Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysHispanic & Latino VoicesSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Best Seller

  • 19871987
  • K-18K-18
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
5.7K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
7,600
1,832
James Woods and Brian Dennehy in Best Seller (1987)
Hit man Cleve approaches writer/cop Dennis about a story for his next book: How Cleve made a living, working for one of the most powerful politicians in the country. To get the story right, they travel around the country to gather statements and evidence, while strong forces use any means they can to keep the story untold.
Play trailer1:45
1 Video
66 Photos
ActionCrimeDrama

A hitman approaches a writer to help him create his next best seller, but the violent world he was a part of has other plans.A hitman approaches a writer to help him create his next best seller, but the violent world he was a part of has other plans.A hitman approaches a writer to help him create his next best seller, but the violent world he was a part of has other plans.

IMDb RATING
6.4/10
5.7K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
7,600
1,832
  • Director
    • John Flynn
  • Writer
    • Larry Cohen
  • Stars
    • James Woods
    • Brian Dennehy
    • Victoria Tennant
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Flynn
  • Writer
    • Larry Cohen
  • Stars
    • James Woods
    • Brian Dennehy
    • Victoria Tennant
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 41User reviews
    • 40Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:45
    Trailer

    Photos66

    Still of James Woods, Brian Dennehy and Sydney Urshan in Best Seller (1987)
    James Woods and Brian Dennehy in Best Seller (1987)
    James Woods and Brian Dennehy in Best Seller (1987)
    James Woods and Brian Dennehy in Best Seller (1987)
    James Woods and Brian Dennehy in Best Seller (1987)
    Best Seller (1987)
    James Woods in Best Seller (1987)
    Best Seller (1987)
    James Woods and Brian Dennehy in Best Seller (1987)
    James Woods in Best Seller (1987)
    Best Seller (1987)
    Brian Dennehy in Best Seller (1987)

    Top cast

    Edit
    James Woods
    James Woods
    • Cleve
    Brian Dennehy
    Brian Dennehy
    • Dennis Meechum
    Victoria Tennant
    Victoria Tennant
    • Roberta Gillian
    Allison Balson
    Allison Balson
    • Holly Meechum
    Paul Shenar
    Paul Shenar
    • David Madlock
    George Coe
    George Coe
    • Graham
    Anne Pitoniak
    • Mrs. Foster
    Mary Carver
    Mary Carver
    • Cleve's Mother
    Sully Boyar
    Sully Boyar
    • Monks
    Kathleen Lloyd
    Kathleen Lloyd
    • Annie
    Charles Tyner
    Charles Tyner
    • Cleve's Father
    • (as Harold Tyner)
    E. Brian Dean
    • Taxi Driver
    Jeffrey Josephson
    • Pearlman
    Edward Blackoff
    • Thorn
    Branscombe Richmond
    Branscombe Richmond
    • Longshoreman #1
    J.P. Bumstead
    • Rothman
    William Bronder
    • Foley
    Jenny Gago
    Jenny Gago
    • Woman in Laundry
    • Director
      • John Flynn
    • Writer
      • Larry Cohen
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      James Woods had just quit smoking prior to filming. When it came time to shoot the cigarette on the palm scene, Woods suggested he take an already lit cigarette off of a patron--that way he wouldn't have to light and smoke a cigarette.
    • Goofs
      While the robbery at the beginning of the movie was set in 1972, the robbers are driving a 1975-1978 Ford Econoline van.
    • Quotes

      Cleve: [as he menaces Roberta Gillian with a knife] Am I sympathetic? Will they like me? Please don't lie to me! Is it an important book?

    • Connections
      Referenced in Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley's Island of Dr. Moreau (2014)

    User reviews41

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    perfect casting of james woods and dennehy make it work
    I watched this because imdb users rated it well, and I wasn't disappointed. The casting of woods and brian dennehy is perfect which helps to make the story of an ex-hitman telling his story to cop-turned-author believable. Scenes at woods" boyhood home, and his parents also help; Woods" ex-hitman character is written and played as a real, multi-dimensional person, not as a stereotype.. The scene about the gift in the plane and his wanting to befriend dennehy, are quite touching.
    helpful•21
    5
    • moggy-4
    • Nov 26, 2000

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 5, 1988 (Finland)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Hard Cover
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles City Hall - 200 North Spring Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Hemdale
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $4,278,150
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $905,399
      • Sep 27, 1987
    • Gross worldwide
      • $4,278,150
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    James Woods and Brian Dennehy in Best Seller (1987)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Best Seller (1987) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows in September
    See the IMDb Editors' picks
    View list
    List
    IMDb's Top 50 TV Dramas
    See the full list
    View image
    Photos
    We Love These Hollywood Power Couples
    See the gallery

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more access
    Sign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.