Saagar Kote
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, Netflix’s ‘A House of Dynamite’ deals with a sudden threat faced by the US when an unrecognized nuclear missile is launched towards its territory. Without any clue about who is behind the attack, Captain Olivia Walker (Rebecca Ferguson), along with the President of the US (Idris Elba), and others must narrow down the identity of the people behind the attack and somehow stop the missile from striking the country. As the political establishment enters crisis mode, the officers and the politicians find themselves tested by unexpected challenges and deeper mysteries.
The political thriller drama film deals with themes such as diplomacy, nuclear war, crisis resolution, and homeland security in poignant ways. General Anthony Brady (Tracy Letts), Deputy National Security Advisor Jake Baerington (Gabriel Basso), and others also face difficult situations as they try to save lives. If the suspenseful plot, the adrenaline-fueled narration, and the politics of the film impressed you, these films, similar to ‘A House of Dynamite,’ will be of interest to you.
12. Crimson Tide (1995)
In ‘Crimson Tide,’ when Russian rebels seize an ICBM base in their home country, the US establishment determines to deploy the submarine called the USS Alabama to monitor and retaliate if a missile launch occurs. After an attack affects the submarine’s radio, the crew receives a partial and unclear launch order. Captain Ramsey (Gene Hackman) insists on launching, while XO Hunter (Denzel Washington) urges waiting for a full message.
This dispute over nuclear missile control escalates into a greater crisis at the submarine, which ultimately may have greater consequences for the world. Helmed by Tony Scott, the action thriller film takes a look at fear and insecurity related to weapons of mass destruction. On the lines of ‘A House of Dynamite,’ it looks at situations where characters have to deal with a potential nuclear war and try to use their instincts to stop it.
11. Fail Safe (1964)
‘Fail Safe,’ a political thriller film, is set during the height of the Cold War, when an American bomber mistakenly receives orders to attack Moscow due to a system malfunction. Despite efforts to revoke the command, Soviet systems jam the radio, and Colonel Jack Grady (Edward Binns) proceeds with the dangerous mission, accompanied by five other planes. The American President (Henry Fonda) orders the bombers shot down, but they fail.
As the crisis seemingly goes out of the control of the US establishment, the president realizes that he may have to negotiate with the Russians in order to handle the problem. Directed by Sidney Lumet and based on the eponymous novel by Eugene Burdick and Harvey Wheeler, the film explores ideas of diplomacy, sacrifice, and the cost of war. Akin to ‘A House of Dynamite,’ it deals with an international crisis that seems to go out of the control of the government, raising the level of danger.
10. Eye in the Sky (2015)
Directed by Gavin Hood, ‘Eye in the Sky’ navigates a highly classified drone operation run from the UK by military officer Colonel Katherine Powell (Helen Mirren). She is tasked with apprehending terrorists in Kenyan territory, a mission with its own challenges. Surveillance measures and intel suggest that the terrorists may be planning to carry out a deadly attack, which could involve suicide bombing. This escalates the crisis as the UK now looks to end the lives of the targets.
The mission, which involves an American pilot, Lieutenant Steve Watts (Aaron Paul), gets more complex when a little nine-year-old girl seems to be present in the target zone for the attack. This leads to a complex situation that challenges the pilot, his country, and the officers running the mission. The British thriller film deals with profound moral issues, political questions, and the realities of war in ways similar to ‘A House of Dynamite’ and its characters.
9. Body of Lies (2008)
Directed by Ridley Scott, ‘Body of Lies’ is an action thriller that delves into themes of deception and secrecy. It follows the actions of CIA operative Roger Ferris (Leonardo DiCaprio), who collaborates with Hani Salaam (Mark Strong), the head of Jordanian security in Amman, to track down a religious figure in the region, believed to be the one behind European bombings and posing a significant threat to other parts of the world. Despite Hani’s insistence on honesty, Roger and his CIA handler, Ed Hoffman (Russell Crowe), come up with a discreet strategy to capture the cleric after Hani rejects one of Ed’s proposed plans.
As the characters become entangled in a perilous game of cat and mouse, the lines between allies and adversaries begin to blur. Based on David Ignatius’ eponymous novel, the narrative shares similarities with ‘A House of Dynamite’ due to its tense visual style, focusing on averting a crisis. Both films deal with national security, while also looking at the actions of foreign players.
8. Spy Game (2001)
‘Spy Game’ deals with the ups and downs in the life of a CIA operative named Nathan Muir (Robert Redford), when he finds himself challenged due to the unexpected and shocking arrest of his mentee, Tom Bishop (Brad Pitt), in China due to a case of spycraft. As he thinks about the past, the way he developed a bond with Tom, and the involvement of a woman in their lives, he feels the difficulty of the complex relationship. As he nears retirement in the field, he must use his expertise, experiences, intelligence, and will to save the arrested individual before it is too late. Directed by Tony Scott, the action thriller film navigates the inner workings of people handling political crises in ways resembling ‘A House of Dynamite’ and its storyline. The concept of diplomacy and risk management is also explored in the stories.
7. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
Helmed by Stanley Kubrick, ‘Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb’ deals with an international crisis. US Air Force General Jack Ripper (Sterling Hayden) gets convinced that communists are targeting Americans, which leads him to send bombing planes to destroy the Soviet Union. As President Merkin Muffley (Peter Sellers) talks to advisors, the Soviet ambassador reveals that his country has a secret machine that will be used if his territory is attacked.
