Product Details

• Actors: Sidney Poitier, River Phoenix, Richard Jenkins, Caroline Kava, Richard Bradford
• Directors: Richard Benjamin
• Writers: Bo Goldman, John Hill, Terry Schwartz, Tom Musca
• Producers: Art Levinson, Gail Mutrux, Harry Gittes
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Sony Pictures
• VHS Release Date: June 24, 1994
• Run Time: 98 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0800104846
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #291,968 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The same year that River Phoenix made Running on Empty, in which he played the son of '60s radicals on the run from the law and hiding in plain sight, he also made this film, which is even less interesting than the vastly overrated Running. And, in this one, he plays a kid whose parents are, in fact, deep-cover Soviet moles (oops, the Berlin Wall is coming down--bad timing there) who are about to be brought to the surface. But Sonny Boy is being indoctrinated by a kindly FBI agent (Sidney Poitier)--and is torn between battling those dirty Commies and helping them because those dirty Commies are Mom and Dad. As silly as it sounds, building to an ersatz action finale. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty Good, May 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Little Nikita [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Don't listen to that screwed-up review above. This movie has plenty of suspense, tense moments, and fine performances, especially by River Phoenix and Sidney Portier. You'll love it.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice Cold War Story, March 13, 2006

By 

Glenn M. Schoditsch (Richmond, Virginia USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Little Nikita (DVD)

Good story of a San Diego FBI agent in pursuit of a Soviet agent who is killing off Soviet "sleeper cells". There's good interaction between Agent Roy Parmenter and high schooler Jeff Grant whose parents are "sleepers". Great suspense as Roy and Jeff and parents play a cat and mouse game with the Soviet assassin. This is one of the last "true era" cold war movies to be made.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Diamond in the Rough, January 10, 2010

By 

Glen Neal (Sayre, Oklahoma) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Little Nikita (DVD)

Before River Phoenix's untimely drug overdose death in 1993, he had made several great films including Stand By Me and My Private Idaho. While this film is not considered one of his best, I think it's a great '80s film that showcases his talents very well. In this story Jeff (Little Nikita) must come to grips with the fact that his parents are Russian spies, who have been laying low all these years waiting for their call to duty. When it finally comes, his parents have no interest anymore in the spy business and refuse to be activated. Jeff is kidnapped by a Russian spy and the chase is on by his parents and the FBI to get him back safe. Sidney Poitier plays a convincing FBI agent. This movie would no doubt be enjoyed more by older people who grew up during the cold war.