RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / 48 Hrs.
48 Hrs.

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
Bookmark and Share

48 Hrs. (1982)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
94 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:33

Fresh:31

Rotten:2

Average Rating:7.4/10

Runtime: 1 hr 37 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

Synopsis: Jack Cates (Nick Nolte) is a tough, super-jaded cop who springs a hard luck robber, Reggie Hammond (Eddie Murphy), from jail for two days to help nab his former partners. The two men form a kind of... Jack Cates (Nick Nolte) is a tough, super-jaded cop who springs a hard luck robber, Reggie Hammond (Eddie Murphy), from jail for two days to help nab his former partners. The two men form a kind of friendship (based on mutual hatred) as they chase a trio of remorseless villains through the streets of San Francisco and Cates finds that Hammond's streetwise method of finding the criminals is possibly even more effective than his own by-the-book police procedures. Rounded characters and crackling comedy balance out this this box-office hit. A sequel, ANOTHER 48 HOURS, was produced in 1990. [More]

Starring: Nick Nolte, Eddie Murphy, Sonny Landham, Annette O'Toole

Starring: Nick Nolte, Eddie Murphy, Sonny Landham, Annette O'Toole, James Remar, Brion James, Frank McRae, David Patrick Kelly, Jonathan Banks, Denise Crosby, Margot Rose

Director: Walter Hill

Director: Walter Hill
Screenwriter: Roger Spottiswoode, Walter Hill, Larry Gross, Steven E. De Souza
Composer: James Horner

[See More Credits]

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Jun 30, 2009

[DVD Details]
 
 

DVD Features:

  • Region 1
  • NTSC
  • Keep Case - Sensormatic
  • Widescreen

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono - English, French
  • Dolby Digital 2.0, Dolby Digital 5.1 - English, French
 
 
 
 

Reviews for 48 Hrs.

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by rotten rating)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

This film never worked for me.

comment 1 Comment
08/06/03
Alex Sandell
Alex Sandell
Juicy Cerebellum

Neither jokes nor fast, flashy action can completely distract audiences from the failure to establish an authentic, rather than a purely conventional connection between Nolte and Murphy.

Full Review Source: TIME Magazine | comment 1 Comment
06/06/09
Richard Schickel
Richard Schickel
TIME Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Fast-paced, frill-free action entertainment of the first order.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
05/07/08
Channel 4 Film

Hang on for the ride.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
03/01/07
TV Guide's Movie Guide

A down-the-line thriller, plain, fast and efficient.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
01/26/06
Time Out

No review available.

comment Comment
05/29/04
Andy Klein
Andy Klein
New Times

No review available.

comment Comment
04/05/03
Beth Accomando
Beth Accomando
KPBS.org

Not many people ever get to be the coolest man on the planet, but for a while in the early '80s, it was Eddie Murphy.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/08/02
Brad Laidman
Brad Laidman
Film Threat

No review available.

comment Comment
04/07/03
Brian J. Arthurs
Brian J. Arthurs
Beach Reporter (Southern California)

Before Nolte was in Rehab, and Murphy was making movies like "Pluto Nash" (who can say which fate is worse?), the two got together for a pretty decent little buddy-cop movie

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
03/18/03
Brian Mckay
Brian Mckay
eFilmCritic.com

No review available.

comment Comment
08/22/03
Carol Cling
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal

Stands with Midnight Run as one of the all-time great mismatched buddy movies.

comment Comment
08/31/05
Chuck O'Leary
Chuck O'Leary
Fantastica Daily

The perfect buddy-cop movie! Murphy and Nolte are awesome!

comment Comment
10/26/08
Clint Morris
Clint Morris
Moviehole

No review available.

comment Comment
10/22/06
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

All in all, a superior genre piece, if not the height of Hill's artistry.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
03/01/07
Dave Kehr
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Whether it owes its quality to Murphy or something else, 48 HRS. deserves to be praised anyway.

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
01/01/00
Dragan Antulov
Dragan Antulov
rec.arts.movies.reviews

No review available.

comment Comment
06/27/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Although dated, there is a brute edginess to this popular slice of formula odd coupling.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
03/01/07
Ian Nathan
Ian Nathan
Empire Magazine

No review available.

comment Comment
04/09/03
James O'Ehley
James O'Ehley
Sci-Fi Movie Page

Director Walter Hill delivers rock-solid action every time he steps behind the lens, so enjoy this archetypal pairing not only for the adrenaline, but also for the energy and verve of Eddie Murphy in his youth.

