In the Line of Fire
Columbia Pictures | Release Date: July 9, 1993 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
74
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Critic Reviews
Positive:
13
Mixed:
3
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
78
Austin ChronicleMarjorie Baumgarten
In the Line of Fire is a terrific action movie with good performances and a smart script that occasionally falters for trying too hard but, on the whole, takes us on psychological journeys that few of us have had opportunities to experience. Read full review
88
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
The director is Wolfgang Petersen ("Das Boot"), who is able to unwind the plot like clockwork while at the same time establishing the characters as surprisingly sympathetic. Read full review
75
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
Petersen takes what could have been a muddled motion picture and structures it perfectly, creating a strong piece of entertainment. It helps, of course, that he has a capable cast. Read full review
75
Rolling StonePeter Travers
Eastwood hasn't had this much fun with a role in years, and his joy is contagious. Read full review
100
The New York TimesVincent Canby
It's movie making of the high, smooth, commercial order that Hollywood prides itself on but achieves with singular infrequency. Read full review
80
Washington PostDesson Thomson
It's not the deepest thematic concern you ever saw on screen. But it's watchable, great fun. Read full review
40
Washington PostHal Hinson
Working from the script by Jeff Maguire, director Wolfgang Petersen ("Das Boot") plods through the narrative as if he were completely unconcerned with giving it even a semblance of credibility. Read full review
60
Chicago ReaderJonathan Rosenbaum
If you don't care about such motivations, this is a pretty good thriller, though not one you're likely to remember for very long. Read full review
75
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
With all of that going for it, it's hard to see how In the Line of Fire could be anything less than rock-solid entertainment-and, indeed, it is. Yet it's never more than that. Read full review
63
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Rick Groen
This is a movie that works well when it works, and lazes around the rest of the time. Read full review
80
The New YorkerTerrence Rafferty
Both Eastwood's performance and the movie itself have the quality of meat-and-potatoes genre-picture entertainment: nothing fancy, nothing unusual. Read full review
60
TimeRichard Corliss
The real battle here is between two generations of acting styles: meticulous method vs. star quality. Read full review
88
TV Guide MagazineStaff (Not credited)
The result is a finely tuned suspense thriller, though executives who have recently laid off trained killers may experience some discomfort. Read full review
63
USA TodaySusan Wloszczyna
In the tautly terrific thriller In the Line of Fire , Clint Eastwood toys with his own grizzled-vet screen image like a frisky kitten with a yarn ball. [09 Jul 1993 Pg. 01.D]
80
VarietyTodd McCarthy
What neophyte scripterscripter Jeff Maguire's plot comes down to, however, is the cat-and-mouse game between Horrigan and Leary, and the craftiness and strategies involved on both sides, while not exactly ingenious, are tantalizing enough to compel interest. Read full review
80
Los Angeles TimesKenneth Turan
In truth, every part of this film trades so heavily on Eastwood's presence that it is impossible to imagine it with anyone else in the starring role. [09 Jul 1993 Pg. F1]
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