Crackerjack

Crackerjack

Year: 1994

Runtime: 96 mins

Language: English

Director: Michael Mazo

ActionThriller

When a $50 million heist erupts at a snowy mountain resort, the robbery turns into a hostage crisis. A down‑on‑his‑luck police officer, vacationing at the ski lodge, becomes the only one who can confront the violent criminals, protect the guests, and stop the theft.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Crackerjack yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Crackerjack (1994)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Crackerjack (1994). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Chicago, Rocky Mountains Resort

The story unfolds across two settings: the bustling urban backdrop of Chicago where Jack's past haunts him, and the remote Rocky Mountains resort perched high above a glacier. The isolated resort creates a claustrophobic environment where guests are cut off, heightening the tension. The glossy hotel and surrounding snowbound terrain become as much a character as the people, shaping the danger and the choices characters make.

🏙️ Urban 🏔️ Mountainous ❄️ Snowy

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:34

Main Characters – Crackerjack (1994)

Meet the key characters of Crackerjack (1994), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Jack Wild (Thomas Ian Griffith)

Jack Wild is a Chicago police officer grappling with post-traumatic stress after his family’s murder. Nicknamed Crackerjack for his reckless determination, he relentlessly pursues Getz’s operations, often acting as a reluctant protector of others in a crisis.

🔥 Hero 🛡️ Protector

Oliver Green (Frank C. Turner)

Oliver Green is an Ice scientist kidnapped by terrorists and forced to plant bombs. He reveals the impending avalanche and helps illuminate the plot, acting as a reluctant insider who provides crucial information to prevent catastrophe.

🧊 Scientist 💥 Survive

Ivan Getz (Christopher Plummer)

Ivan Getz is the mastermind terrorist plotting to extort diamonds to fund a world-dominating army. He exudes controlled menace, orchestrating a kidnapping, a volatile confrontation, and a dramatic finale.

🎭 Villain 🗡️ Mastermind

Katia 'K.C.' Koslovska (Nastassja Kinski)

Katia Koslovska, known as KC, is the resort’s activities coordinator who becomes entangled with Jack. She offers a human touch amid chaos and evolves into a potential ally for him.

💃 Ally 🤝 Partner

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:34

Major Themes – Crackerjack (1994)

Explore the central themes of Crackerjack (1994), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧭 Survival

A traumatized cop fights to survive more than just weaponized danger; he also battles the memory of his family's murder. He navigates a perilous, controlled environment where every decision could end in life or death. The resort siege tests his discipline, instincts, and willingness to put others first, pushing him toward a reckoning with his PTSD.

🎯 Confrontation

The closed setting of the resort becomes a battleground where power, loyalty, and gritty tenacity collide. Characters are forced to outmaneuver enemies and each other under constant threat. The escalating confrontation reveals who can be trusted and who will sacrifice everything to secure control.

💎 Greed

Diamonds serve as the driving motive for the antagonists, revealing how wealth pursuit can justify violence. The pursuit of riches pulls the cast into a dangerous web that spans from the glacier to a bomb-laced hotel. The film uses this greed to critique power fantasies and the ease with which people abandon morality for profit.

🛡️ Heroism

Ordinary people rise to the occasion to protect others, risking their lives to thwart a catastrophic attack. Acts of courage emerge amidst chaos, from last-minute rescues to selfless sacrifice. The story ultimately champions resilience and the possibility of redemption even in a brutal confrontation.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:34

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Claustrophobic siege thrillers like Crackerjack

High-stakes survival stories where heroes are trapped with violent enemies.If you liked the tense hostage crisis in Crackerjack, you'll find similar high-stakes survival in these movies. This collection features films about characters trapped in isolated locations, facing down terrorists or criminals in a desperate fight for their lives, perfect for fans of intense, confined action.

claustrophobictenseanxiousdesperatethrillingresilienthigh-stakes

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves an isolated group or individual being besieged by a well-armed, hostile force in a confined space like a building, vehicle, or remote outpost. The story follows their desperate attempts to fortify, outsmart, and ultimately survive the attackers against seemingly impossible odds.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared high-intensity, claustrophobic mood, fast pacing driven by immediate danger, and the central plot of a siege. They deliver a consistent experience of anxiety and resilience under extreme pressure.

Movies with traumatized heroes like the cop in Crackerjack

Flawed heroes facing a crisis that forces them to confront their past.For viewers who appreciated the emotional depth of Crackerjack's protagonist, this thread gathers movies featuring heroes grappling with PTSD or grief who find purpose in a crisis. These films blend heavy emotional weight with action, showing characters earning redemption through protective acts.

grittytraumaticredemptiveresilientheavybroodingprotective

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a character whose past suffering has left them broken or cynical. A new, urgent crisis forces them to re-engage with the world, often by becoming an unlikely protector. Their internal struggle with trauma parallels the external conflict, leading to a victory that is emotionally costly but morally restorative.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their focus on a specific character archetype: the wounded protector. They share a heavy emotional weight, a theme of redemption, and a bittersweet tone where saving the day comes with personal sacrifice and acknowledgement of lasting scars.

Unlock the Full Story of Crackerjack

Don't stop at just watching — explore Crackerjack in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Crackerjack is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Crackerjack Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Crackerjack, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Crackerjack Summary

Crackerjack Timeline

Track the full timeline of Crackerjack with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Crackerjack Timeline

Crackerjack Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Crackerjack that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Crackerjack Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Crackerjack

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Crackerjack: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Crackerjack

Similar Movies to Crackerjack

Discover movies like Crackerjack that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.