In 1984, Soviet submarine captain Marko Ramius (Sean Connery) decides to break away from the military exercises in which he has been ordered to take part and sets a course straight for the American coastline. The Americans believe he is mounting a renegade attack, the Russians believe he is trying to defect, and both nations send their Navies out in pursuit. The one man who seems to have a clear grasp on the situation is C.I.A. analyst Jack Ryan (Alec Baldwin), but can he make the super-powers see sense before they risk everything in a potential catastrophic naval encounter?