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:

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 | black superhero | non comic book superhero | bully | car chase | 

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Taglines:

Meet the superhero everybody loves to hate.

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Daeg Faerch did all his own stunts.

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Goofs

When Hancock and Ray are talking through the glass in prison, the cutout Hancock is about to make in the glass is clearly visible, especially running across Ray's right cheek.

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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

Referenced in Honest Trailers: Suicide Squad (2016)

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Soundtracks

Llego Cachaito
Written by Roberto Fonseca and Orlando 'Cachaíto' López (as Orlando Cachaito Lopez)
Performed by Roberto Fonseca
Courtesy of Enja Records M. Winckelmann GmbH

User Reviews

Well, the first half was good...

• Look, I have an idea. Let's make a Superman flick, but instead of everybody liking this Superman-like character, everyone could, like, hate him.

• Hmm.. interesting. But why would they hate him? Is he a villain or something?

• No, no. He is..well.. a jerk. He still catches bad guys and stuff, but he, like, insults people, creates a lot of collateral damage.. you know. A jerk.

• I like it, I like it. He's like a superhero dr. House or something, right?

• Right. Only less witty and more bitter. We can also make him a drunk.

• Well... I dunno if it would fly. Perhaps if we could get Will Smith to do the role. People dig Will Smith.

• I'm with you there. Will Smith, flying around, insulting people.. man, this will be great!

• Right. But we have to go with it somewhere, we can't just let him do superhero stuff while being a jerk, this would get old pretty fast. How about he somehow gets involved with a PR specialist, who will, like, try to improve his public image?

• Great idea! And wait..wait.. what if we get that Michael Bluth guy from Arrested Development to play, umm... Michael Bluth the PR guy?

-Terrific! We're seriously up to something. Let's write!

(scrib scrib scrib... hours pass..)

• Congrats, we have a hit! Let's celebrate!

• I'll get the champagne!

• Umm hold on just a minute...

• What?

• I just realized.. this script is only good for about 45 minutes of the movie! Hour tops!

• Oh no! What can we do? Can we pad it a little?

• No! It's unpaddable! I even added a female lead as Michael Bluth's wife, it still only added about 5 minutes of the movie. Nope, sorry. This is a dud.

• Oh come on...

• Look, look..perhaps we can think of something. Think, think...how do we further the story along, put in, like, some kind of a twist...

• They are all dead or something?

• No, no.. how about..

(scrib scrib.. hours pass)

• Hmmm... I don't think this will work. No chance.

• Why?

• Just look at it! It's stupid, insultingly illogical, and the ending.. it's horrible. Look, I've greenlighted Jaws 4, so I know what I'm talking about.

• But, but.. Will Smith.. Bluth guy.. maybe we can get Charlize for the wife...

• I know! But this stuff... it.. just does not make any sense! The second half is nothing like the first half. It kills the movie!

• Yeah, perhaps we should just rewrite the whole thing..but..know what?

• What?

• Remember "I am legend"? With Will Smith?

• Yeees....

• That one also had a great first half, right?

• Yes. The first half was good.

• And the second half royally sucked, right?

• Riiight...

• And it still was a success, right?

• I see.. what you're saying is that a Will Smith flick can have a great first half, idiotic second half and still come out a winner?

• Exactly!

• Well it IS kind of late and I'm kinda tired.. What gives, let's do it. Although it *does* sound kinda hancock to me. Btw, how do we call this thing?

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Japanese Vietnamese

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:

$629,443,428

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