Running Scared

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Running Scared

R

1986

1h 46m

Action

Comedy

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

63%

Tomatometer

24 Reviews

58%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Ray and Danny (Gregory Hines, Billy Crystal) are two Chicago police detectives hot on the trail of drug kingpin Julio Gonzales (Jimmy Smits). They manage to nab the drug lord, but the bust is messy, and the two are suspended. While vacationing in Key West, Fla., they decide to retire from the police force and open up a bar. But when they return to Chicago and find out that Gonzales has been released on bail, they vow not to quit the force until the dangerous dealer is behind bars for good.

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Critics Consensus

Running Scared struggles to strike a consistent balance between violent action and humor, but the chemistry between its well-matched leads keeps things entertaining.

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

"Running Scared" tries to be a light comedy in a violent, comic-book world. That's a difficult juggling act, and director Peter Hyams doesn't pull it off.

May 27, 2014

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

A functional 1986 actioner about two wisecracking Chicago cops (Gregory Hines and Billy Crystal) and their vendetta against a Latino crime lord (Jimmy Smits).

May 27, 2014

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

No more original or eventful than an average police TV show, so it must sink or swim on the moment-by-moment cleverness of the dialog and the behavioral talents of Hines and Crystal. Fortunately, these elements prove formidable.

May 27, 2014

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

While the 1980s were frequently a safe haven for such disastrous, what-were-they-thinking? screen teams as Pat Morita & Jay Leno (Collision Course) and Ted Danson & Howie Mandel (A Fine Mess), this offered a “buddy comedy” pairing that actually worked.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 1, 2024

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

…a good example of how slick, immoral and yet somehow wholesome the simple formula for an old-school cops and robbers movie can be….

Rated: 3/5

Aug 23, 2023

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a fairly standard buddy-cop comedy that benefits from its top-notch performances and smattering of engrossing, exciting action sequences...

Rated: 3/4

Mar 7, 2022

Full Review

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David Y

A straight up cult classic. Billy Crystal & Gregory Hines have great chemistry. This is a great 80's movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/12/25

Full Review

J p

The greatest cop buddy movie ever made in my opinion and the opinion of many that are on the job!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/17/25

Full Review

alan g

Lousy Buddy movie. Very disrespectful of police.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/25

Full Review

Christian K

A decent buddy cop romp, wish there was more Key West scenes, action wasn't great but an all around serviceable time and movie.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/04/25

Full Review

Mark T

Running Scared is a good buddy cop action movie, but it's no Lethal Weapon. It's NOT a Christmas movie, there are no Christmas scenes.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/04/25

Full Review

Matt D

Gold fu$ckin gem of a movie. If you lived in the 80’s, you know Billy Crystal is a national treasure and this campy movie is a perfect example. Just watch and enjoy

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/02/24

Full Review

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Peter Hyams

Director

Gregory Hines

Ray Hughes

Billy Crystal

Danny Costanzo

Jimmy Smits

Julio Gonzales

Steven Bauer

Det. Frank Sigliano

Darlanne Fluegel

Anna Costanzo

Running Scared: Official Clip - Hablo Smith & Wesson?

1:40

Running Scared: Official Clip - Pants Drop

2:28

Running Scared: Official Clip - Must Be the Vest

2:06

Running Scared: Official Clip - You're Mugging Us?

2:26

Running Scared: Official Clip - Forced Vacation

1:32

Running Scared: Official Clip - I Got Him!

1:42

Running Scared: Official Clip - State Building Shootout

2:43

Running Scared: Official Clip - Cops vs. Trash Compactor

2:12

Running Scared: Official Clip - Police Line-Up

1:36

Running Scared: Official Clip - Entrapping the Cops

2:26

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Synopsis

Ray and Danny (Gregory Hines, Billy Crystal) are two Chicago police detectives hot on the trail of drug kingpin Julio Gonzales (Jimmy Smits). They manage to nab the drug lord, but the bust is messy, and the two are suspended. While vacationing in Key West, Fla., they decide to retire from the police force and open up a bar. But when they return to Chicago and find out that Gonzales has been released on bail, they vow not to quit the force until the dangerous dealer is behind bars for good.

Director: Peter Hyams
Producer: David Foster, Lawrence Turman
Screenwriter: Gary DeVore, Jimmy Huston
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, David Foster Productions, Turman-Foster Company
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA): $37.6M
Runtime: 1h 46m
Sound Mix: Surround

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