Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- earnest
- maudlin
- 1990s action movie night
- conspiracy thriller marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the action-heavy conspiracy premise unable to generate convincing dramatic tension, while considering Bruce Willis stranded in a formulaic and maudlin story.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Art Jeffries investigates why government-linked assassins are pursuing Simon after the boy cracks a classified code.
The central action follows FBI agent Art Jeffries protecting nine-year-old Simon Lynch from assassins.
Bruce Willis plays outcast FBI agent Art Jeffries, whose unconventional investigation puts him at odds with powerful authorities.
The secret Mercury code motivates the government’s actions and makes Simon a target after he deciphers it.
Films like Mercury Rising, and why
The Siege
Shares the maverick law-enforcement protagonist, government conspiracy, child-in-peril stakes, and mainstream action-thriller formula.
Enemy of the State
Shares a protective action hero, institutional corruption, assassins, and a tense pursuit structure centered on national security.
Man on Fire
Shares a vulnerable child protected from lethal pursuers, emotionally direct drama, and conventional crime-thriller suspense.
Rain Man
Shares an autistic protagonist or central character, crime investigation, and a thriller built around exceptional cognitive ability.
Movie Details
- Director
- Harold Becker
- Release Date
- 1998-04-03
- Runtime
- 111 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (1734)
Cast
- Bruce Willis
- Alec Baldwin
- Miko Hughes
- Chi McBride
- Kim Dickens
- Robert Stanton
- Bodhi Elfman
- Carrie Preston
- Lindsey Ginter
- Peter Stormare
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 Mercury Rising about?
- An alienated FBI agent becomes the only shield between an autistic nine-year-old codebreaker and a government assassination machine.
- What is Mercury Rising like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Mercury Rising as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Mercury Rising violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Mercury Rising as moderate.
- What did critics think of Mercury Rising?
- Critics broadly found the action-heavy conspiracy premise unable to generate convincing dramatic tension, while considering Bruce Willis stranded in a formulaic and maudlin story.
- Which films are like Mercury Rising?
- Films with a similar feel include The Siege, Enemy of the State, Man on Fire, and Rain Man.
- How long is Mercury Rising?
- Mercury Rising runs 111 minutes.
- Where can I watch Mercury Rising?
- In United States, Mercury Rising is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
