Chain Reaction
A young Chicago scientist becomes a fugitive after a deadly laboratory explosion turns his revolutionary hydrogen breakthrough into a prize for covert government contractors.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- frantic
- paranoid
- propulsive
- 1990s action movie night
- science fiction thriller marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film watchable and visually accomplished but generic, confusing, and insufficiently specific as a science-driven conspiracy thriller.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Eddie and Lily's pollution-free hydrogen breakthrough attracts a secret CIA contractor seeking control of its key frequencies.
Eddie and Lily are framed for murder and sabotage before being pursued by the FBI, CIA, and private contractors.
The laboratory sabotage, experimental energy equipment, and escapes through Chicago create the film's central visual set pieces.
The film places alternative energy research inside a commercialized covert-government conspiracy and frames it through an accessible 1990s action format.
Films like Chain Reaction, and why
The Fugitive
shared man-on-the-run thriller structure, government conspiracy, and escalating pursuit
Enemy of the State
shared science-driven conspiracy, covert government interests, and paranoid action-thriller atmosphere
Sneakers
shared technology-centered conspiracy, ensemble investigation, and accessible 1990s thriller tone
Movie Details
- Director
- Andrew Davis
- Release Date
- 1996-08-02
- Runtime
- 107 min
- Rating
- 5.8 / 10 (1260)
Cast
- Keanu Reeves
- Morgan Freeman
- Rachel Weisz
- Fred Ward
- Kevin Dunn
- Brian Cox
- Joanna Cassidy
- Chelcie Ross
- Nicholas Rudall
- Tzi Ma
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- 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 Chain Reaction about?
- A young Chicago scientist becomes a fugitive after a deadly laboratory explosion turns his revolutionary hydrogen breakthrough into a prize for covert government contractors.
- What is Chain Reaction like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Chain Reaction as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Chain Reaction violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Chain Reaction as moderate.
- What did critics think of Chain Reaction?
- Critics broadly found the film watchable and visually accomplished but generic, confusing, and insufficiently specific as a science-driven conspiracy thriller.
- Which films are like Chain Reaction?
- Films with a similar feel include The Fugitive, Enemy of the State, and Sneakers.
- How long is Chain Reaction?
- Chain Reaction runs 107 minutes.
- Where can I watch Chain Reaction?
- In United States, Chain Reaction streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
