The Fourth Protocol
“If the Fourth Protocol is ever breached, there would be no warning, just a nuclear explosion from a bedsitter... The unthinkable has just begun.”
Synopsis
Led by Kim Philby, Plan Aurora is a plan that breaches the top-secret Fourth Protocol and turns the fears that shaped it into a living nightmare. A crack Soviet agent, placed under cover in a quiet English country town, begins to assemble a nuclear bomb, whilst an MI5 agent attempts to prevent its detonation.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Vintage TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2025-09-02
Top Cast
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Michael Caine
John Preston
Pierce Brosnan
Valeri Petrofsky / James Edward Ross
Ned Beatty
Borisov
Joanna Cassidy
Irina Vassilievna
Julian Glover
Brian Harcourt-Smith
Michael Gough
Sir Bernard Hemmings
Ray McAnally
General Karpov
Ian Richardson
Sir Nigel Irvine
Anton Rodgers
George Berenson
Caroline Blakiston
Angela Berenson
Betsy Brantley
Eileen McWirther
Matt Frewer
Tom
Matthew Marsh
Barry Banks
Ronald Pickup
Wynne-Evans
Philip Jackson
Burkinshaw
Sean Chapman
Captain Lyndhurst
Joseph Brady
Carmichael
Jerry Harte
Prof. Krilov
Release History & Theatrical Window
August 28, 1987
Wide Cinema Exhibition
September 7, 1987
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$6M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$12.4M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
2.07x
+$6.4M net gain
Theatrical Status
Profitable
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- John Mackenzie
- Screenplay & Story
- Frederick Forsyth
- Original Score
- Lalo Schifrin
- Original Title
- The Fourth Protocol
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 59m
- Production Budget
- $6M
- Worldwide Gross
- $12.4M
- Production Studios
- The Rank Organisation
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
John Mackenzie
Frederick Forsyth, George Axelrod
Lalo Schifrin
Phil Meheux
Graham Walker
Frederick Forsyth, Timothy Burrill, Michael Caine, Wafic Said
Department Leadership Roster
Phil Meheux
Director of Photography
Lalo Schifrin
Original Music Composer
John Mackenzie
Director
Timothy Burrill
Producer
Allan Cameron
Production Design
Frederick Forsyth
Screenplay
Graham Walker
Editor
Eddie Stacey
Stunt Coordinator
Tiny Nicholls
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Fourth Protocol.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Fourth Protocol
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Fourth Protocol about?
Led by Kim Philby, Plan Aurora is a plan that breaches the top-secret Fourth Protocol and turns the fears that shaped it into a living nightmare. A crack Soviet agent, placed under cover in a quiet English country town, begins to assemble a nuclear bomb, whilst an MI5 agent attempts to prevent its detonation.
Who directed The Fourth Protocol?
The Fourth Protocol was directed by John Mackenzie.
Who stars in The Fourth Protocol?
The principal cast of The Fourth Protocol includes Michael Caine, Pierce Brosnan, Ned Beatty, Joanna Cassidy, Julian Glover.
When was The Fourth Protocol released and how long is it?
The Fourth Protocol was released in 1987 with a total runtime of 1h 59m.
What was the box office and production budget of The Fourth Protocol?
The Fourth Protocol had a reported production budget of $6M and grossed $12.4M at the worldwide box office (2.07 return on budget, classified as a commercial hit).
Who composed the musical score for The Fourth Protocol?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Fourth Protocol was composed by Lalo Schifrin.
Is The Fourth Protocol based on a book or true story?
The Fourth Protocol is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Frederick Forsyth".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Fourth Protocol?
The Fourth Protocol holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.).