# Jack Reacher

> 2012 film by Christopher McQuarrie

**Wikidata**: [Q590252](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q590252)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Reacher_(film))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/jack-reacher

## Summary
Jack Reacher is a 2012 American action thriller film directed by Christopher McQuarrie, based on Lee Child's novel "One Shot." The film stars Tom Cruise as the titular character, a former military police officer investigating a sniper shooting in Pittsburgh.

## Key Facts
- Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, marking his directorial debut
- Based on Lee Child's novel "One Shot" (2005)
- Stars Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher, a former military police officer
- Premiered December 21, 2012, in the United States
- Budget: $60 million
- Box office gross: $218.3 million worldwide
- Runtime: 130 minutes
- Distributed by Paramount Pictures
- Produced by Cruise/Wagner Productions and Skydance Media
- Genre: Action thriller, crime film, martial arts film
- IMDb ID: tt0790724
- Rotten Tomatoes score: 64%
- Metacritic score: 50/100
- IMDb rating: 6.3/10
- Country of origin: United States
- Followed by: "Jack Reacher: Never Go Back" (2016)

## FAQs
**Who directed Jack Reacher and what is their background?**
Christopher McQuarrie directed "Jack Reacher," marking his directorial debut. McQuarrie is best known for writing "The Usual Suspects" (1995), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

**What is the source material for the film?**
The film is based on Lee Child's 2005 novel "One Shot," which is the ninth book in the Jack Reacher series. The novel follows Reacher as he investigates a sniper shooting in Indiana.

**Who stars in the film and what role do they play?**
Tom Cruise stars as Jack Reacher, a former military police officer who becomes a drifter and investigator. Cruise also served as a producer through his company Cruise/Wagner Productions.

**What is the plot of Jack Reacher?**
The film follows Jack Reacher as he investigates a sniper shooting in Pittsburgh where five people are killed. The accused shooter claims innocence and asks for Reacher's help, leading to a complex conspiracy involving a Russian mobster.

**How was the film received by critics and audiences?**
"Jack Reacher" received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for Cruise's performance and action sequences but criticism for its pacing and violence. It holds a 64% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and grossed $218.3 million worldwide against a $60 million budget.

## Why It Matters
"Jack Reacher" matters as a successful adaptation of a popular book series that launched a film franchise. The film demonstrated Tom Cruise's ability to carry an action thriller outside his established "Mission: Impossible" series, grossing over $218 million worldwide. It also marked Christopher McQuarrie's transition from screenwriter to director, leading to his later work on multiple "Mission: Impossible" films. The movie's success helped establish the Jack Reacher character in popular culture and paved the way for a sequel, proving there was audience interest in the character beyond the book series.

## Notable For
- Tom Cruise's first major action role outside the "Mission: Impossible" franchise since "Knight and Day" (2010)
- Christopher McQuarrie's directorial debut after winning an Oscar for "The Usual Suspects" screenplay
- Successful adaptation of Lee Child's popular book series
- Grossed over $218 million worldwide against a $60 million budget
- Featured extensive practical stunts rather than CGI
- Shot primarily in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, using real locations
- Included a controversial car chase scene that took eight days to film
- Marked the beginning of a film franchise based on the Jack Reacher character

## Body

### Production and Development
"Jack Reacher" was developed by Paramount Pictures as an adaptation of Lee Child's novel "One Shot." The project was initiated by Tom Cruise, who had been a fan of the book series and saw potential in bringing the character to the screen. Christopher McQuarrie, who had previously worked with Cruise on "Valkyrie" (2008), was brought on to write and direct the film, marking his directorial debut.

The film was produced by Cruise/Wagner Productions, Tom Cruise's production company co-founded with Paula Wagner, and Skydance Media, a production company founded by David Ellison in 2006. Paramount Pictures handled distribution, leveraging their relationship with Cruise from the "Mission: Impossible" franchise.

### Casting and Characters
Tom Cruise was cast as Jack Reacher, despite some controversy among fans of the book series who felt Cruise didn't match the physical description of the character (Reacher is described as 6'5" and 250 pounds in the books, while Cruise is 5'7"). The supporting cast included Rosamund Pike as Helen Rodin, a defense attorney; Richard Jenkins as Alex Rodin, Helen's father and the district attorney; and Werner Herzog as The Zec, the main antagonist.

