Little Nikita

An FBI agent is sent to study an ordinary suburban family, convinced they are hiding Soviet sleeper operatives. As the investigation deepens, the agent finds himself drawn into the quiet life of the Grants and their grounded teenagers. The case tests his assumptions about loyalty and identity, pushing him to weigh his professional duties against a growing uneasy friendship with Jeff, the Grant boy who seems oblivious to the danger surrounding him. The real danger remains off screen for long stretches, and the film builds tension through whispered conversations, late night drives, and looks that say more than words. The lines between lawman and neighbor blur, and the pressure to act comes from both duty and concern.

Directed by Richard Benjamin, Little Nikita was brought to life from a screenplay by Bo Goldman, John Hill and Tom Musca. The 1988 thriller blends a police procedural mood with a tense family drama, anchored by strong performances.

River Phoenix delivers an early breakout turn opposite veteran Sidney Poitier, underscoring the film's tense pull between innocence and espionage. Little Nikita is noted for its uneasy take on suburban life amid Cold War fears and for letting a teenager bear the weight of danger.

Most critics praised the performances and the steady mood, even as some calls it uneven in parts. The film delves into loyalty and duty, showing how an undercover operation can blur lines between work and family and test ordinary trust.