Must-Watch Action Movie: Ronin (1998)

In a genre dominated by muscle-bound heroes and explosive shootouts, Ronin stands apart as a sharp, cerebral, and stylish action thriller that trades brute force for strategy, suspense, and some of the greatest car chases ever filmed. Directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Robert De Niro, this is one of the most underrated action films of the 1990s, and a masterclass in practical stunt work and cool, calculated tension.

What’s It About?

Set in post-Cold War Europe, Ronin follows a group of former intelligence operatives—now freelancers—hired by a mysterious Irish handler to steal a heavily guarded briefcase. No one knows what’s inside, but everyone is willing to kill for it.

Robert De Niro plays Sam, an ex-CIA agent with sharp instincts and a sharper aim. Alongside him is an elite crew of mercenaries, including Jean Reno, Natascha McElhone, Sean Bean, and Stellan Skarsgård. As alliances fray and betrayals stack up, the team is drawn into a deadly game of double-crosses, cold-war paranoia, and morally grey survival.

Why It’s a Must-Watch

Legendary Car Chases

This film is most famous for its staggering car chases through the tight streets of Nice and Paris:

No CGI.

No green screens.

Just real stunt drivers, screaming engines, and close-quarters chaos.

Each chase is beautifully shot, tightly edited, and choreographed with deadly precision. These sequences raised the bar for all car chases that followed.

If you’re a fan of The Bourne Identity, this film laid much of the groundwork for that kind of espionage thriller—grounded, smart, and suspenseful without ever needing to sacrifice action.

De Niro brings understated cool and lethal precision to the role of Sam. He’s not flashy—but when the moment comes, he’s always two steps ahead. His calm intensity anchors the film and gives it an air of grounded menace.

Ronin doesn’t just entertain—it respects the audience’s intelligence. Dialogue is minimal, but loaded with tension. The cinematography is slick but unobtrusive. Every move, every ambush, every shootout is planned, technical, and believable.

Why You Should Revisit It

The car chases are still unbeaten, even by today’s standards.

It’s one of the most realistic depictions of tactical gunplay and ambushes in a non-military film.

The cast is phenomenal, and the performances are subtle and emotionally rich.

It’s a thinking person’s action film—no quips, no superheroes, just professionals in a dangerous, dirty game.

The ending leaves you with just enough mystery to make it stick in your head.

Ronin is a masterpiece of mature, methodical action storytelling. It’s a film that doesn’t scream for your attention—it earns it. For fans of espionage, real-world tactics, and masterful car stunts, this is essential viewing.

It’s not about the briefcase. It’s about who’s left standing after the bullets stop flying.