Full Review Source: Netflix | comment Comment
11/07/02
James Rocchi
James Rocchi
Netflix
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by rotten rating)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
all

Latest News for 48 Hrs.

April 17, 2006: Hill in Final Negotiations To Direct Rambo IV?
Danny Lerner, a top producer at NU Image films, has announced that Walter Hill in final negotiations to direct the fourth Rambo film. After first seeking out Ridley Scott and... More...

See All

More DVDs

Close
Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
78% 78% The Hangover
88% 88% Inglourious Basterds
66% 66% Public Enemies
24% 24% G-Force
44% 44% Night at the Museum: B…

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
90% 90% District 9
86% 86% 500 Days of Summer
63% 63% Extract
06% 06% All About Steve
78% 78% It Might Get Loud

More New Releases…

See All

RT On Current TV

The Rotten Tomatoes Show on Current TV

DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...

Learn how you can be part of the show

More...

What’s Hot On RT

Best of the Decade

Best of the Decade

Find out what movies made our list!

Iron Man 2

Iron Man 2

Watch the brand new trailer now!

Clash of the Titans

Clash of the Titans

Prepare to Clash with Titans in this trailer!

Total Recall

Total Recall

RT looks back on Jude Law's best movies!

Other News

Close
  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Danny Trejo Talks Machete, Possible Sequels Source: Collider.com
14
  • It's Official: Jackass 3-D Coming in 2010 Source: Collider.com
16
  • Bryan Singer Returning to X-Men for First Class Source: Superhero Hype
102
  • Mark Strong Talks Kick-Ass, John Carter, and Robin Hood Source: Collider.com
1
  • How Avatar Happened: The Path to Innovation Source: CinemaBlend.com
19
  • Rob Marshall Says Pirates 4 Is Still a Maybe Source: ComingSoon.net
32
  • ET Teases Iron Man 2 Teaser Source: Collider.com
28
  • Tobey Maguire Refutes Hobbit Rumors Source: Hollywood Reporter
9
  • Prince of Persia Featurette Posted Source: Yahoo! Movies
4
  • Trailer Bulletin: Robin Hood Source: ComingSoon.net
61
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Critics Consensus: Avatar Is Certified Fresh
313
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Avatar Soars to #1 Spot
261
  • Brittany Murphy: 1977-2009
115
  • RT's Best of the Decade!
79
  • Five Favorite Films With Peter Jackson
62
  • Weekly Ketchup: Bryan Singer Teaches X-Men: First Class
44
  • Awards Tour 2009: SAG Nominations Are In!
43
  • Total Recall: Jude Law's Best Movies
41
  • RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: District 9 and (500) Days of Summer
32
  • Critics Consensus: Sherlock Holmes Is Worth Investigating
15
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • Five Favorite Films With Peter Jackson
62
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
21
  • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
2
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
12
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
24
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
16
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
24
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
9
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • 48 Hrs. at Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh Links

Featured
Best Dozen of the Decade
Best Dozen of the Decade External Link

Last week, MSN gave us their top 09 films. Now see what their favorites of the decade are!

Top 50 of 2009
Top 50 of 2009 External Link

Here's a list of the 50 best movies of 2009, according to the good people over at Moviefone.

Santa's Naughty List
Santa's Naughty List External Link

Hollywood.com takes a stab at determining who in movies will be on Santa's naughty list in 2009.

Top 10 Movies of 2009
Top 10 Movies of 2009 External Link

TIME chimes in with their own list of the best films released this year.

Top 20 of the Decade
Top 20 of the Decade External Link

Click through to see which movies BuzzSugar placed in their Best-of-Decade list!

Promos
Follow RT on Twitter
Follow RT on Twitter External Link

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo
About Us | Advertise | Contact Us | Press | Careers
IGN | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | Direct2Drive | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Game Sites | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | GIGA.DE | What They Play | Battlefield Heroes
By continuing past this page, and by your continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. | Support | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! RSS Feeds
IGN’s enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA.
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.