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IMDbPro

The Hard Way

  • 19911991
  • RR
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
21K
YOUR RATING
The Hard Way (1991)
Home Video Trailer from Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Play trailer2:19
1 Video
73 Photos
ActionComedyCrime
An action movie star researching a role is allowed to tag along with a hardboiled New York City policeman, who finds him superficial and irritating.An action movie star researching a role is allowed to tag along with a hardboiled New York City policeman, who finds him superficial and irritating.An action movie star researching a role is allowed to tag along with a hardboiled New York City policeman, who finds him superficial and irritating.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
21K
YOUR RATING
    • John Badham
    • Lem Dobbs(story)
    • Michael Kozoll(story)
    • Daniel Pyne(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Michael J. Fox
    • James Woods
    • Stephen Lang
    • John Badham
    • Lem Dobbs(story)
    • Michael Kozoll(story)
    • Daniel Pyne(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Michael J. Fox
    • James Woods
    • Stephen Lang
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 80User reviews
    • 43Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos1

    The Hard Way
    Trailer 2:19
    Watch The Hard Way

    Photos73

    Michael J. Fox and James Woods in The Hard Way (1991)
    Michael J. Fox and James Woods in The Hard Way (1991)
    Michael J. Fox and James Woods in The Hard Way (1991)
    Michael J. Fox and James Woods in The Hard Way (1991)
    Michael J. Fox and James Woods in The Hard Way (1991)
    The Hard Way (1991)
    The Hard Way (1991)
    The Hard Way (1991)
    Michael J. Fox, Annabella Sciorra, and Karen Lynn Gorney in The Hard Way (1991)
    Michael J. Fox in The Hard Way (1991)
    Michael J. Fox and James Woods in The Hard Way (1991)
    Michael J. Fox in The Hard Way (1991)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Michael J. Fox
    Michael J. Fox
    • Nick Lang
    James Woods
    James Woods
    • John Moss
    Stephen Lang
    Stephen Lang
    • Party Crasher
    Annabella Sciorra
    Annabella Sciorra
    • Susan
    John Capodice
    John Capodice
    • Grainy
    Luis Guzmán
    Luis Guzmán
    • Pooley
    • (as Luis Guzman)
    LL Cool J
    LL Cool J
    • Billy
    Mary Mara
    Mary Mara
    • China
    Delroy Lindo
    Delroy Lindo
    • Captain Brix
    Conrad Roberts
    Conrad Roberts
    • Witherspoon
    Christina Ricci
    Christina Ricci
    • Bonnie
    Penny Marshall
    Penny Marshall
    • Angie
    George Cheung
    George Cheung
    • Drug Dealer
    Frank Geraci
    • Newsman
    Sophie Maletsky
    • Pizza Waitress
    Lewis Black
    Lewis Black
    • Banker
    Rand Foerster
    • Banker
    Anderson Matthews
    • Banker
      • John Badham
      • Lem Dobbs(story) (screenplay)
      • Michael Kozoll(story)
      • Daniel Pyne(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to James Woods, his role in this film was one of his toughest because his character had to constantly be angry with Michael J. Fox's character, who he found very likeable in real life.
    • Goofs
      Early in the movie a car is released from a tow truck and it flips. The piston and the metal frame used to flip it are clearly visible during the flip and the subsequent roll of the car.
    • Quotes

      Nick Lang: [on the big screen] It's not like the movies. They get 17 takes to get it right. We get one take. It lasts our whole lives. We mess it up and we're dead.

      John Moss: [in the audience] Hey! That's my line!

    • Alternate versions
      In addition to the usual cuts for broadcast standards, the version aired on NBC (and later on USA, etc.) showed scenes out of sequence. Just after John first meets Nick at the police station, the movie jumps to the two of them at the hot dog stand. After that entire scene plays out, it then goes back to the scene that would have originally preceded it, with John taking Nick to the ghetto to question the Dead Romeos. The re-edit probably would have been unnoticeable to a viewer if not for the fact that at the hot dog stand they are seen with a new, garish police car to replace one that was destroyed in the Dead Romeos scene.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: The Doors/My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys/Iron & Silk/Superstar (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      Momma Said Knock You Out
      Written by LL Cool J (as J.T. Smith), Marley Marl (as M. Williams) and Bobby "Bobcat" Ervin

      Performed by LL Cool J (as L L Cool J)

      Produced by Marley Marl and LL Cool J (as L L Cool J)

      Co-produced by Bobby "Bobcat" Ervin

      Courtesy of Columbia/Def Jam Records

      By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

    User reviews80

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Works!
    When I saw this, I didn't expect much from it. However, it turned out to be just great - it just happened so to press all the right buttons!

    Michael J. Fox plays a PG-movie star (think Brendan Fraser) who wants to star in a serious cop flick. For this, he tags along with a real cop for a few days. But the real cop assigned to baby-sit him isn't exactly a fan of his, instead, he sees the wimsy character of Fox as a leech in his balls. This may sound like just any other buddy-movie "yea, they don't match from the starters but in the end, learn to get along", but give this little movie a chance, because: As bold as the casting, at least for what it comes to Fox, may sound, the chemistry really works here- you can almost see the sparks flying between the stars! Woods gives a powerhouse performance as a very "Dirty Harry" - like cop almost on the verge of a nervous breakdown because of his BS assignment. Fox is surprisingly good as his counter-part. And the directing is the usual good Badham- stuff, where a good action -comedy is spiced up with a little bad language and violent themes. I just don't understand how come he nowadays seems to have lost his touch? The man who did this and "Stakeout"? Even "Another stakeout" had it's moments...
    helpful•6
    2
    • SPaS
    • Jun 8, 2003

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 8, 1991 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • McSorley's Old Ale House, 15 East 7th Street, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • The Badham-Cohen Group
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 51 minutes
      • Color

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