Sudden Death (1995)

A former fireman takes on a group of terrorists holding the Vice President and others hostage during the seventh game of the NHL Stanley Cup finals.

Director:

Peter Hyams

Writers:

Karen Elise Baldwin (story) (as Karen Baldwin), Gene Quintano (screenplay)

Stars:

Jean-Claude Van Damme, Powers Boothe, Raymond J. Barry

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jean-Claude Van Damme	...	Darren McCord
Powers Boothe	...	Joshua Foss
Raymond J. Barry	...	Vice President
Whittni Wright	...	Emily McCord
Ross Malinger	...	Tyler McCord
Dorian Harewood	...	Hallmark
Kate McNeil	...	Kathi
Michael Gaston	...	Hickey
Audra Lindley	...	Mrs. Ferrara
Brian Delate	...	Blair
Steve Aronson	...	Dooley
Michael R. Aubele	...	Ace (as Michael Aubele)
Karen Elise Baldwin	...	TV Director (as Karen Baldwin)
Jennifer D. Bowser	...	Joan
Pat Brisson	...	Player #2

Storyline

Some terrorists kidnap the Vice President of the United States and threaten to blow up the entire stadium during the final game of the NHL Stanley Cup. There is only one way and one man to stop them...

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Plot Keywords:

hockey | terrorist | vice president | explosive | hostage | 

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Taglines:

Action goes into overtime

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for a substantial amount of strong violence, and for language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 December 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Muerte súbita

Filming Locations:

1016 Fritz Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Signature Entertainment, Imperial Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

DTS DTS-Stereo Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Following the film's release the Pittsburgh Penguins would win three more Stanley Cup championships. The Pens defeated the Detroit Red Wings in 2009, the San Jose Sharks in 2016 and the Nashville Predators in 2017. The Penguins appeared in the Stanley Cup Finals in 2008, but lost to the Detroit Red Wings.

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Goofs

The announcer says Darren Pang is goalie but when you see a Penguin take a shot the jersey says Belfour.

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Quotes

McCord: [their last conversation, until the end of the movie] ... Don't you move. If you need to piss, you sit here and go in your pants; it'll serve you right. But, if the dome is falling down around your ass, *Don't move*! Understand?
Tyler: Sure, I'll remember.

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Movies That Ripped Off Die Hard (2018)

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Soundtracks

Arena Themes
Written and Performed by Sorcerer
Courtesy of Neenoon Tunes

User Reviews

Van Damme as a fireman hero fighting against mean terrorists into an ice-hockey stadium

Darren(Jean Claude Van Damme) is a firemen, he carries his sons to a Pittsburgh Penguin national Hockey play-off where is taking place the final.But the arena has been taken by a terrorists led by a cruel villain(Powers Boothe). The bad guys are holding the Vice President(Raymond J. Barry), as well as another authorities taken as hostages in a private box. The chief villain demanding a few billion dollars or he'll blow up the stadium because is wired with enough explosives for killing all around. Meanwhile an Inspector(Dorian Harewood) is also investigating the events and is captured our hero's daughter .

This film is plenty of action and explosions and is quite amusing. Displays suspense, thriller, violence, great action scenes and stunts with sensational scenes. Jean Claude Van Damme gets a perfect part who plays cat-and-mouse- with a sardonic nasty, well played by Powers Boothe.The highlights film are the impressive fighting on the stadium's ceiling. The blowing up ,pyrotechnics,struggles are breathtaking but the picture is just another usual Hollywood product in the wake of ¨Die hard¨.Married only by lack credulity for feats of Van Damme and too many needlessly scenes. It packs a high budget and lavishly produced ,however, nowadays Van Damme performs a middling and low budget movies. Spectacular music score fitting to action film by John Debney(Sin city,Passion of Christ).The motion picture is professionally directed by Peter Hyams who repeats with Jean Claude in ¨Timecop¨ . He's an irregular director with hits(Relic,Outland,Capricorn one) and flops(Sound and thunder,End of days).