Do you want to see ‘Nighthawks’?

Add to Netflix

Nighthawks (1981)

tomatometer

All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 6.2/10
Reviews Counted: 14
Fresh: 10 | Rotten: 4

No consensus yet.

No Score Yet...

Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 2
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 0

audience

liked it
Average Rating: 3.1/5
User Ratings: 6,775

My Rating

Added to your Facebook Timeline. — undo

Movie Info

Deke DaSilva (Sylvester Stallone) and Matthew Fox (Billy Dee Williams) are New York police officers specially assigned to a special multi-national team dedicated to tracking down terrorist Wulfgar (Rutger Hauer). Wulfgar planted a bomb in a London department store, killing several children and he is now an outcast, hunted by both the police and his fellow gang members. He has extensive plastic surgery and resumes his activities aided by Shakka (Persis Khambutta), a completely psychotic fellow

R, 1 hr. 45 min.

Action & Adventure

Directed By: Bruce Malmuth

In Theaters: Apr 4, 1981 Wide

On DVD: Oct 19, 1999

MCA Universal Home Video

Nighthawks Trailer & Photos

Cast

Sylvester Stallone
Deke DaSilva
Billy Dee Williams
Matthew Fox
Rutger Hauer
Wulfgar
Nigel Davenport
Peter Hartman
Persis Khambatta
Shakka
Lindsay Wagner
Irene
Joe Spinell
Lt. Munafo
Hilary Thompson
Pam
Jim Beaver
Subway Passenger
Al Cerullo
Helicopter Pilot
Tawn Christian
Disco Hostess
Caesar Cordova
Puerto Rican Proprietor
Steve Daskawisz
A.T.A.C. Man
E. Brian Dean
Sergeant
Charles Duval
Dr. Ghiselin
Clebert Ford
Nigerian Ambassador
Edward Fox
Jamie Gillis
Designer
Yvette Hawkins
Mrs. Ntembwe
Al Levitsky
A.T.A.C. Man
Walter Mac Neil
Commissioner
Robert Pugh
Kenna
Luke Reilly
Conductor
Thomas Rosales Jr.
Ripper
Jacques Roux
French Ambassador
Jose Santana
Ripper
Howard Stein
Disco Manager
Catherine Mary Stewart
Salesgirl
Frederick Treves
Chief Police Inspector
Luke Walter
A.T.A.C. Man
Karl Wickman
Helicopter Pilot
Cliff Cudney
A.T.A.C. Man
Tony Munafo
Big Mike
Dar Robinson
A.T.A.C. Man
Jean-Pierre Stewart
Rene Marigny
Obaka Adedunyo
Mr. Ntembwe
Joe Dabenigno
A.T.A.C. Man
Tom Degidon
Immigration Officer
Paul Farentino
A.T.A.C. Man
Eivind Harum
Swedish Ambassador
Brian Osborne
Orchard
Walter Mathews
Commissioner

Critic Reviews for Nighthawks

All Critics (14) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (10) | Rotten (4) | DVD (1)

Though there's never much doubt how the duel will end, the climax is nonetheless surprising and totally satisfying, topping the energy of the previous pursuit.

January 30, 2009 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

All of it is standard stuff, and yet Nighthawks has been assembled with enough pep to make it feel fresh.

August 30, 2004 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Janet Maslin

New York Times

Top Critic

This very effective thriller features a chilling performance by Hauer as the emotionless killing machine. Stallone and Williams are also credible, and the film makes good use of its New York locations.

July 25, 2010 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

| Comment

TV Guide's Movie Guide

A taut urban thriller with a hissable villain and an unforgettable ending. One of Stallone's best films.

January 26, 2006 Comment

Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

A terrorist hijacking a cable car, even in New York, is a mildly ludicrous idea -- were no 747s handy? The plot of Nighthawks makes no sense.

January 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment (1)

Time Out

Nighthawks is a compelling movie with plenty of adrenaline-pumping chase sequences.

January 31, 2004 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice

| Comment

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality and Practice

While the plotting is familiar (especially after countless imitations), competent scripting, direction and acting make this above average entertainment.

May 24, 2003 Full Review Source: Film4

| Comment

Film4

One of Stallone's better non-Rocky efforts

November 1, 2002 Comment

Jon Niccum

Lawrence Journal-World

Vicious and intense cat-and-mouse cop thriller.

October 6, 2002 Comment

Scott Weinberg

eFilmCritic.com

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Nighthawks

View All

Rambo and Lando more or less remake French Connection, but with a terrorist (Rutger Hauer in his debut) instead of a drug dealer.

June 19, 2007

Ken Stachnik

Super Reviewer

Very much in the same tradition of the French Connection, an 80s equivalent and almost as good. The good vs. evil aspect is the strongest and quite possibly the most effective in a plot like this. Part of that is due to both Rutger Hauer and Sylvester Stallone's flawless performances. Sly is actually a lot different

August 30, 2010

Conner Rainwater

Super Reviewer

Nighthawks Quotes

View All

No quotes approved yet for Nighthawks. Logged in users can submit quotes.

Submit a Quote from 'Nighthawks'

A quote can be a single line from one character or a memorable dialog between several characters. Please make your quotes accurate. Quotes will be submitted for approval by the RT staff.

Example:

Luke: Alright. I'll give it a try.
Yoda: No. Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.