer »
  • Which of the following films stared Pierce Brosnan and Micheal Caine pitted against each other?  Answer »
More The Fourth Protocol Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for The Fourth Protocol. Want to create one?

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All The Fourth Protocol Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add The Fourth Protocol to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?