Skip to main content
Games Radar Newsarama Total Film Edge Retro Gamer
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The smarter take on movies
UK EditionUK US EditionUS CA EditionCanada AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
Subscribe now
Don't miss these
Next James Bond
Action Movies Next James Bond: The 27 actors who could replace Daniel Craig as the new 007
Ralph Fiennes as Dr. Kelson in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Horror Movies 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple release date, cast, trailer, and everything else we know about the zombie horror sequel
Ralph Fiennes in 28 Years Later
Horror Movies First trailer for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple makes the horror sequel look even more violent and bonkers than its predecessor
Ralph Fiennes as Dr. Kelson in zombie horror sequel 28 Days Later
Horror Movies 28 Years Later: Bone Temple star says it's the "weird, deranged cousin" to Danny Boyle's movie, reveals the infected won't be "purely antagonists" in the horror sequel
Father Jud in the back seat of Benoit Blanc's car talking to Benoit
Netflix New Knives Out 3 plot details tease what could be a matter of death and life for Benoit Blanc
Tom Holland in the Uncharted movie
Movies The 32 greatest movies for Uncharted fans to watch
Anthony Ramos in A House of Dynamite
Thriller Movies Idris Elba's President deals with DEFCON 1 and the threat of nuclear armageddon in new trailer for Netflix's A House of Dynamite
Rachel McAdams in Send Help
Horror Movies Doctor Strange's Rachel McAdams gets stranded on an island with the worst boss ever in the first trailer for Spider-Man director's new horror-thriller
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning
Mission Impossible Movies Even Ethan Hunt would be proud of the way Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning was streamed for free on YouTube – and it involves Morse code
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning
Action Movies Mission: Impossible standout Tramell Tillman only got the Final Reckoning script 1 day before filming: "I was shaking in my boots"
Reacher season 2
Action Shows Reacher season 4 release date speculation, cast, plot, and everything we know so far about the Prime Video show's return
Alfie Williams as Spike in 28 Years Later The Bone Temple
Horror Movies 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple director praises Danny Boyle and Alex Garland for "really letting me do my thing" with the horror sequel: "I feel so protective of that legacy"
Emma Thompson as 'Barb' in Dead of Winter
Thriller Movies Harry Potter's Emma Thompson goes full Liam Neeson in snowy Taken-esque thriller
Antony Starr as Homelander on stage with his arm's stretched out during The Boys season 4.
TV The 25 best shows on Amazon Prime Video to watch in October 2025
Chris Hemsworth in Crime 101
Crime Movies Marvel stars Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo reunite in the first trailer for new thriller Crime 101
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best Netflix Shows
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies

24 Movie: 24 Possible Plots

Features
By Joshua Winning published 16 February 2010

Damn it! Where in the world would Jack Bauer go?

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Jack In Naples

Jack In Naples

The Plot: Jack travels to Italy, where infamous art thief Francois Abney is rumoured to be living.

CTU believe that Abney has been funding the activities of a group of extremists responsible for bombing various US embassies across Europe. When Jack tracks him down, he chases Abney to the city’s port, and follows him onboard a cruise ship just before it sets sail.

The Cliffhanger: Trapped aboard the cruise ship, Jack discovers that the extremists Abney is working for are there as well. They’re packing a lot of heat and an Olympic pool full of sharks...

The Director: Martin Campbell

Page 1 of 24
Page 1 of 24
Jack In Paris

Jack In Paris

The Plot: Jack has retired from CTU. But when terrorists seize Paris, shooting out shops and taking citizens hostage, there’s only one man for the job.

Yup, it’s Jack. Sent over to figure out who these machine gun-toting marauders are and what they want, Jack faces some of his most conniving opponents yet.

The Cliffhanger: The terrorists set up shop atop the Arc De Triomphe. If their demands are not met, they’re going to launch a bazooka down the Avenue des Champs-Elysées and blow up La Louvre...

The Director: Paul Greengrass

Page 2 of 24
Page 2 of 24
Jack In Moscow

Jack In Moscow

The Plot: Jack is sent to face a Russian Mafia lynchpin known only as Temhota, who CTU believe is responsible for – among other things – smuggling illicit substances from China to America.

When he arrives in Moscow, Jack stumbles on deep-set corruption that extends from the Mafia into the police and the judiciary system.

The Cliffhanger: Jack’s passport is confiscated, along with his gun and all of his personal possessions. Unprotected, Jack goes to a bar rumoured to be owned by Temhota and finds himself in a 100-man fist fight...

