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Nighthawks

  • 19811981
  • RR
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
20K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
8,657
901
Sylvester Stallone and Rutger Hauer in Nighthawks (1981)
Trailer 1
Play trailer1:46
3 Videos
99+ Photos
ActionCrimeThriller
When one of Europe's most lethal terrorists shows up in New York, an elite undercover cop is assigned to take him down by any means necessary.When one of Europe's most lethal terrorists shows up in New York, an elite undercover cop is assigned to take him down by any means necessary.When one of Europe's most lethal terrorists shows up in New York, an elite undercover cop is assigned to take him down by any means necessary.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
20K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
8,657
901
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Directors
      • Bruce Malmuth
      • Gary Nelson(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • David Shaber(screenplay by)
      • Paul Sylbert(story by)
    • Stars
      • Sylvester Stallone
      • Rutger Hauer
      • Billy Dee Williams
    Top credits
    • Directors
      • Bruce Malmuth
      • Gary Nelson(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • David Shaber(screenplay by)
      • Paul Sylbert(story by)
    • Stars
      • Sylvester Stallone
      • Rutger Hauer
      • Billy Dee Williams
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 142User reviews
    • 67Critic reviews
    • 56Metascore

    Videos3

    Nighthawks
    Trailer 1:46
    Nighthawks
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 27
    Video 29:09
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 27
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 26
    Video 29:04
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 26

    Photos123

    Sylvester Stallone on the New York location of "Nighthawks"
    Sylvester Stallone on the New York location of "Nighthawks"
    Sylvester Stallone and Rutger Hauer in Nighthawks (1981)
    Sylvester Stallone and Rutger Hauer in Nighthawks (1981)
    Sylvester Stallone and Rutger Hauer in Nighthawks (1981)
    Sylvester Stallone in Nighthawks (1981)
    Sylvester Stallone and Rutger Hauer in Nighthawks (1981)
    Sylvester Stallone and Rutger Hauer in Nighthawks (1981)
    Sylvester Stallone and Rutger Hauer in Nighthawks (1981)
    Sylvester Stallone and Rutger Hauer in Nighthawks (1981)
    Sylvester Stallone and Rutger Hauer in Nighthawks (1981)
    Sylvester Stallone and Rutger Hauer in Nighthawks (1981)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Sylvester Stallone
    Sylvester Stallone
    • Deke DaSilva
    Rutger Hauer
    Rutger Hauer
    • Wulfgar
    Billy Dee Williams
    Billy Dee Williams
    • Matthew Fox
    Lindsay Wagner
    Lindsay Wagner
    • Irene
    Persis Khambatta
    Persis Khambatta
    • Shakka
    Nigel Davenport
    Nigel Davenport
    • Peter Hartman
    Hilarie Thompson
    Hilarie Thompson
    • Pam
    Joe Spinell
    Joe Spinell
    • Lt. Munafo
    Walter Mathews
    Walter Mathews
    • Commissioner
    E. Brian Dean
    • Sergeant
    Caesar Cordova
    • Puerto Rican Proprietor
    Charles Duval
    • Dr. Ghiselin
    Tony Munafo
    • Big Mike
    Howard Stein
    • Disco Manager
    Tawn Christian
    • Disco Hostess
    Jamie Gillis
    Jamie Gillis
    • Designer
    Luke Reilly
    • Conductor
    Yvette Hawkins
    • Mrs. Ntembwe
    • Directors
      • Bruce Malmuth
      • Gary Nelson(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • David Shaber(screenplay by) (story by)
      • Paul Sylbert(story by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Rutger Hauer lost his mother and his best friend during the production of this movie. He returned to his native Netherlands for both of their respective funerals, but returned to the production each time within a few days. Despite all of the personal drama and all the difficulties on the set, Hauer stated in his autobiography that he was happy he stayed aboard, as this movie caused him to be noticed in Hollywood, and started an impressive international career.
    • Goofs
      When Deke is firing a revolver at the police target range, the paper target's holes face towards him as if a small explosion went off behind them (squibs). Also the wires that held and were used to detonate the squibs are seen hanging out of the holes. Real police bullets leave small holes in paper targets.
    • Quotes

      Deke DaSilva: Lieutenant? I just got these latest transfer orders from the Captain.

      Lt. Munafo: Yeah, don't sing me any operas. I'm not feeling well right now and I'm in a bad mood.

      Deke DaSilva: I'm not gonna sing any operas. I'm talking about these transfer orders. Come on, Munafo. I've been working Decoy for nine years and now I'm pulled and I'd like to know why.