At the same time, the Royal Air Force’s Group Captain Lionel Mandrake (Peter Sellers) pursues his own plan towards peace. This leads to an unprecedented crisis at the international level, where the Americans, at any cost, must figure out how to stop a potential war of mass destruction. The film is closely connected to the world of ‘A House of Dynamite’ and its characters due to its exploration of the perils of nuclear war, the difficulties of political crises, and the commentary on human nature.
6. GoldenEye (1995)
‘GoldenEye’ deals with the trials and tribulations of MI6 agent James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) as he tries to avert a major international incident. Directed by Martin Campbell, the British action thriller film follows the protagonist Bond when he finds himself in the middle of a crisis fueled by the capture of the deadly titular satellite weapon system by dangerous individuals. With tensions mounting between the UK and Russia, Bond must go to Russia and find the access codes for the dreaded weapon before it is used for destructive purposes.
He is challenged by various elements as the line between friend and foe begins to disappear. Based on the character James Bond created by Ian Fleming, the seventeenth film in the ‘James Bond’ franchise deals with spycraft at the highest level. On the lines of ‘A House of Dynamite,’ it deals with ideas of conflict resolution, the control of weapons of mass destruction, and the efforts of individuals to achieve peace.
5. Vantage Point (2008)
In ‘Vantage Point,’ directed by Pete Travis, various characters relive their experiences through different perspectives. The central element of the narrative is the assassination of the American President Henry Ashton (William Hurt) by unknown assailants. While addressing a huge crowd in Spain, the president is shot, leading to chaos. The events preceding the shooting and the aftermath of it are told from the perspectives of various characters, including secret service agent Thomas Barnes (Dennis Quaid), a tourist named Howard Lewis (Forest Whitaker), and others. As the points of view converge, a greater mystery might reveal itself. The machinations of international incidents, the threat of violence, and the intrigues of officials are navigated in the political action thriller film, akin to ‘A House of Dynamite’ and its complex events.
4. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)
‘Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol’ chronicles the adventures of IMF agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), as he tries to save the world from a dangerous nuclear threat. Helmed by Brad Bird, the action thriller film deals with the challenges faced by the agent as he deals with the aftermath of an incident at the Kremlin. With the help of his team of fellow agents, he must traverse the globe and encounter deadly threats before dangerous individuals cause international chaos. Based on Bruce Geller’s TV series ‘Mission: Impossible,’ the fourth film in the eponymous (name of the TV series) franchise explores themes of courage and skill. Like ‘A House of Dynamite,’ it features characters fighting against the odds to avert conflict, while also commenting on the reality of nuclear threats at the global level.
3. Unthinkable (2010)
In ‘Unthinkable,’ a thriller film, FBI Agent Helen Brody (Carrie-Anne Moss) and the Counter-Terrorism Unit suspect Henry Humphries (Samuel L. Jackson) of terrorism, but discover his CIA ties. They collaborate with him to interrogate Steven Arthur Younger (Michael Sheen), who has seemingly planted three nuclear bombs set to detonate. When it becomes difficult to get any clues, Henry realizes that he may have to go beyond his usual methods to achieve his goal, which leads to Helen’s objection.
However, the situation gets more complicated when the suspect begins to make huge demands that may have international consequences and affect the relations between countries. Directed by Gregor Jordan, the narrative shares similarities with ‘A House of Dynamite’ due to its portrayal of nuclear politics and the lengths that people have to go to in order to prevent conflict. The visual elements of the narratives also establish a spiritual connection between them.
2. The Peacemaker (1997)
‘The Peacemaker’ deals with the aftermath of an incident in Russia, where two trains collide. However, one of the trains is revealed to be transporting a nuclear payload, which leads to disaster. The event leads to global chaos as the fallout of a nuclear incident could be deadly. This brings the crisis to the minds of Dr. Julia Kelly (Nicole Kidman), a White House nuclear expert, and Colonel Thomas Devoe (George Clooney), a Special Operations Intelligence Officer, both of whom believe that the accident was deliberately caused by someone dangerous.
In order to get to the truth and prevent further problems at the international level, the two must traverse Europe and America in the political action thriller film. Based on the book ‘One Point Safe’ by Andrew and Leslie Cockburn, the film explores the threats of nuclear war. The difficulties of diplomacy, the threat of conflict, and the presence of obsessed characters trying to achieve their mission connect the film directed by Mimi Leder to ‘A House of Dynamite’ and its characters.
1. The Sum of All Fears (2002)
Based on Tom Clancy’s eponymous novel, ‘The Sum of All Fears’ is a thriller film exploring the actions of CIA analyst Jack Ryan (Ben Affleck). Directed by Phil Alden Robinson, the narrative navigates a scenario where Jack must push beyond his limits in order to prevent the execution of plans designed by someone with Neo-Nazi affiliations. As the dangerous individual tries to create a conflict between the US and Russia through a nuclear explosion at a football game in Maryland, it is up to the analyst to deter the threat and ensure the safety of the people.
Hired by the CIA Director Bill Cabot (Morgan Freeman), the protagonist deals with the complexities of the problem while facing unexpected challenges. Like ‘A House of Dynamite,’ it deals directly with the possibility of a nuclear strike on American soil. Both stories deal with the relentless efforts of courageous individuals who must risk it all to protect their country.
