Nighthawks

Play trailer

Nighthawks

R

Released Apr 4, 1981

1h 39m

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

72%

Tomatometer

25 Reviews

55%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Fresh from mounting a devastating bomb attack in London, an international terrorist arrives in New York and remains intent upon wreaking further havoc. His preparation is clinical and thorough but he overlooks one thing - the grit and steely determination of one New York cop.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Joe Pollack

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

A film that is exciting and fast paced, with both Stallone and Williams handling the action roles in first-rate style. Davenport, as always, comes across well, and then there's Hauer, who gives the film a slightly different and winning dimension.

Dec 29, 2021

Full Review

Joseph Gelmis

Newsday

A dynamic action film whose expertise is never in question but which fails to touch a nerve in the viewer.

Rated: 2.5/4

Dec 29, 2021

Full Review

Gary Arnold

Washington Post

Nighthawks, an aggressively shallow police thriller pitting New York undercover cops against international terrorists.

Dec 18, 2015

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

‘…a reasonably gripping international cat and mouse game that was a modest hit at the time, but offers a lot to modern audiences, not least an iconic lead and villain combo for the ages…’

Rated: 3/5

Oct 1, 2024

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

One of the better Stallone flicks. Besides, where else can one find the screen being shared by the who’s-who gallery of Rocky Balboa, Lando Calrissian, Roy Batty, the Bionic Woman, and the bald lady from the first Star Trek film?

Rated: 3/4

Nov 12, 2023

Full Review

Don Shanahan

Cinephile Hissy Fit Podcast

Damn, Stallone looks good in a beard, but Rutger Hauer looks even better in his American debut.

Nov 23, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

Alec B

A clear attempt to imitate other gritty cop movies of the era. I think New York is well utilized but its mostly lacking tension or interesting characters.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/07/25

Full Review

Todd B

Action cop movie with pinachè. Stallone and Billy Dee Williams.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/29/24

Full Review

Johnathon W

Solid crime thriller that remains one of Sylvester Stallone's more underrated films, despite a troubled production. Stallone is solid in the lead role, playing a damaged cop trying to save his marriage while seeing if he can take down a deadly terrorist. However, it is Rutger Hauer, in his first American role, who steals the show as Wulgar, an international terrorists who truly enjoys his job. Behind the camera, the troubled production hampers the films's sharp edges (it had multiple directors, including Sly itself) but still has a nice edge too it as a tribute to the 70's era. While not a perfect film, an underrated find in Sly's career.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/26/24

Full Review

Alex P

Such an underrated film with 2 fine performances from Stallone and Hauer

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/01/24

Full Review

Chris B

Rutgers Hauer gives a compelling performance as Wulfgar. Stallone is underrated in his role. Great Period piece.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/24

Full Review

Thomas K

After all this years, I still like to watch this movie. A really good one. And Rutger Hauer is over the top.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/15/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Bruce Malmuth

Director

Sylvester Stallone

Deke DaSilva

Billy Dee Williams

Matthew Fox

Rutger Hauer

Wulfgar

Lindsay Wagner

Irene

Persis Khambatta

Shakka Holland

Nighthawks: Official Clip - Guitar Gun

1:46

Nighthawks: Official Clip - Disguised as a Woman

2:15

Nighthawks: Official Clip - Stalked by a Killer

2:16

Nighthawks: Official Clip - Disco Bloodbath

1:53

Nighthawks: Official Clip - London Bombing

1:27

Nighthawks: Official Clip - Killing Hostages

3:11

Nighthawks: Official Clip - Escalator Assassination

2:25

Nighthawks: Official Clip - Subway Chase

3:51

Nighthawks: Official Clip - Police Snipers

3:09

Nighthawks: Official Clip - Infant Extraction

3:16

View more videos

Two Minute Warning

29%

45%

Two Minute Warning

Watchlist

The Formula

20%

23%

The Formula

Watchlist

Gorky Park

78%

59%

Gorky Park

Watchlist

Blow Out

88%

81%

Blow Out

Watchlist

Black Sunday

75%

65%

Black Sunday

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Fresh from mounting a devastating bomb attack in London, an international terrorist arrives in New York and remains intent upon wreaking further havoc. His preparation is clinical and thorough but he overlooks one thing - the grit and steely determination of one New York cop.

Director: Bruce Malmuth
Producer: Martin Poll, Herb Nanas
Screenwriter: David Shaber
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal/Universal Int
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 4, 1981, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 23, 2016
Runtime: 1h 39m

Most Popular at Home Now