The Hard Way

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The Hard Way

R

1991

1h 51m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

25 Reviews

53%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Seeking to raise his credibility as an actor and to land a role as a tough cop on a new show, Hollywood action star Nick Lang (Michael J. Fox) works a deal with New York City Police Capt. Brix (Delroy Lindo), who by chance is one of his fans. Nick will be paired with detective Lt. John Moss (James Woods) and learn how to act like a real cop. But when Nick drives John crazy with questions and imitating him, he gets in the way of John's pursuit of a serial killer (Stephen Lang).

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Critics Consensus

The Hard Way's overly familiar formula is enlivened by a witty script and the excellent comedic chemistry between Michael J. Fox and James Woods.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

01/01/2000

3.5/4

There is nothing very remarkable about The Hard Way, except for its comic energy, but the energy of this movie is everything, reminding me of the wisecracking, hard-boiled screwball comedies of the 1940s.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

07/01/2025

3/5

‘…mooted as a vehicle for Gene Hackman/Kevin Klein, this street-smart buddy-cop movie doesn’t re-invent the wheel, but provides some gentle amusements…fun and entertaining to watch, not stinting on flying police-cars and death-defying cliff-hanger action…

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

08/03/2023

Even with all its disparate effects, The Hard Way is entertaining until the last half hour. [Full review in Spanish]

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Joanna Langfield

Video Review

08/08/2022

2/4

I always enjoy watching Fox and Woods, who can be counted upon for at least a few entertainingly quirky moments. Pairing them makes for a scrappy match. Too bad the vehicle isn't quite as intriguing as the casting.

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Ed Travis

Cinapse

10/09/2020

Everyone in the formidable cast of The Hard Way seems to have gotten the memo that this was to be a "good time at the movies".

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

09/14/2020

7/10

The formula of pairing a seasoned, serious, violent, tough-guy with a goofy, inexperienced youngster has been done before, yet there's still something humorous about it.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 07/22/2025

Funny in 1 hour and 51 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $24,500,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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thiago s

@Thiagostone 05/25/2025

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom.

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Bahad j

@RT27093708 08/06/2024

There is no way not to praise each other's actors in this film. Really great acting. Of course, the main character was the best.

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Geke g

@RT40239519 08/05/2024

Rest in peace for my liver

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Munkhchimeg T

@RT64187897 08/05/2024

Hilarious movie. Laughed out loud. Almost cried 😂😂

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John A

@ExcessMale 01/18/2024

Michael J. Fox and James Woods are one of the least popular duos stemming from the myriad of films using the buddy cop trope yet something about the two really clicks in this spiced up comedic crime flick that obviously relies on tired cliches.

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John Badham

Director

Michael J. Fox

Nick Lang

James Woods

Detective Lt. John Moss

Stephen Lang

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Synopsis

Seeking to raise his credibility as an actor and to land a role as a tough cop on a new show, Hollywood action star Nick Lang (Michael J. Fox) works a deal with New York City Police Capt. Brix (Delroy Lindo), who by chance is one of his fans. Nick will be paired with detective Lt. John Moss (James Woods) and learn how to act like a real cop. But when Nick drives John crazy with questions and imitating him, he gets in the way of John's pursuit of a serial killer (Stephen Lang).

Director: John Badham
Producer: William Sackheim, Rob Cohen
Screenwriter: Daniel Pyne, Lem Dobbs
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $24.5M
Runtime: 1h 51m
Sound Mix: Surround