Hunter Killer was released in 2018 but was branded as ‘muddled’ by some critics, but there are plenty who disagree
12:06, 13 Nov 2025
Gerard at the world premiere of Hunter Killer(Image: Getty Images)
While it didn’t achieve blockbuster status upon its 2018 release, Hunter Killer has garnered a devoted following among cinema fans.
Adapted from Don Keith and George Wallace’s novel Firing Point, the thriller features Gerard Butler and Gary Oldman. The plot centres on a United States Navy SEALS unit and submarine crew attempting to rescue the Russian president following his abduction during a clandestine military coup.
Critical reception proved divisive at launch, with assessments varying from dismissing it as a “muddled, disjointed non-thriller” to commending it as an “old-fashioned action thriller” where the “pace never flags”. Nevertheless, devotees of the picture insist the critics have got it wrong.
The narrative unfolds predominantly beneath the waves as Commander Joe Glass (Butler) is assigned to locate a US submarine that disappeared without a trace while monitoring a Russian vessel.
Meanwhile, the Navy SEALS team conducts operations on terra firma, where they observe a coup and the president’s kidnapping during an undercover operation. Both units must exhaust every resource to identify those responsible for potentially triggering conflict, reports the Mirror.
The Russian president must be saved to avoid the possibility of war(Image: Publicity Picture)
Advocates of the film struggled to comprehend the widespread criticism and voiced their opinions on Rotten Tomatoes.
One commented: “Primo movie. Most of the reviewers obviously have their heads where the sun doesn’t shine!”
Another viewer was pleasantly surprised and criticised reviewers for their scathing assessments: “This was a superb movie in every way.
“Suspense, feel-good ending… what’s not to like? I’ll tell you what – critics who give movies like The Substance a better rating than Hunter Killer…. you and people who respect your terrible opinions on films, are what’s wrong with the world…”
A third agreed: “It is very misleading by the critics to condemn a perfectly good naval adventure by overly critical and tiring rhetoric trying to be ‘the most amazing critical analysis’. Everyone always forgets…. sometimes it’s just an entertaining story. Don’t overthink it.”
“Good movie, better than I expected,” another posted. “Gerard Butler is always good and does a fine job here. I’m not a very big fan of submarine movies, but I found this one to be suspenseful all the way through. Thumbs up.”
Hunter Killer airs at 6.40pm on Film 4 tonight, Thursday, November 13.