The Director: David Cronenberg

Page 3 of 24
Page 3 of 24
Jack In Thailand

Jack In Thailand

The Plot: Jack is paired up with a new CTU agent, Agent Annabel Fines, and dispatched to the remote jungle land of north Thailand. There, a military craft carrying explosive devices crash landed 20 years ago and was never seen again.

Now, dangerous smugglers have got wind of the plane’s whereabouts, buried deep in a collapsed temple. It’s a race against the clock to stop them from seizing the cargo and wreaking all kinds of destruction.

The Cliffhanger: Jack and Annabel find the temple, but it's a death-trap littered with explosive devices...

The Director: Joe Dante

Page 4 of 24
Page 4 of 24
Jack In Madrid

Jack In Madrid

The Plot: After his drug addiction relapses, Jack is fired from CTU and decides to take a rare break.

Escaping to the sun and fresh air of Madrid, Jack is apprehended and tied up in his hotel room by a masked assailant. Tortured for information about the CTU, he must choose between his life and betraying his former employers.

The Cliffhanger: Jack’s torturer is revealed to be Nina Myers’ brother, Daniel, who wants revenge for his sister’s death. Will the demented sib off Jack by electrocuting him in the shower?

The Director: Quentin Tarantino

Page 5 of 24
Page 5 of 24
Jack In London

Jack In London

The Plot: Jack begrudgingly joins MI6 in London, where a serial killer is murdering one civilian every hour until his demands are met.

As random citizens are killed (one stabbed on the tube, another drowned in Trafalgar Square), tension mounts. Could the deaths be linked to a man on death row who was transferred from London to Texas on charges of terrorist activity?

The Cliffhanger: Jack chases a suspect into the underground, but loses him. Then Jack's assailant shoves him from behind right into the path of an oncoming tube train...

The Director: Sam Mendes

Page 6 of 24
Page 6 of 24
Jack In Sydney

Jack In Sydney

The Plot: Sonic blasts are being used to break open banks around the Aussie city. Could there be links to the Opera House?

Even more mysteriously, CCTV footage of one of the bank heists appears to implicate a well-known American mob boss. Jack goes to Sydney to help crack the case.

The Cliffhanger: Jack’s investigation leads him to the Opera House, where he’s locked in a newly-built sound booth and subjected to the sonic blasts. His ears start to bleed. Can he escape with his life and his hearing?

The Director: James Cameron

Page 7 of 24
Page 7 of 24
Jack In The Caribbean

Jack In The Caribbean

The Plot: Jack reconciles with his daughter Kim, and they both attend the wedding of a relative in the Caribbean.

But the ceremony is crashed by drug lords who claim the groom owes them millions of dollars. With everybody in attendance held hostage, can Jack and Kim figure a way out before it’s too late?

The Cliffhanger: Kim is the one being tortured this time ( 24 just loves a good torture scene). Strung up in a bathroom, a druggy lackey threatens to fillet her unless she gives him information about the groom...

The Director: Kevin Macdonald

Page 8 of 24
Page 8 of 24
Jack In Athens

Jack In Athens

The Plot: The birthplace of democracy comes under scrutiny when art critic Otis Keel discovers a cry for help scribbled in a library book.

Could the person who last checked out the tome – the wife of rich politician Acacius – be involved in modern day slave trading? Keel calls his old friend Jack Bauer to help him get to the bottom of it.

The Cliffhanger: In the National Library of Greece, Jack is beset by snipers who want to curtail his investigation...

The Director: Kathryn Bigelow

Page 9 of 24
Page 9 of 24
Jack In Afghanistan

Jack In Afghanistan

The Plot: Jack heads to Afghanistan to investigate when a drug ring trading opium offshore are linked with terrorist activity.

When he gets there, one of the ring members approaches him begging for help. But how does the stranger know who Jack is? And what is he so afraid of?

The Cliffhanger: Stranded in a literal minefield, Jack has to find a way to get out of it without getting himself blown to smithereens...

The Director: Steven Soderbergh

Page 10 of 24
Page 10 of 24
Jack In Bucharest

Jack In Bucharest

The Plot: The newly opened National Stadium in Bucharest is to host the 2012 UEFA Europa League Final.

But there have been threats of an attack if Real Madrid beat Germany. Nameless terrorists have promised bloodshed in the 55,000 capacity stadium.

