# Under Siege

> 1992 film by Andrew Davis

**Wikidata**: [Q385798](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q385798)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Under_Siege)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/under-siege

## Summary

Under Siege is an action film, a thriller film, and a pirate film [1].

## Summary
Under Siege is a 1992 American action thriller film directed by Andrew Davis and starring Steven Seagal. The film follows a former Navy SEAL who must stop a group of terrorists who have taken over a U.S. Navy battleship.

## Key Facts
- Released in 1992, directed by Andrew Davis
- Stars Steven Seagal as Casey Ryback, a former Navy SEAL
- Features Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Busey as antagonists
- Set aboard the USS Missouri battleship
- Genre: action thriller
- Production companies: Regency Enterprises, StudioCanal
- Country of origin: United States
- IMDb ID: tt0105690
- Rotten Tomatoes score: 83%
- Metacritic score: 58/100
- Box office gross: $156,563,139 worldwide
- Runtime: 98 minutes
- Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
- Sound mix: DTS, Dolby
- Language: English
- Wikipedia sitelink count: 38

## FAQs
**What is the plot of Under Siege?**
The film centers on Casey Ryback, a former Navy SEAL turned cook aboard the USS Missouri, who must thwart a group of mercenaries led by a rogue CIA operative and a turncoat officer who have seized control of the battleship to steal its nuclear warheads.

**Who are the main cast members?**
Steven Seagal stars as Casey Ryback, with Tommy Lee Jones playing the main antagonist William Strannix and Gary Busey as Commander Krill. Supporting roles include Erika Eleniak as Jordan Tate and Patrick O'Neal as Captain Adams.

**What makes Under Siege significant in the action genre?**
Under Siege is notable for combining the confined setting of a battleship with high-stakes action sequences, creating a "Die Hard on a battleship" scenario. It was one of Steven Seagal's most commercially successful films and helped establish the "terrorists take over a confined space" formula popular in 1990s action cinema.

**How was the film received by critics and audiences?**
The film received generally positive reviews, with praise for its action sequences, pacing, and performances, particularly Tommy Lee Jones's portrayal of the villain. It holds an 83% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was a commercial success, grossing over $156 million worldwide against a $35 million budget.

## Why It Matters
Under Siege represents a high point in 1990s action cinema, successfully blending military authenticity with Hollywood spectacle. The film's setting aboard a real battleship (USS Missouri) added production value and realism rarely seen in the genre. It demonstrated that action films could achieve both commercial success and critical respectability when combining strong direction, memorable villains, and practical effects. The movie's formula influenced subsequent action films and helped establish Steven Seagal as a major action star of the era, while also showcasing Tommy Lee Jones in one of his most memorable villainous roles.

## Notable For
- One of the highest-grossing films of Steven Seagal's career
- Featured extensive filming on the actual USS Missouri battleship
- Tommy Lee Jones's critically acclaimed performance as the villain
- Successful blend of military authenticity and Hollywood action
- Influenced the "confined space action thriller" subgenre
- Strong box office performance relative to its $35 million budget
- Helped establish the "terrorists on a ship" action formula
- Featured practical effects and real military hardware
- One of the few action films of the era to achieve both commercial and critical success

## Body

### Production and Development
Under Siege was produced by Regency Enterprises and StudioCanal, with Andrew Davis directing from a screenplay by J.F. Lawton. The film was shot primarily on location aboard the USS Missouri, which added significant production value and authenticity to the military setting. The production budget was approximately $35 million, which was substantial for an action film of that era.

### Cast and Characters
Steven Seagal stars as Casey Ryback, a former Navy SEAL who now works as a cook on the USS Missouri. Tommy Lee Jones plays William Strannix, a former CIA operative turned mercenary who leads the terrorist takeover. Gary Busey portrays Commander Krill, the ship's executive officer who betrays his crew to join the terrorists. Erika Eleniak appears as Jordan Tate, a former Playmate who becomes an unlikely ally to Ryback during the crisis.

### Setting and Authenticity
The film's primary setting aboard the USS Missouri battleship provides a unique and confined environment for the action sequences. The production team was granted access to film on the actual battleship, which was decommissioned in 1992 but still retained much of its original equipment and layout. This access allowed for realistic depictions of naval operations and the ship's interior spaces, from the galley to the weapons systems.

### Action Sequences and Stunts
Under Siege features numerous practical action sequences, including hand-to-hand combat, gun battles, and large-scale explosions. The film's climax involves the detonation of the ship's weapons magazine, which was achieved through a combination of practical effects and controlled explosions on the actual battleship. The confined setting of the ship creates a sense of claustrophobia and intensity throughout the action scenes.

### Critical Reception
Upon release, Under Siege received generally positive reviews from critics who praised its pacing, action sequences, and performances. The film holds a 83% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 46 reviews, with an average rating of 6.8/10. Critics particularly noted Tommy Lee Jones's performance as the charismatic villain, with many considering it one of his most memorable roles. The film's blend of military authenticity with Hollywood action was also widely praised.

### Commercial Performance
Under Siege was a significant commercial success, grossing $156,563,139 worldwide against its $35 million production budget. The film performed particularly well in international markets, helping to establish Steven Seagal as a global action star. Its success led to a sequel, Under Siege 2: Dark Territory, released in 1995.

### Genre and Influence
The film is often categorized as an action thriller and is frequently compared to Die Hard due to its "one man against terrorists in a confined space" premise. However, Under Siege distinguishes itself through its naval setting and military focus. The film's success helped popularize the "terrorists take over a ship/building" formula that became common in 1990s action cinema.

### Technical Specifications
The film has a runtime of 98 minutes and was shot in color with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The sound mix includes DTS and Dolby formats, enhancing the impact of the action sequences and explosions. The cinematography by Frank Tidy captures both the grandeur of the battleship and the intensity of the close-quarters combat.

### Cultural Impact
Under Siege has maintained a cult following since its release and is often cited as one of the better examples of 1990s action cinema. The film's memorable quotes, particularly from Tommy Lee Jones's character, have become part of action movie lexicon. Its success also demonstrated that action films could achieve both commercial viability and critical respectability when executed with skill and attention to detail.

### Related Works
The film spawned one theatrical sequel, Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995), which moved the action to a train rather than a ship. While the sequel was less successful both critically and commercially, it maintained the formula established by the original film. The original Under Siege remains the more highly regarded entry in the series.

### Distribution and Home Media
Under Siege has been released on various home media formats since its theatrical run, including VHS, DVD, and Blu-ray. The film's availability on these formats has helped maintain its popularity and accessibility to new audiences over the decades since its initial release.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105690/)
2. [Source](http://stopklatka.pl/film/liberator)
3. [Source](http://www.filmaffinity.com/es/film286997.html)
4. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105690/fullcredits)
5. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
6. The Movie Database
7. Under Siege. Rotten Tomatoes
8. [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105690/releaseinfo)
9. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
10. Terjesztésre kerülő filmalkotások és artfilmek nyilvántartása
11. Kinopoisk
12. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/under-siege/)
13. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/under-siege-sbs-versie/)
14. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/under-siege-12-jaar-versie/)
15. AlloCiné
16. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
17. film distribution certificate
18. Cineplex
19. Online-Filmdatenbank
20. mymovies.it
21. [Source](https://ui.eidr.org/view/content?id=10.5240/674E-326E-C86F-88EC-5522-C)
22. Danish Film Database
23. TheTVDB
24. Trakt.tv
25. FilmVandaag.nl