It may not have been a blockbuster hit back in 2018, but there are countless film enthusiasts who sing the praises of an action thriller featuring one of the biggest acting talents from the UK.

Adapted from the novel Firing Point by Don Keith and George Wallace, Hunter Killer features Gerard Butler and Gary Oldman, and is on Film 4 tonight (Thursday). It centres on a team of United States Navy SEALS and a submarine crew attempting to rescue the Russian president following his abduction during a clandestine military coup.

Critical reception was divided upon release, with assessments varying from calling it a “muddled, disjointed non-thriller” to commending it as an “old-fashioned action thriller” where the “pace never flags”. Nevertheless, devotees of the picture insist the critics have got it completely wrong.

The narrative unfolds primarily beneath the waves as Commander Joe Glass (Butler) is assigned to locate a US sub that has disappeared without a trace while monitoring a Russian vessel.

Meanwhile, the action shifts to dry land with the Navy SEALS unit, which, whilst on a classified operation, observes a coup and the abduction of the Russian president. Both teams must pull out all the stops to discover who is orchestrating the potential outbreak of war.

Admirers of the film struggled to comprehend the widespread criticism and voiced their opinions on Rotten Tomatoes.

One commented: “Primo movie. Most of the reviewers obviously have their heads where the sun doesn’t shine!”

Another was pleasantly surprised and criticised reviewers for their negative assessments: “This was a superb movie in every way. Suspense, feel-good ending… what’s not to like? I’ll tell you what – critics who give movies like The Substance a better rating than Hunter Killer…. you and people who respect your terrible opinions on films, are what’s wrong with the world?”

A third concurred: “It is very misleading by the critics to condemn a perfectly good naval adventure by overly critical and tiring rhetoric trying to be ‘the most amazing critical analysis’. Everyone always forgets…. sometimes it’s just an entertaining story. Don’t overthink it,” they advised.

“Good movie, better than I expected,” another posted. “Gerard Butler is always good and does a fine job here. I’m not a very big fan of submarine movies, but I found this one to be suspenseful all the way through. Thumbs up.”