Nick of Time

Nick of Time

Year: 1995

Runtime: 89 mins

Language: English

Director: John Badham

ActionThrillerCrime

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.

Nick of Time (1995) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

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

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Real-time thrillers like Nick of Time

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.

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Narrative Summary

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.

Why These Movies?

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.

Ordinary person thrillers like Nick of Time

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.

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Narrative Summary

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.

Why These Movies?

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.

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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.

Nick of Time Summary

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Nick of Time Summary

Nick of Time Timeline

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Nick of Time Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Nick of Time

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Nick of Time

More About Nick of Time

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