Jack Ryan: Ghost War reviews are in — John Krasinski’s Prime Video spy film holds a mixed 36% RT critics score. Full review, cast, plot, franchise comparison, and streaming guide inside.
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Jack Ryan: Ghost War Reviews: Full Cast, Plot, Critic Scores & Verdict
He was supposed to be done with all of this.
Jack Ryan — the reluctant CIA analyst who was dragged out of his office chair and into the world’s most dangerous situations for four seasons of must-watch television — had put the field behind him. Retired the instincts. Closed the file.
And then the file came looking for him.
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War arrived on Prime Video on May 20, 2026, continuing John Krasinski’s run as one of the most beloved iterations of Tom Clancy’s iconic character. The reviews, however, tell a story the film’s action sequences cannot quite drown out: this is a franchise that knows exactly how to entertain you while stopping just short of giving you something to truly care about.
What Is Jack Ryan: Ghost War About?
Ghost War picks up after the events of the TV series. Jack Ryan is reluctantly thrust back into the world of espionage when an international covert mission unravels a deadly conspiracy. The clock is ticking. Lives hang in the balance. And the enemy Ryan is being asked to confront is not a foreign power — it is a rogue black-ops unit with connections far closer to home than anyone wants to admit.
The film unfolds in near-real-time, reuniting Jack with two of his most trusted allies: battle-tested CIA operative Mike November (Michael Kelly) and former CIA director James Greer (Wendell Pierce). Joined by a sharp-edged new partner — British MI6 officer Emma Marlowe (Sienna Miller) — the team must navigate a treacherous web of betrayal, facing a past none of them thought they would ever have to confront again.
The film was co-written by Krasinski himself alongside Aaron Rabin, and directed by Andrew Bernstein — who previously helmed Season 2 of the television series and knows this world intimately.
Full Cast
| Actor | Character | Role |
|---|---|---|
| John Krasinski | Jack Ryan | The reluctant CIA operative pulled back into action |
| Sienna Miller | Emma Marlowe | A razor-sharp MI6 officer — Ghost War‘s major new addition |
| Wendell Pierce | James Greer | Former CIA director and Jack’s most trusted ally |
| Michael Kelly | Mike November | Battle-hardened CIA operative and core team member |
| Betty Gabriel | Elizabeth Wright | CIA figure with significant stakes in the conspiracy |
| Max Beesley | Supporting role | Key antagonist-adjacent presence |
| JJ Feild | Supporting role | Part of the rogue black-ops web |
| Douglas Hodge | Supporting role | High-level figure in the conspiracy’s architecture |
| Dominic Mafham | Chief of MI6 | Key British intelligence authority |
Director: Andrew Bernstein | Written by: Aaron Rabin & John Krasinski | Music: Ramin Djawadi & William Marriott | Runtime: 107 minutes | Rating: R
Jack Ryan: Ghost War — Critical Reception
| Source | Score / Verdict |
|---|---|
| Rotten Tomatoes (Tomatometer) | ~36% — Rotten |
| RT Critics Consensus | “Mechanical efficiency but little else — a personality-free action cipher” |
| MovieWeb | 2.5/5 — “Only fans of the franchise will find value” |
| Hollywood Reporter | “Shrug-worthy” — capable but uninspired |
| The Hunt for Red October (1990) RT | 88% — franchise best for comparison |
Jack Ryan Franchise RT History
| Film / Series | Year | RT Score |
|---|---|---|
| The Hunt for Red October | 1990 | 88% ✅ |
| Patriot Games | 1992 | 74% |
| Clear and Present Danger | 1994 | 82% |
| The Sum of All Fears | 2002 | 60% |
| Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit | 2014 | 56% |
| Jack Ryan (TV Series, S1) | 2018 | 88% |
| Jack Ryan: Ghost War | 2026 | ~36% ❌ |
Our Review
★★½☆☆ (2.5/5)
There is a version of Jack Ryan: Ghost War that could have been great. The cast is right. The premise is right. Ramin Djawadi’s score pulses with exactly the kinetic urgency the film needs. And Sienna Miller’s Emma Marlowe — sharp, cool, immediately credible — is the most interesting new addition to the Ryan universe in years.
The problem is the film around them.
As Rotten Tomatoes’ critics consensus puts it bluntly: Ghost War “plows through a routine globe-trotting with mechanical efficiency but little else,” reducing Krasinski’s once-compelling CIA operative to “a personality-free action cipher.” That is a damning but largely accurate verdict. The film works in the moment — action sequences are competently assembled, the real-time structure generates tension — but it leaves almost nothing behind. No scene that burns itself into memory. No character moment that earns its weight.
John Krasinski co-wrote the screenplay, which makes the absence of genuine character depth all the more puzzling. The TV series worked because Ryan felt like a person navigating an overwhelming world. Ghost War makes him feel like a chess piece being moved around a board. MovieWeb’s Mark Keizer diagnosed the issue precisely: “There’s not much more to squeeze out of this franchise as it currently exists.”
For existing fans of Krasinski’s Ryan — and there are many — Ghost War delivers a functional two hours. The action is competent, the familiar faces are welcome, and Miller’s Marlowe suggests there is still potential in this universe worth exploring.
But as a cinematic argument for why Jack Ryan should continue on the big screen, Ghost War falls well short of making its case.
Where to Watch Jack Ryan: Ghost War
Jack Ryan: Ghost War is streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video as of May 20, 2026. All four seasons of the original Jack Ryan TV series are also available on Prime Video. An active Amazon Prime or Prime Video subscription is required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the reviews for Jack Ryan: Ghost War?
A: Reviews are mixed to negative. The film holds approximately a 36% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics calling it “mechanical” and lacking character depth — a franchise low for the Ryanverse.
Q: Is Jack Ryan: Ghost War a movie or a TV series?
A: It is a feature film — 107 minutes, rated R — that continues the story of Krasinski’s TV series Jack Ryan, which ran for four seasons from 2018 to 2023.
Q: Who is in the cast of Jack Ryan: Ghost War?
A: The film stars John Krasinski (Jack Ryan), Sienna Miller (Emma Marlowe, MI6), Wendell Pierce (James Greer), Michael Kelly (Mike November), and Betty Gabriel, among others.
Q: Where can I watch Jack Ryan: Ghost War?
A: The film streams exclusively on Amazon Prime Video from May 20, 2026, included with an active Amazon Prime or Prime Video subscription.
Q: Is Jack Ryan: Ghost War connected to the TV series?
A: Yes. Ghost War is a direct continuation of the Jack Ryan TV series (2018–2023) starring Krasinski, with returning cast members Wendell Pierce and Michael Kelly reprising their series roles.
Q: Do I need to watch the Jack Ryan TV series before Ghost War?
A: While Ghost War functions as a standalone action thriller, viewers familiar with the TV series will have a richer understanding of character relationships and backstory. Watching at least Season 1 of the TV series is recommended.
Q: What is the RT score for the original Jack Ryan TV series?
A: Season 1 of the Jack Ryan TV series (2018) holds an 88% Certified Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes — the same as the franchise’s 1990 gold standard, The Hunt for Red October.
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