Hancock (2008)

Hancock is a superhero whose ill-considered behavior regularly causes damage in the millions. He changes when the person he saves helps him improve his public image.

Director:

Peter Berg

Writers:

Vincent Ngo (as Vy Vincent Ngo), Vince Gilligan

Stars:

Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman

4 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Will Smith	...	John Hancock
Charlize Theron	...	Mary
Jason Bateman	...	Ray
Jae Head	...	Aaron
Eddie Marsan	...	Red
David Mattey	...	Man Mountain
Maetrix Fitten	...	Matrix
Thomas Lennon	...	Mike
Johnny Galecki	...	Jeremy
Hayley Marie Norman	...	Hottie
Dorothy Cecchi	...	Woman in Dive Bar
Michelle Lemon	...	Girl at Bus Bench
Akiva Goldsman	...	Executive
Michael Mann	...	Executive
Brad Leland	...	Executive

Storyline

The powerful superhero John Hancock has become a joke because of his alcoholism and clumsiness. He has also become the most hated man in Los Angeles. Though he has saved many lives, he also destroyed a lot of property, costing the city millions every time he goes into action. When he saves the life of PR expert Ray Embrey from an oncoming train, the executive is thankful and believes he can restore Hancock's image as a true superhero. He brings the anti-hero home for dinner and introduces him to his son Aaron, a big fan, and to his wife, Mary. But for some mysterious reason Mary doesn't want Hancock anywhere near her or her family.

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Plot Keywords:

superhero | anti gay language | black superhero | non comic book superhero | bully | 

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Taglines:

There are heroes. There are superheroes. And then there's...

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Genres:

Action | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan] Sony Pictures [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

Vietnamese English Japanese

Release Date:

2 July 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Tonight, He Comes

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$150,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$62,603,879, 6 July 2008

Gross USA:

$227,946,274

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$624,386,771

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Relativity Media, Blue Light

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min 102 min (unrated)

Sound Mix:

SDDS DTS Dolby Digital Dolby Atmos

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Will Smith will be producing Hancock Part 2. Star cast is not finalized yet. But rumors are Beyoncé will be part of this movie. This sequel is uncertain, as of March 2017.

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Goofs

Ray picks up a tri-colored towel, then opens a jar with a green and gold towel.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Police Officer: All units. All units. Code 3 pursuit of 2-11 white SUV heading east on Alameda service road. Suspects: three Asian males. Request back-up immediately. Be advised. Shots fired. Shots fired.

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Crazy Credits

A scene after the credits start to roll.

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Alternate Versions

An extended cut was released on DVD and Blu-Ray featuring several additional and modified scenes. The additional scenes include, but are not limited to: Hancock bringing a girl to his trailer to have sex, Mary Embrey driving to Hancock's trailer instead of flying there, and Hancock getting off a prison bus while chained to other prisoners whom he drags behind him.

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Connections

References Woodstock (1970)

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Soundtracks

Paper Planes
Written by M.I.A. (as Mathangi Arulpragasm), Diplo (as Wesley Pentz), Topper Headon, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, and Joe Strummer
Performed by M.I.A.
Courtesy of Interscope Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises
and Courtesy of XL Recordings Ltd.

User Reviews

About a superhuman who is just very human

Hancock was a pretty interesting as well as entertaining movie. It definitely wasn't your typical superhero movie; and it wasn't originally a DC or Marvel comic. It's more about what would happen if someone with superheroes was around in modern times, and that is what makes it interesting. If there's some property damage done while catching criminals, people will be angry; if a vigilante has a bad attitude, people will be angry. I suppose Batman explores some of that not being liked by the public, as well as the bad attitude and personal trauma of the hero, but I found Hancock to be quite original in its handling of these issues. I liked the media attention and the use of sunglasses as a "mask" of sorts. I really liked how Hancock progresses as a character, and I liked the other characters as well. Usually little kids in movies annoy me, but the son of the supporting character was pretty cute and endearing. This isn't really a hero movie where there is a superhero and a super villain; I think it's more about what it means to be a human and relate to other people, to do good things and the desire to be accepted. I think the best part of Hancock is that it's about a superhuman who is just very human. It was a lot of fun.