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The Peacemaker

The Peacemaker

In the fall of 1997, every nuclear device in the world will be accounted for...except one.

1997124 minRMidcredits score: 37th percentile of all films
Director
Mimi Leder
Starring
George Clooney, Nicole Kidman, Marcel Iures, Aleksandr Baluev

When a train carrying atomic warheads mysteriously crashes in the former Soviet Union, a nuclear specialist discovers the accident is really part of a plot to cover up the theft of the weapons. Assigned to help her recover the missing bombs is a crack Special Forces Colonel.

Where to watch

Where can I watch The Peacemaker?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists The Peacemaker streaming on Pluto TV (free) and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

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Highlights

What stands out about The Peacemaker?

The Peacemaker earns 6 badges, led by Rousing and Preferred by Critics.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is The Peacemaker worth watching?

The Peacemaker's Midcredits score is the 37th percentile of all films, from 94K ratings across 6 sources. 38% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

37th percentile

Better received than 37% of films

53rd percentile among Action40th percentile among 1990s
Acclaim (how much people like it)40th
Approval (how many liked it)35th

59 /100

40th percentile of all films

57th percentile among Action43rd percentile among 1990s

Critics 43 · Audience 60

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.1 — solid but not unanimous.

38% liked it

35th percentile of all films

49th percentile among Action37th percentile among 1990s
38% rated it 7–1062% rated it 1–6

Critics 49% · Audience 39%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 0 wins / 2 noms overall

95th percentile

94K ratings across platforms

91st percentile among Action93rd percentile among 1990s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 33% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$50M
Opening weekend$12M
Domestic gross$41M
Worldwide gross$110M

Returned 2.2× its budget — 86th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A formulaic but competently made 90s action thriller that delivers polished set pieces over originality.

Fans praised

  • high-tension action sequences including train heist and helicopter assault
  • charismatic performances from Clooney and Clooney/Kidman chemistry
  • Hans Zimmer's adrenaline-pumping score

Detractors panned

  • derivative plot recycling standard stolen-nuke cliches
  • Clooney's one-note cocky persona crosses into smugness
  • Kidman miscast as unconvincing nuclear expert—stiff and out of depth

What stands out

Sound and musicDivisive78

Hans Zimmer score elevates tension; stirring thematic work

Effects and spectacleDivisive68

practical stunts and train heist praised; some dated CGI

TensionDivisive60

train heist and NYC finale generate suspense; middle loses steam

ActingDivisive59

Clooney charismatic but limited range; Kidman divisive—praised for looks/poise, panned for stiffness

PacingDivisive55

opens strong, sags in middle, recovers with climactic chase

CharactersDivisive42

thinly sketched leads; villain Iures earns sympathy but underdeveloped

Plot and storyDivisive35

by-the-numbers stolen nuke chase with predictability and plot holes

Originality20

generic action template with nothing new

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 12 points higher than women.

Critics vs users

Preferred by Critics

Critics scored it 16 points higher than users.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Under-30s vs over-30s 1 point apart
  • US vs non-US 3 points apart

Watch experience

What is The Peacemaker like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Tense and gripping: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something tense that holds you to the end.

It is intense, never lets up and leaves you fired up.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Nothing out of the ordinary.

What it feels like

Tense and gripping.

The answer rests on this: Moods
TenseThrilling
Heaviest: late
Register
Adventurous · 11% of filmsWry · 7% of films: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film treats its material with earnest tension, balanced by Clooney's dry, knowing delivery.
The rideThe film maintains high tension throughout, with the climax in a school/church chase and defusal scene carrying the most weight.
StructureThe story unfolds linearly from the theft to the pursuit to the final confrontation.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Fired up.

Rousing · 10% of filmsCathartic · 6% of films
Why it leaves you this wayDespite the heavy subject, the successful resolution and heroic teamwork leave an uplifting, energized feeling.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).QuestMission
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10% (this title): Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% (this title) · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Quest: A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles. · Mission: Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).

10% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe narrative follows a mission to recover stolen nuclear warheads and thwart a terrorist attack, spanning a global chase from Russia to New York.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfSurvival
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% (this title) · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% (this title) · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15% (this title): Survival 17% (this title) · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Survival

SurvivalJustice · 13% of filmsRevenge · 4% of films
Warns its theme: Presents its theme as a danger or a coming cost.Global stakes: Consequences reach the world.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe film is primarily about preventing mass destruction and staying alive against an immediate nuclear threat, but also explores the motivations of a man seeking vengeance for his family's death.
StanceThe film warns about the dangers of nuclear proliferation and the ease with which weapons can fall into the hands of extremists.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanIn transitRealistic
Orchestral modernSupportive music · original score
SettingA post-Cold War world of nuclear smuggling, spanning Bosnia, Russia, Vienna, and New York City.

Content guide

Is The Peacemaker okay for kids?

R

The Peacemaker is rated R: “Rated R for strong violence and some language” (MPAA). As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at severe (83/100), sexual content at minimal (1/100), language at intense (74/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (17/100) and frightening material at intense (65/100). Overall it is heavier than 54% of R-rated films.

Ratings in 14 other countries
  • UK15
  • Canada14A
  • Germany16
  • FranceTP
  • Ireland18
  • South Korea15
  • Brazil14
  • Czechia12+
  • Greece16
  • Hungary16
  • Netherlands12
  • Poland16
  • Sweden15
  • Switzerland16
Overall
Intense · all five categories
Heavier than 72% of all filmsHeavier than 54% of R-rated films
Violence & Gore
Severe
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 69%
Sex & Nudity
None / Minimal
light for an R-rated film
heavier than 1%
Profanity
Intense
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 64%
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
light for an R-rated film
heavier than 6%
Frightening / Intense
Intense
typical for an R-rated film
heavier than 55%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is violence, language, and frightening material. Everything else sits at or below what R-rated films usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does The Peacemaker have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in The Peacemaker?

Cast

3 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen.

George Clooney
as Thomas Devoe
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Nicole Kidman
as Julia Kelly
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Marcel Iures
as Dusan Gavrich
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Aleksandr Baluev
as Alexsander Kodoroff
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Rene Medvesek
as Vlado Mirich
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Armin Mueller-Stahl
as Dimitri Vertikoff
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Goran Visnjic
as Bazta Sgt.
Tamara Tunie
as Jody
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Gary Werntz
as Hamilton
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Randall Batinkoff
as Ken

Crew

More like this

What are movies like The Peacemaker?

Movies like The Peacemaker include Broken Arrow (1996), Phantom (2015) and Patriot Games (1992). Of the 12 closest matches, most are political thrillers, and most are military films.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

6 of these 12 share its story type: espionage. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with The Peacemaker?

824 other films share the rarest tag below, up against: terrorist. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.