Enter Jack and CTU, who stake out the building and attempt to avert a crisis.

The Cliffhanger: Real Madrid inevitably win. A giant explosion is detonated, causing one of the stadium’s towering floodlights to collapse on top of Jack. Will he survive?

The Director: Steven Spielberg

Page 11 of 24
Page 11 of 24
Jack In Guantanamo

Jack In Guantanamo

The Plot: A religious fanatic blows up the Statue of Liberty and gets away with it. The only person who might know the whereabouts of the destructive mastermind is a man currently residing in Guantanamo Bay for war crimes.

The CTU send Jack to speak to the prisoner, who’s known only as ‘Bob’. As he builds up a rapport with the criminal, Jack promises Bob release from Guantanamo for information, but can he make it happen?

The Cliffhanger: Bombs are planted across the span of the Brooklyn Bridge. Can Jack track down the detonator in time?

The Director: Jonathan Demme

Page 12 of 24
Page 12 of 24
Jack In Vatican City

Jack In Vatican City

The Plot: Jack goes undercover as a Catholic priest when the Vatican is threatened by anti-Christian forces. Just 'cos, y'know, he's the only guy who could pull that sort of thing off.

With the Pope's life in danger, Jack has to pull out all the stops to keep him safe. But with extremists closing in, and Jack unable to speak a word of Italian, this could proof his most difficult case yet.

The Cliffhanger: The Pope is kidnapped and held at the top of Saint Peter’s Basilica. One step in the wrong direction and he’s dead. Can Jack reach him in time?

The Director: Ang Lee

Page 13 of 24
Page 13 of 24
Jack In Prague

Jack In Prague

The Plot: A gang of nature terrorists (not to be confused with naturists) lay siege to a made-up chemical plant that they say is about to cause another Chernobyl-like disaster, this one even worse than the last.

The leader of the eco warriors is an American named Cal Hart, who has links to previous terrorist activity...

The Cliffhanger: With the workers of the chemical plant all locked inside a giant incinerator, Jack scrambles through vents to save them. Will everybody – including Jack – end up flame-grilled?

The Director: Michael Winterbottom

Page 14 of 24
Page 14 of 24
Jack In Tokyo

Jack In Tokyo

The Plot: Warheads being transported through Tokyo are hijacked by armed men. One of the guards is left alive, and says the hijackers were wearing a red phoenix icon on their armbands.

When the FBI pick this up on their feed, they enlist Jack Bauer to search for the hijackers. Why? Well, Jack used to work for a secret unit of Homeland Security that had a red phoenix icon as its identifying logo...

The Cliffhanger: Jack butts heads with old comrade Frank, who wants Jack to give up his CTU work and join the Phoenix’s shady political fight. If he doesn’t, it's bye-bye Jack.

The Director: Chris Nolan

Page 15 of 24
Page 15 of 24
Jack In The Mojave

Jack In The Mojave

The Plot: Jack gets into his car, but as soon as he starts driving he receives a phone call telling him that if he slows down below 60mph, a bomb in the car’s hood will activate.

Lucky for Jack, he’s mid-job in the Mojave Desert, with plenty of space ahead of him. Now there’s just gas to worry about. Yeah, yeah, it’s 24 does Speed . But who doesn’t want to see Jack in a one man show sweating it out in the Mojave?

The Cliffhanger: A sniper lying in wait on the roadside takes out one of the car’s back wheels. With the speedometer plunging ever downward, is this the end for Jack? (Clue: probably not.)

The Director: Terrence Malick

Page 16 of 24
Page 16 of 24
Jack In Hong Kong

Jack In Hong Kong

The Plot: As the overpopulation of China comes to a head, a top secret initiative called White Dragon is wiping criminals, the homeless and other 'undesirables' from the streets of Hong Kong.

When an investigating CTU agent is killed in the city, Jack goes to investigate and uncovers corruption borne out of desperation.

The Cliffhanger: A strip joint turns into a place of terror when it's targeted by the White Dragon lot. When Jack opens fire on the Dragons, the ensuing shoot-out could leave everybody in pieces...

The Director: David Fincher

Page 17 of 24
Page 17 of 24
Jack In Edinburgh

Jack In Edinburgh

The Plot: An immigration officer is killed in the Scottish capital. Sick of having Jack skulking around the office, CTU send him to look into if it’s related to immigration or terrorism issues.

