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IMDbPro

The Hard Way

  • 1991
  • R
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
22K
YOUR RATING
The Hard Way (1991)
Home Video Trailer from Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Play trailer2:19
1 Video
74 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.

  • Director
    • John Badham
  • Writers
    • Lem Dobbs
    • Michael Kozoll
    • Daniel Pyne
  • Stars
    • Michael J. Fox
    • James Woods
    • Stephen Lang
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    22K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Badham
    • Writers
      • Lem Dobbs
      • Michael Kozoll
      • Daniel Pyne
    • Stars
      • Michael J. Fox
      • James Woods
      • Stephen Lang
    • 82User reviews
    • 43Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos1

    The Hard Way
    Trailer 2:19
    Watch The Hard Way

    Photos74

    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
    • Director
      • John Badham
    • Writers
      • Lem Dobbs
      • Michael Kozoll
      • Daniel Pyne
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    6.7
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    5.6
    Light of Day

    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 Siskel & Ebert: 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 reviews82

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Wham! Pow! Bam!
    "The Hard Way" is a good old fashioned popcorn flick which gets off to a fast start and keeps moving until the credits roll. Fox plays an Indiana Jones type adventure movie star who goes to NYC to hang with a badass cop (Woods) to learn what being a cop is like and becomes embroiled in a serial killer caper. The well crafted, unpredictable screenplay is chock full of action, comedy, stunts, suspense, light drama, etc. with nary a dull moment to be found. Good not-to-be-taken-seriously Hollywood fun stuff worth a second look for those who saw it a decade ago.
    helpful•11
    4
    • =G=
    • Jan 5, 2002

    Top picks

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 8, 1991 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Chơi khó
    • Filming locations
      • New York, 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
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

    Related news

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