Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Breakneck
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- paranoid
- propulsive
- suspense movie night
- 1990s thriller marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the political action-thriller premise rote and contrived, though Johnny Depp's understated performance earned some praise.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Gene has less than ninety minutes to reach the governor and resolve the kidnapping threat before Lynn is killed.
Smith and Jones force Gene to attempt a gubernatorial assassination by holding his six-year-old daughter hostage.
Gene must move through Union Station and the Westin Bonaventure while Smith monitors him and Jones watches Lynn from a van.
Gene is an accountant rather than an action hero and must use improvisation and intelligence to protect his daughter.
Films like Nick of Time, and why
The Manchurian Candidate
Shares a real-time political assassination conspiracy, an ordinary protagonist under coercive pressure, and escalating urban suspense.
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
Shares a ticking-clock political thriller structure, kidnapping leverage, and a protagonist forced to navigate institutional danger.
Arlington Road
Shares a pressured civilian protagonist, covert criminal manipulation, and tightly compressed suspense in a public urban setting.
Movie Details
- Director
- John Badham
- Release Date
- 1995-11-22
- Runtime
- 89 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (838)
Cast
- Johnny Depp
- Courtney Chase
- Charles S. Dutton
- Christopher Walken
- Roma Maffia
- Peter Strauss
- Gloria Reuben
- Marsha Mason
- Miguel Nájera
- Bill Smitrovich
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Nick of Time about?
- A desperate accountant races through Los Angeles under surveillance, forced to choose between assassinating a governor and saving his kidnapped daughter.
- What is Nick of Time like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Nick of Time as breakneck, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Nick of Time violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Nick of Time as moderate.
- What did critics think of Nick of Time?
- Critics broadly found the political action-thriller premise rote and contrived, though Johnny Depp's understated performance earned some praise.
- Which films are like Nick of Time?
- Films with a similar feel include The Manchurian Candidate, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, and Arlington Road.
- How long is Nick of Time?
- Nick of Time runs 89 minutes.
- Where can I watch Nick of Time?
- In United States, Nick of Time is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
