Year: 1995
Runtime: 89 mins
Language: English
Director: John Badham
Ninety minutes. Six bullets. No choice. An ordinary man is suddenly forced into a plot to kill a politician in exchange for his kidnapped daughter’s freedom.
Get a spoiler-free look at Nick of Time (1995) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.
In the bustling heart of Los Angeles, a commuter crowd swarms through Union Station, the clatter of footsteps and the hum of announcements painting a portrait of ordinary urban rhythm. Amid the flow of strangers, Gene Watson—a mild‑mannered accountant whose life is measured in spreadsheets and punctuality—travels with his young daughter, Lynn Watson, to a simple family outing. Their world is one of predictable schedules, quiet cafés, and the steady pulse of a city that never quite stops moving.
That ordinary day is shattered when an unseen threat forces Gene into an impossible bargain: to spare his daughter, he must become an instrument in a plot against a powerful political figure. The clock begins to tick, five bullets and a looming deadline turning a routine trip into a high‑stakes race against time. The stakes are personal and relentless, thrusting a father who has never imagined violence into a maze of coercion and moral peril.
The film’s tone is taut and relentless, a pulse‑quickening thriller that filters the bright Los Angeles glare through a lens of shadows and urgency. It balances the stark realities of a father’s protective instinct with the cold mechanics of a political conspiracy, letting the audience feel the weight of each second that slips by. The atmosphere is dense with tension, the city’s sprawling architecture becoming both a labyrinth and a pressure cooker for the desperate choices ahead.
Through Gene’s reluctant plunge into this covert world, the story explores how an ordinary man confronts forces far beyond his control, testing the limits of his resolve, his love for Lynn, and his capacity to navigate a perilous game where every moment could be his last.
Last Updated: October 27, 2025 at 16:41
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.
Stories that unfold in a single, frantic race against the clock.If you liked the ticking-clock tension of Nick of Time, you'll enjoy these movies where the entire story unfolds in a frantic, real-time race. Discover similar high-stakes thrillers that lock you into a non-stop countdown to a critical deadline.
The narrative pattern is defined by a compressed timeline, often matching the film's runtime. The plot is linear and driven by an urgent, external deadline, creating a domino effect of escalating problems that characters must solve with no time for deliberation.
These movies are grouped by their shared structural device of real-time storytelling, which inherently creates a fast pace, high intensity, and a tense, anxious mood. They deliver a specific, nerve-wracking viewing experience centered on immediate survival.
When regular lives are shattered by violent, high-stakes conspiracies.Find more movies like Nick of Time where an ordinary person is forced to become a hero. These similar thrillers feature regular people facing extreme danger, often driven by the need to protect loved ones from powerful, conspiratorial forces.
The journey follows a protagonist with no special training or resources who is targeted by a sinister plot. Their arc is one of forced adaptation, driven by a powerful personal stake, typically the safety of a child or family member. They must navigate a corrupt world using courage and ingenuity rather than skill.
They share the compelling core concept of an 'everyman' protagonist, which heightens the relatability and emotional weight of the threat. The central theme of familial protection against overwhelming odds creates a powerful, universally understood motivation that drives the tense narrative.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Nick of Time 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 Nick of Time is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Read a complete plot summary of Nick of Time, 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.
Track the full timeline of Nick of Time with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Nick of Time. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Nick of Time: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like Nick of Time 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.
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