      Lt. Munafo: Hey, don't start with me. It's Lieutenant. You don't know me well enough to call me Munafo. But I know you, DaSilva. The gung-ho Lone Ranger of the street crime unit. Well, you can forget about that because we've been asked to cooperate with a special federal/state unit, and we will. You and Fox have been assigned to an ATAC unit.

      Matthew Fox: Come on! Terrorism is hijackers and hostages. That's FBI stuff. What the hell do they want with us?

      Lt. Munafo: I don't know. Your service records may have something to do with it. How many times have you been hospitalized last year? Five? Well, consider this squad a vacation from Decoy.

      Deke DaSilva: I don't need a vacation.

      Lt. Munafo: Yes, you do. Now, they need someone who knows the local rat holes and you're nominated. Anything goes down, you're the man.

      Deke DaSilva: You mind telling me where this came from?

      Lt. Munafo: From the Commissioner, and he got it from Washington. They're sending a specialist from Europe... Interpol... to help organize it in conjunction with Federal funding. And this department will extend every courtesy. Do you understand?

      Deke DaSilva: [grabs Munafo] No, I don't understand...

      Lt. Munafo: Get your hands off me! Understand this, sucker! You're a cop and you'll go where you're assigned! Now, you and Tonto be here at eight o'clock tomorrow, sharp! End of story!

    • Alternate versions
      SPOILER: The theatrical release as well as all video, laserdisc, television, and DVD versions contain the altered ending where DaSilva shoots Wulfgar only twice, despite the fact that Wulfgar has six bullet wounds on his body.
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: Nighthawks/Modern Romance/Heaven's Gate/Excalibur/Napoleon (1981)
    • Soundtracks
      Getaway
      Written by Billy Powell (uncredited), Dale Krantz (uncredited) and Barry Lee Harwood (uncredited)

      Performed by The Rossington Collins Band (as Rossington Collins)

      Courtesy of MCA Records

    User reviews142

    Review
    Top review
    Genuinely worthwhile thriller benefits from strong character development and great acting.
    Two dedicated albeit crackerjack cops (Sylvester "Sly" Stallone and Billy Dee Williams) are on a new case: They must apprehend a slick, nefarious international terrorist and not to mention notorious criminal mastermind, Wulfgar (Rutger Hauer). Wulfgar's schemes thrive on the destruction of World Order and democracy. The two detectives, whose beat have always been the petty criminals of the street, have at first expressed animadversion when they are forced to nail the wily villain, Wulfgar. They have never encountered such an eluding antagonist before. No longer can the cops use conventional tactics, but they must resort to new, fresh methods...

    For Wulfgar dissembles his identity with several incognitos, thus making him a tougher target to capture.

    NIGHTHAWKS is a well-mounted, well-paced thriller that puts the accent on suspense (with some bloodshed of course). NIGHTHAWKS is a neat powerhouse! The movie contains riveting chases, a spectacle for a final confrontation, and an aggressively structured formula throughout the entire film. There are lots of opportunities for combustible moments in this film as well.

    What makes NIGHTHAWKS standout even greater and better than the ordinary action flick is its emphasis on characterization and morals. NIGHTHAWKS does a terrific interpretation of how fascinating and surreptitious the terrorist bad guy is compared to a troublesome criminal. Whereas the latter simply relies on survival and desperation in the derelict streets, the former is a very intelligent person with a respectively high I.Q. and an organized purpose. His mission is clear: to fight the oppressors who have destroyed his native land and people. The terrorist covers his tracks well and moves from location and location, making his presence less conspicuous. As for the heroic cops, Deke DaSilva (Stallone) manages to preserve ethics first when making a judgment before decisive action. He knows when to call out the shot. DaSilva refuses to jeopardize innocent lives just for the sake of shooting down the villain, and in most cases, he has earned a level of propriety. DaSilva's testament to moral values is also well demonstrated in NIGHTHAWKS.

    Rutger Hauer gave a genuinely eerie and chilling performance as he portrays a very psychotic but also very convincing villain with a substantially bad attitude. Overall, NIGHTHAWKS is a high caliber action film. This "above and beyond the call of duty" type quality of motion picture is a consistently thorough and memorable film. This ranks among the finest cop dramas ever composed and for over a decade, this film's reputation and aura have managed to stand the test of time. NIGHTHAWKS is a recommended hit.

    RATING: *** out of ****.
    helpful•11
    1
    • ChoiBaby
    • May 16, 1999

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 10, 1981 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Site
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
      • French
      • Swedish
    • Also known as
      • Night Hawks
    • Filming locations
      • Arding & Hobbs department store, 315 Lavender Hill, Clapham Junction, Clapham, London, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Martin Poll Productions
      • The Production Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $5,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $14,905,359
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $2,525,360
      • Apr 12, 1981
    • Gross worldwide
      • $19,905,359
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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