Jack Ryan: Ghost War Review
Director: Andrew Bernstein
Date Created: 2026-05-20 18:20
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Jack Ryan: Ghost War Review: Directed by Andrew Bernstein, the Prime Video movie stars John Krasinski, Wendell Pierce, Sienna Miller, Michael Kelly, Max Beesley, J. J. Feild, Douglas Hodge, Betty Gabriel and others. The film has a runtime of 105 minutes.
Jack Ryan: Ghost War Review
Prime Video’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War starts with an assassination which directly involves Jack Ryan being brought back into the CIA’s field activities after having tried to leave this behind him to lead a more peaceful life. The reason for his involvement is the fact that James Greer has some worries regarding a certain mission that may be related to terrorism happening in many countries. As he investigates further, the movie reveals Project Starling.
Initially, this plot really caught my interest. The film makes one think that it will go into the depths of how intelligence organisations play dirty games and use the fear of people all over the world to further their own agenda. The more Jack learns about Project Starling, the clearer it becomes that a number of terrorist acts were carried out to provide grounds for illegal surveillance and secret warfare. On its own, this concept could develop into a thrilling and complex movie. Alas, it did not come to fruition.
Rather, the script leaps from one assignment to another without allowing sufficient time for the audience to appreciate the political undertones of what is taking place. Jack bounces from New York to London to Dubai as he hunts for evidence related to the rogue operative named Liam Crown, who holds the belief that global pandemonium is required to keep order and control. The character of Crown might have been an interesting villain because the movie suggests that he views himself as a guardian of sorts for the world, albeit using extreme methods.
What disappointed me was the predictability of the investigation process. The couple, Jack and Emma Marlow, gradually learn about the existence of secret files and secret agents and their betrayal in the intelligence agencies; however, each revelation seems pretty clear even before the characters realise anything. There are several scenes created specifically to surprise the audience, but they are so poorly built from the point of view of creating suspense that they instantly become dull.
The pace also seemed to go against the Prime Video movie Jack Ryan: Ghost War, as it is extremely fast-paced, but not in an enjoyable fashion. The film never seems to slow down long enough for the characters to catch their breath and develop normally. Jack questions the ethics of the CIA one moment, and then finds himself in yet another firefight or chase sequence. The drama that could be drawn from his trust issues with Greer and the CIA was completely ignored.
However, John Krasinski remains the only good thing about this franchise. The actor knows his character well enough to be able to make Jack Ryan likeable even amid subpar writing. Krasinski gives the protagonist the vibe of being tired and frustrated while discovering the extent to which these intelligence agencies are corrupt. I particularly enjoyed the scenes where Jack had trouble figuring out whether guys like him were doing any good by trying to save the planet from the bad guys or just adding to the chaos.
Another problem lies in the fact that Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War makes Jack an action hero, which was not the case in previous seasons, where Ryan appeared to be an analyst who had to use his skills to survive in a dangerous environment by relying on intelligence, not just force. The protagonist survives too many impossible situations for any sense of realism to remain in the movie. At times, the film seems to want to turn him into an action hero.
One actor who does add something interesting to the movie is Sienna Miller as Emma Marlow. Their cooperation with each other is probably the only interesting element of the plotline. Emma participates in the revelation of the truth about Nigel’s investigation and the secret data related to the project Starling. Despite being poorly written, Miller succeeds in making her character seem invested in the plot.
The supporting actors give competent performances, notably Wendell Pierce as Greer. There are certain instances when Greer’s loyalty and secrets contribute to internal conflict within the team, especially as Jack begins to wonder if he can trust any member of his team. However, it is a shame that this element is not made as intriguing as it could have been, considering that the film concentrates more on action rather than character development.
As for action, there is nothing much to write about. There are quite a few scenes involving chase, shooting, and espionage throughout the film; however, all of them seem generic and visually uninteresting. The director avoids the use of CGI in favour of practical effects, and that was great. However, for a film about rogue agents, secret government programs, and conspiracy, there is nothing thrilling about the action.
Prime Video Jack Ryan: Ghost War Review: Summing Up
On the whole, Jack Ryan Ghost War is not entirely without merit, but it remains frustratingly average. The acting, particularly by Krasinski and Sienna Miller, is solid, and there are moments where the audience gets a glimpse into something much more intelligent than what is delivered in the end. Weak writing, predictable plot twists, and unimaginative action sequences prevent it from standing out from the crowd. It fails to bring anything new to the table.