### Filming and Locations
Principal photography took place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from October to December 2011. The city was chosen for its diverse architecture and ability to stand in for various locations mentioned in the novel. Notable filming locations included the PNC Park baseball stadium, the Fort Pitt Tunnel, and various downtown streets. The production employed over 1,000 local crew members and extras.

The film's centerpiece is an extensive car chase sequence through Pittsburgh's streets, which took eight days to film. Unlike many modern action films, this sequence relied heavily on practical effects and real stunt driving rather than CGI.

### Release and Marketing
"Jack Reacher" premiered on December 10, 2012, in Pittsburgh, followed by a wide release on December 21, 2012, in the United States. The release date was strategically chosen to capitalize on the holiday movie season. Marketing emphasized Tom Cruise's star power and the film's action elements, with trailers focusing on the car chase and fight sequences.

The film's release was somewhat overshadowed by the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, which occurred just days before the premiere. As a result, the studio pulled the film's trailer from theaters and made some edits to the film's opening sequence.

### Critical Reception
Critical reception was mixed. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 64% rating based on 218 reviews, with the consensus stating: "Measured against other movies of its kind, Jack Reacher is an above-average crime thriller with a charismatic star." Metacritic gave it a score of 50 out of 100, indicating "mixed or average reviews."

Critics praised Cruise's performance and the film's action sequences, particularly the car chase. However, some criticized the film's pacing and the level of violence. The casting of Cruise as Reacher remained a point of contention among both critics and fans of the book series.

### Box Office Performance
"Jack Reacher" grossed $80.1 million in the United States and Canada and $138.2 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $218.3 million against a production budget of $60 million. The film performed particularly well internationally, especially in South Korea, where it grossed $12.3 million.

### Genre Classification
The film is classified under multiple genres:
- Action film: Featuring extensive fight sequences and a major car chase
- Crime film: Centers on a murder investigation and legal proceedings
- Thriller: Maintains suspense throughout the investigation
- Martial arts film: Includes hand-to-hand combat sequences influenced by martial arts

### Franchise Impact
The success of "Jack Reacher" led to a sequel, "Jack Reacher: Never Go Back" (2016), also starring Tom Cruise and directed by Edward Zwick. While the sequel underperformed at the box office compared to the original, the franchise demonstrated the viability of adapting Lee Child's book series for the screen.

### Technical Specifications
- Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
- Sound mix: Datasat, Dolby Digital, SDDS
- Cinematography: Caleb Deschanel
- Editing: Kevin Stitt
- Music: Joe Kraemer
- Production design: David Wasco
- Costume design: Susan Matheson

### Cultural Impact
"Jack Reacher" contributed to the ongoing popularity of the character in popular culture, introducing him to audiences who might not have been familiar with the book series. The film's portrayal of Reacher as a highly skilled investigator with a strong moral code helped define the character for a new generation of fans.

The movie also sparked discussions about the adaptation of literary characters to film, particularly regarding physical appearance and character interpretation. The controversy over Cruise's casting highlighted the challenges of adapting beloved book characters to the screen.

### Distribution and Home Media
The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray on May 7, 2013, by Paramount Home Media Distribution. It was also made available on various digital platforms. The home media release included behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted scenes, and commentary tracks.

### Related Entities
The film is connected to several production companies and individuals:
- Paramount Pictures: Distribution and co-financing
- Cruise/Wagner Productions: Production company owned by Tom Cruise
- Skydance Media: Co-financing and production
- Christopher McQuarrie: Director and screenwriter
- Lee Child: Author of the source novel
- Tom Cruise: Star and producer

### Classification and Cataloging
The film is classified under various systems:
- Library of Congress Classification: PN1997.2 (Feature films)
- Dewey Decimal Classification: 791.43 (Motion pictures)
- IMDb ID: tt0790724
- TMDb ID: 81188
- Rotten Tomatoes ID: jack-reacher-2012

### Awards and Nominations
While "Jack Reacher" didn't receive major award nominations, it was recognized in several technical categories and action film festivals. The film's stunt work and action choreography were particularly noted by industry professionals.

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