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The Hard Way

  • 19911991
  • RR
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
21K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Hard Way (1991)
Home Video Trailer from Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Play trailer2:19
1 Video
73 Photos
  • Action
  • Comedy
  • Crime
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
  • Director
    • John Badham
  • Writers
    • Lem Dobbs(story)
    • Michael Kozoll(story)
    • Daniel Pyne(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Michael J. Fox
    • James Woods
    • Stephen Lang
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Badham
  • Writers
    • Lem Dobbs(story)
    • Michael Kozoll(story)
    • Daniel Pyne(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Michael J. Fox
    • James Woods
    • Stephen Lang
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 78User reviews
    • 41Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos1

    The Hard Way
    Trailer 2:19
    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 Langas Nick Lang
    James Woods
    James Woods
    • John Mossas John Moss
    Stephen Lang
    Stephen Lang
    • Party Crasheras Party Crasher
    Annabella Sciorra
    Annabella Sciorra
    • Susanas Susan
    John Capodice
    John Capodice
    • Grainyas Grainy
    Luis Guzmán
    Luis Guzmán
    • Pooleyas Pooley
    • (as Luis Guzman)
    LL Cool J
    LL Cool J
    • Billyas Billy
    Mary Mara
    Mary Mara
    • Chinaas China
    Delroy Lindo
    Delroy Lindo
    • Captain Brixas Captain Brix
    Conrad Roberts
    Conrad Roberts
    • Witherspoonas Witherspoon
    Christina Ricci
    Christina Ricci
    • Bonnieas Bonnie
    Penny Marshall
    Penny Marshall
    • Angieas Angie
    George Cheung
    George Cheung
    • Drug Dealeras Drug Dealer
    Frank Geraci
    • Newsmanas Newsman
    Sophie Maletsky
    • Pizza Waitressas Pizza Waitress
    Lewis Black
    Lewis Black
    • Bankeras Banker
    Rand Foerster
    • Bankeras Banker
    Anderson Matthews
    • Bankeras Banker
    • Director
      • John Badham
    • Writers
      • Lem Dobbs(story) (screenplay)
      • Michael Kozoll(story)
      • Daniel Pyne(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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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 reviews78

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    It's "The Odd Couple" meets "Dirty Harry" head-on.
    Wildly violent, but hilarious comedy about a showboat-like Hollywood action star (Michael J. Fox) who in order to prepare for his next film, comes to the Big Apple and tags along with a hard-boiled police detective (James Woods) who is desperately determined to nab a notorious killer dubbed "The Party Crasher" (Stephen Lang) despite nearly getting himself killed in the process. Fox and Woods certainly make an interesting comedy team. There's no way that this movie could without the presence of a seriously funny actor like Woods to be included in the film. The film has a few great moments including one where the Woods character impolitely asks the captain (Delroy Lindo) to get the Fox character off his back and the film's climax is exciting and makes a great reference to "North by Northwest". It's the "The Odd Couple" meets "Dirty Harry" head-on.
    helpful•24
    7
    • mhasheider
    • Apr 25, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 8, 1991 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Chơi khó
    • Filming locations
      • Chicago, Illinois, USA
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • The Badham-Cohen Group
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $24,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $25,895,485
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $6,301,470
      • Mar 10, 1991
    • Gross worldwide
      • $65,595,485
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 51 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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