Sure enough, Jack discovers that the dead officer was refusing immigrants entrance to the country. But is it as simple as all that? Or is the government involved somehow?

The Cliffhanger: Jack fights an assassin atop the perilously high Arthur’s Seat.

The Director: Gus Van Sant

Page 18 of 24
Page 18 of 24
Jack In Zrich

Jack In Zrich

The Plot: Apparently the European city with the best quality of life, Zürich is about to get a lot worse. Why? Jack Bauer’s just turned up to dig into accusations of money laundering among the elite classes, who are funding shares in terrorism.

See, an American disappeared here not too long ago after threatening to expose them. The FBI want answers, and they've called on Jack to get 'em.

The Cliffhanger: Jack’s digging gets someone upset, and he finds himself shackled, weighed down and dumped in Lake Zurich...

The Director: Doug Liman

Page 19 of 24
Page 19 of 24
Jack In Berlin

Jack In Berlin

The Plot: A small faction of Nazi sympathisers are hoping to make their mark anew on the German landscape.

Sent to Berlin to look into such claims, Jack uncovers an Aryan organisation who are attempting to get a financial and political foothold as they endeavour to complete the work that Hitler couldn’t.

The Cliffhanger: Two words: Jack and Guggenheim. We’re imagining a big shoot-out like in The International , but way better. ‘Cos it’s Jack.

The Director: John Woo

Page 20 of 24
Page 20 of 24
Jack In Goa

Jack In Goa

The Plot: An attempt to assassinate the American President leads Jack on a trail of corruption all the way to Goa, where he finds that excessive drug use has turned partygoers into little more than walking zombies.

Could it all be an elaborate scheme by the local drug pedlars to keep people there when they arrive? And what is their link with the President?

The Cliffhanger: Jack’s tempted off the wagon by the drugs on display in Goa. When he’s roofied in a bar, he has the trip of his life. But will he ever come down?

The Director: Danny Boyle

Page 21 of 24
Page 21 of 24
Jack In Dubai

Jack In Dubai

The Plot: The world’s tallest building: a marvel, or a deadly vantage point from which anybody can become a sniper’s target?

Jack accompanies the President to Dubai, where the leader’s many enemies are all just waiting to take a crack at him. But could the real threat come from the inside?

The Cliffhanger: An elaborate fight takes place in an elevator shaft at the Burj Khalifa, where Jack spots an assassin just waiting for a chance to take out the president.

The Director: David O Russell

Page 22 of 24
Page 22 of 24
Jack In Rotterdam

Jack In Rotterdam

The Plot: When convicts break out of a high security Seattle prison, the FBI are baffled about where they fled to. Then Jack Bauer, reappointed to the FBI, remembers that Seattle shares a sister port with Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

Tracing their journey, he goes on a breakneck mission to track down the criminals before it’s too late.

The Cliffhanger: Jack discovers these convicts know a thing or two about violence when they accost him, beat him to a pulp and play that song by The Beautiful South over and over until he tells them who he is. Chilling.

The Director: Clint Eastwood

Page 23 of 24
Page 23 of 24
Jack In ???

Jack In ???

The Plot: Jack’s kidnapped and wakes up on a desert island.

There, he finally cracks, thinks he’s seen a giant monkey, starts talking to a beach ball, and constantly presses a button to make sure that the island doesn’t explode. Also, there are dinosaurs (nature found a way).

The Cliffhanger: Jack thinks he’s seeing things when three polar bears appear on the beach with him. Sadly for him, they’re not figments of his imagination, and they’re very, very hungry...

The Director: JJ Abrams

Page 24 of 24
Page 24 of 24
Joshua Winning
Social Links Navigation

Josh Winning has worn a lot of hats over the years. Contributing Editor at Total Film, writer for SFX, and senior film writer at the Radio Times. Josh has also penned a novel about mysteries and monsters, is the co-host of a movie podcast, and has a library of pretty phenomenal stories from visiting some of the biggest TV and film sets in the world. He would also like you to know that he "lives for cat videos..." Don't we all, Josh. Don't we all.  

