Tom Clancy’s best-selling novels have been adapted into a blockbuster film franchise, and there’s a new installment coming soon. The former insurance agent-turned-novelist who died in 2013, was known for recurring themes of espionage, Soviet operatives, military-inspired storylines, corrupt government agencies, and other makings of a gripping action film. Jack Ryan, Clancy’s biggest novel-to-film character, is a CIA analyst whose various missions have been the premise for most of the films that his books were adapted from. Ryan was also the lead of the first novel he ever sold (“The Hunt for Red October”). Several actors have taken on the role of Ryan including Harrison Ford, Alec Baldwin, Chris Pine, and, most recently, John Krasinski.
Jordan is the first Black actor to take over the role, as Clark’s character has previously been played by William Dafoe and Liev Schreiber. If you’re looking to stock up on physical copies, we put together a list of the best Blu-ray films adapted from Clancy novels. Check out the roundup below.
“The Hunt for Red October” Blu-Ray
The action-packed film, directed by John McTiernan, earned $200 million worldwide to became one of the top-grossing blockbusters of 1990.
“Patriot Games” Blu-Ray
“Patriot Games” is a sequel to “The Hunt for Red October,” but with Harrison Ford replacing Baldwin as Ryan. The action thriller, directed by Phillip Noyce, picks up with Ryan thwarting a terrorist attack while on vacation with his family in London. Ryan kills one of the terrorists in a shootout, which in turn puts a target on his back after the dead man’s brother, Sean Miller (Sean Bean), escapes from prison and vows to get revenge. After his family is targeted in the revenge plot, Ryan rejoins the CIA and sets out to find Miller.
“Clear and Present Danger” Blu-Ray
If you enjoy the premise of “Patriot Games,” then you may be interested in the sequel, “Clear and Present Danger.” Noyce returned to direct the 1994 political thriller with Ryan (Ford) becoming Acting Deputy Director of the CIA. But he soon discovers that his colleagues are involved in a covert war against Colombian drug cartels, and the White House is in on the plan. Ryan sets out to uncover who planned what, and whether the “clear and present danger” is an external, or internal threat.
“The Sum of All Fears”
Released in 2002, “The Sum of All Fears” is a prequel to the earlier films revolving around Ryan. This time around, Ben Affleck takes on the starring role of a younger Ryan on a mission to stop an impending nuclear war after Neo-Nazi scientists construct a bomb that destroys Baltimore (which is Clancy’s hometown, by the way). Affleck stars alongside Morgan Freeman, James Cromwell, and Schreiber in the spy thriller directed by Phil Alden Robinson.
Jack Ryan 5-Movie Collection Blu-Ray
To stock up on the aforementioned films, try the Jack Ryan Movie Five-Pack Blu-Ray sets featuring “The Sum of All Fears,” “Patriot Games,” “Clear and Present Danger,” “The Hunt for Red October,” and “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit,” which is an original story versus a novel adaptation like the others. In the film, Ryan uncovers a plot to crash the U.S. economy and he’s the only one who can stop it, before global chaos ensues. There’s also a four-pack film series that doesn’t include the Jack Ryan spinoff film. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
