Summary
One of the most famous fictional espionage agents of all time, Jack Ryan is legendary novelist Tom Clancy’s most celebrated character. The wildfire success of Clancy’s"Ryanverse"novel series spawned multiple films and a television series based on the author’s characters, with his leading man brought to life by no less than five separate actors since the first live-action installment featuring Ryan debuted in 1990.
As with all charactersportrayed by multiple actors, an established pecking order has emerged over time. While each performer brought their own unique traits and brands of personality to this enduring and charismatic character, some performances have aged with decidedly more grace than others.
5Ben Affleck
The Sum of All Fears
An ambitious reboot of the franchise following Harrison Ford and Alec Baldwin’s acclaimed turns, 2002’sA Sum of All Fearsbears the ignominious distinction of being the weakest Jack Ryan live-action offering; a state of affairs due in no small part to Ben Affleck’s thoroughly disappointing performance as Tom Clancy’s leading man. This may come as somewhat of a surprise givenAffleck’s reputation as an accomplished leading manas of 2024, but rewind twenty years, and he simply didn’t possess the dramatic chops necessary to turn this outing into a success.
Portraying Ryan as he attempts to track down the perpetrator of a nuclear explosion on American soil, Affleck failed to exude the requisite poise that his predecessors had imbued the character with. The American attempted to build on what some critics had deemed a dated take on Clancy’s original version of Ryan by making the character more relatable for contemporary audiences but ended up regressing in practically every other sense.
4Chris Pine
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
Stepping into Ryan’s boots for the only film featuring the character that is not actually based on a Tom Clancy novel, Chris Pine seemed like the perfect choice to take the reins for 2014’sJack Ryan: Shadow Recruit. The American had established himself as a bona fide action star with his performances as Captain James T. Kirk in theStar Trekreboot film series, lending credibility and star power to the latest film version of Clancy’s iconic character.
While the action-laden Kenneth Branagh movie itself is a prime case study of wasted potential, Pine is excellent in his single performance in the role. Counterbalancing his portrayal of Jack Ryan as a rugged action hero with a convincing level of intellect appropriate for the character, theformerWonder Womanstar carries the film with his slick and polished performance, aided by his impressive chemistry with co-star Keira Knightley.
3Alec Baldwin
The Hunt for Red October
The man charged with bringing the first version of Jack Ryan to life on the silver screen, Alec Baldwin’s assured performance as the CIA analyst is often overshadowed by the stunning quality of the film he starred in.The Hunt for Red Octoberwas critically acclaimed and is regarded as one of the finest thrillers of the 1990s, due in no small part to a magnificent turn from the late, greatSean Conneryas a rogue Soviet submarine captain.
Capturing Ryan’s trademark wit and courage with aplomb against the backdrop of a legitimately superb movie, Baldwin provided the foundations upon which all future success in bringing Ryan to life would be based. Despite being overshadowed by Connery’s powerhouse performance at times, it’s legitimately surprising that the decision was made to replace theMission Impossiblestar given the strength of his layered and convincing bow as Ryan.
2John Krasinski
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan
When comedy mockumentaryThe Officecame to a close in 2013, the idea of everybody’s favorite mild-mannered paper salesman eventually stepping into the role of one of the most iconic thriller characters of all time would have seemed even more laughable than the antics typically associated with Michael Scott. However, not only did John Krasinski do exactly that, he turned in one of the finest and most enduring takes on the character ever seen.
The star and director ofA Quiet Placeis superb in his bow as Ryan in Amazon Prime’s television seriesTom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, effortlessly modernizing the character and adding nuances to Ryan that audiences had never seen before. Not only is he utterly believable in the series' riveting action set pieces, Krasinski’s fiercely intellectual take on Ryan produces an intensely relatable version of the character that every viewer wants to root for, blending a strong moral code with a charismatic and grounded personality.
1Harrison Ford
Patriot Games & Clear and Present Danger
There can only be one when it comes to the finest portrayal of Jack Ryan, and that honor is reserved for cinema action iconHarrison Ford. The only actor to play the character in more than one film, Ford’s performances as Ryan in 1992’sPatriot Gamesand 1994’sClear and Present Dangerestablished him as the most beloved and celebrated live-action version of the character; a status quo that has stood the test of time to this day.
Ford’s influence is obvious in John Krasinski’s superb take on Ryan, but there’s nothing quite like the original. Reimagining Alec Baldwin’s initial depiction of the character, Ford breathed life into one of cinema’s most enduring protagonists, bringing every aspect of his charge to life in an endlessly gripping fashion. He’s as convincing as a CIA operative gunning down a terrorist as he is a loving father, lending gravitas and compelling legitimacy to one of theIndiana Jonesstar’s finest characters.