Read more
Next James Bond
Next James Bond: The 27 actors who could replace Daniel Craig as the new 007
 
 
Ralph Fiennes as Dr. Kelson in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple release date, cast, trailer, and everything else we know about the zombie horror sequel
 
 
Ralph Fiennes in 28 Years Later
First trailer for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple makes the horror sequel look even more violent and bonkers than its predecessor
 
 
Ralph Fiennes as Dr. Kelson in zombie horror sequel 28 Days Later
28 Years Later: Bone Temple star says it's the "weird, deranged cousin" to Danny Boyle's movie, reveals the infected won't be "purely antagonists" in the horror sequel
 
 
Father Jud in the back seat of Benoit Blanc's car talking to Benoit
New Knives Out 3 plot details tease what could be a matter of death and life for Benoit Blanc
 
 
Tom Holland in the Uncharted movie
The 32 greatest movies for Uncharted fans to watch
 
 
Latest in Movies
Gizmo in Gremlins
37 years after the last movie, Gremlins 3 is officially happening with Chris Columbus and Steven Spielberg on board
 
 
Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi in Predator: Badlands
When is Predator Badlands on streaming? Speculation on the potential Hulu release date
 
 
Amber Midthunder as Naru in Prey
Predator: Badlands almost centered on a team-up between Yautja protagonist Dek and Prey's Naru, but director Dan Trachtenberg wanted "no humans in the movie"
 
 
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom reveal trailer
The Legend of Zelda movie is now filming in New Zealand, but good luck figuring out which game is being adapted from this vague synopsis
 
 
Rumi in KPop Demon Hunters
KPop Demon Hunters 2: everything we know about the Netflix sequel
 
 
2010's A Nightmare on Elm Street was "premature", says OG actor Robert Englund – but he'd be eager to see a re-do of Part 2 and a franchise-ending prequel soon
 
 
Latest in Features
Cropped Marvel Snap key art showing Wolverine, America Chavez, and Venom.
I couldn't hack Marvel Rivals, but Marvel Snap taught me more about PvP etiquette in 6 months than any game has before it
 
 
Arc Raiders best weapons
Arc Raiders has made me fall in love with getting my ass kicked by giant robots
 
 
Photo taken of the PS Portal by writer Rosalie Newcombe, running the cloud streaming feature.
The PS Portal just got a handy new upgrade, but should you buy one instead of a PS5?
 
 
Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake key art
As a Dragon Quest noob, Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake honestly feels like the perfect introduction
 
 
Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2.
No, we don't need Red Dead Redemption 3, we need to learn that too much of a good thing will ultimately ruin it
 
 
Key art for Alruna: End of History showing Alruna in front of a nuclear power station and religious iconography
Plant powers rule in Alruna: End of History, a grimdark Metroidvania about reclaiming industrial spaces, and I love the condensed approach to maps that still pack secrets
 
 
  1. Discussing Evelyn Dean with D'arcy in The Seance of Blake Manor's lobby
    1
    The Séance of Blake Manor review: "Like horror Clue come to life, this supernatural mystery against the clock is incredibly immersive"
  2. 2
    Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment review: "Zelda is a fantastic lead in this action-packed Tears of the Kingdom prequel, but boring missions hold the magic back"
  3. 3
    Carimara: Beneath the Forlorn Limbs review: "Playing as a goblin thing to crack a gothic fairy tale mystery with magical cards has quickly become one of my favorite gaming short stories"
  4. 4
    Spooktacular review: "This is the perfect family board game for Halloween"
  5. 5
    It’s hard to imagine there are many gamers who won’t enjoy this quick but tactical board game for 2 players
  1. Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi in Predator: Badlands
    1
    Predator: Badlands review: "Die-hard fans may be disappointed, but as a blockbuster action-adventure, Badlands kills it"
  2. 2
    Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc review "Storytelling just as compelling as the chainsaws, devils, and visually excessive fight scenes"
  3. 3
    Tron: Ares review: "Misses out by swapping the Grid for the real world"
  4. 4
    One Battle After Another review: "One of the best studio movies in years and an instant classic"
  5. 5
    The Conjuring: Last Rites review: "Not bold or memorable enough for the Warrens' final chapter"
  1. Liam Hemsworth as Geralt in The Witcher season 4
    1
    The Witcher season 4 review: "The Henry Cavill-less fourth season is the best yet"
  2. 2
    IT: Welcome to Derry review: "A supremely confident step back into the history of Stephen King's cursed town and killer clown"
  3. 3
    Splinter Cell: Deathwatch review: "A pale imitation of the long-dormant stealth franchise"
  4. 4
    Marvel Zombies review: "A fun expansion of the What If episode with delightful MCU Easter eggs and truly gross R-rated kills"
  5. 5
    Gen V season 2 review: "As strong as the first season, if not stronger"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...