Against All Odds

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Against All Odds

R

Released Mar 2, 1984

2h 8m

Crime

Drama

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Popcornmeter

64%

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14 Reviews

46%

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5,000+ Ratings

Having been cut from his professional football team, down-and-out athlete Terry Brogan (Jeff Bridges) is in desperate need of money. Crooked nightclub owner and bookie Jake Wise (James Woods) offers Terry a hefty sum to go to Mexico and find his girlfriend, Jessie Wyler (Rachel Ward). Terry cannot turn the offer down. When Terry locates Jessie, the two fall in love. Terry reports that he failed to find her; but Jake sends someone else. Terry and Jessie's love must endure unexpected twists.

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Nigel Andrews

Financial Times

Hackford has an uncanny flair for thumping a story along at breakneck speed, ploughing through the most unyielding passages of plot exposition and the busiest shoals of plot twists.

May 10, 2021

Full Review

David Robinson

The Times (UK)

The potential of the idea is sacrificed to a wild excess of plot and characters whose motives are generally as baffling as they are unpredictable.

May 10, 2021

Full Review

Derek Malcolm

Guardian

Alas it does not work, though Hackford, who made An Officer And A Gentleman, is the kind of director who always looks as if he is just about to make something interesting.

May 10, 2021

Full Review

Philip French

Observer (UK)

Despite the longueurs and the underlying callowness, I enjoyed Against All Odds, though I can't see it lasting the way Tourneur's film has.

May 10, 2021

Full Review

Daniel Barnes

Dare Daniel

Against All Odds has its moments, but too often the film plays less like an official remake of Out of the Past and more like an unofficial prequel to Tequila Sunrise.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 9, 2019

Full Review

Rob Thomas

Capital Times (Madison, WI)

A decent film noir, mostly because of Woods and Bridges.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 18, 2005

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Nick K

This movie is not really as good as I remember. Jeff Bridges character is almost as bad as James woods character. Lots of nonsense, and an overly complicated plot also bring it down. However the music is excellent, and a good view into the 80s

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

06/21/25

Full Review

Mikey B

Jeff Bridges plays a former NFL player dragged into a missing person case. The plot gets needlessly complicated. James Woods does a good job playing the slimy character as usual. Great scenery and Phil Collins theme song, but the movie gets buried under its own weight.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

06/19/25

Full Review

Paul B

This is a qwerky powerful movie on top of that its a powerful love story, very interesting

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/06/25

Full Review

Klay W

I love this movie. Great love story.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/25/25

Full Review

Farah R

I came here for Jeff Briges' hair and stayed for Elton John's song. Everything in between was a blur of rich people tears and first world problems.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/11/24

Full Review

Tom R

I think this is a great movie with a number of twists and turns with a great cast to keep you engaged, culminating with the final scene where the moment is captured by Phil Collins singing the title song, Against All Odds. I don't think there has ever been a movie where the final moment of the main characters angst at being a part are captured so brilliantly in a timeless song that is still heard on the radio today, 40 years after the movie came out. Ignore those reviews that just don't get the movie magic of a complicated love story that ends with a brilliant song capturing the angst of a love that can't be bridged until some later time, if ever... against all odds.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/27/24

Full Review

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Taylor Hackford

Director

Rachel Ward

Jessie Wyler

Jeff Bridges

Terry Brogan

James Woods

Jake Wise

Alex Karras

Hank Sully

Jane Greer

Mrs. Wyler

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Synopsis

Having been cut from his professional football team, down-and-out athlete Terry Brogan (Jeff Bridges) is in desperate need of money. Crooked nightclub owner and bookie Jake Wise (James Woods) offers Terry a hefty sum to go to Mexico and find his girlfriend, Jessie Wyler (Rachel Ward). Terry cannot turn the offer down. When Terry locates Jessie, the two fall in love. Terry reports that he failed to find her; but Jake sends someone else. Terry and Jessie's love must endure unexpected twists.

Director: Taylor Hackford
Producer: William S. Gilmore, Taylor Hackford
Screenwriter: Daniel Mainwaring, Eric Hughes
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: New Vision Films, Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 2, 1984, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 1, 2012
Runtime: 2h 8m
Sound Mix: Surround

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