While the film was speculated to be released in late 2001 , '' The Sum of All Fears '' was theatrically released on May 31 , 2002 . Many media outlets characterized this apparent change in release date to be a delay due to the September 11 attacks . Addressing the release date , director Phil Alden Robinson said , " When I came on board in August of 2000 , they said , ' This is a Summer-of-2002 picture . ' " As the first film released since September 11 to deal so vividly with terrorism , critics believed it to be too alarming to be released nearly nine months after the attacks
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
The Sum of All Fears (film)