Nighthawks

1981

Nighthawks

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

70%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 20

55%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 7,365

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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 outcast. Soon DaSilva and Wulfgar are engaged in a violent battle of wits as Wulfgar resumes his terrorist activities and threatens New York . This very effective thriller features a chilling performance by Rutger Hauer as the handsome, ruthless cold-blooded killer who charms women into helping him and then kills them. Sylvester Stallone gives an unusually understated emotionally vulnerable performance as a man trying to save lives while he saves his own marriage. The film makes excellent use of New York locales, particularly during a terrifying hijacking of a cable car where Wulfgar coolly decides which of the hostages will live or die.
  • Rating:
    R
  • Genre:
    Action & Adventure
  • Directed By:
    Bruce Malmuth
  • Written By:
    David Shaber, Paul Sylbert
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    MCA Universal Home Video

Cast

Sylvester Stallone
as Deke DaSilva
Lindsay Wagner
as Irene
Persis Khambatta
as Shakka
Nigel Davenport
as Peter Hartman
Hilarie Thompson
as Pam
Joe Spinell
as Lt. Munafo
Walter Mathews
as Commissioner
Hilary Thompson
as Pam
E. Brian Dean
as Sergeant
Tony Munafo
as Big Mike
Howard Stein
as Disco Manager
Tawn Christian
as Disco Hostess
Jamie Gillis
as Designer
Luke Reilly
as Conductor
Yvette Hawkins
as Mrs. Ntembwe
Walter Mac Neil
as Commissioner
Einar Perry Scott
as Sostrom
Jacques Roux
as French Ambassador
Clebert Ford
as Nigerian Ambassador
Eivind Harum
as Swedish Ambassador
Obaka Adedunyo
as Mr. Ntembwe
Corine Lorain
as Suzanne Marigny
Jean-Pierre Stewart
as Rene Marigny
Thomas Rosales Jr.
as Ripper
Jose Santana
as Ripper
Patrick Fox
as Reporter
John Cianfrone
as Mugger
Tim Marquart
as Mugger
Tony Maffatone
as Mugger
Tom Degidon
as Immigration Officer
Rita Tellone
as Brunette
Al Cerullo
as Helicopter Pilot
Karl Wickman
as Helicopter Pilot
Brian Osborne
as Orchard
Robert Pugh
as Kenna
Frederick Treves
as Chief Police Inspector
Zoya Leporska
as Subway Hostage
Susan Vanner
as Girl at Party
Cliff Cudney
as A.T.A.C. Man
Joe Dabenigno
as A.T.A.C. Man
Catherine Mary Stewart
as Salesgirl
Steve Daskawisz
as A.T.A.C. Man
John Devaney
as A.T.A.C. Man
Jim Beaver
as Subway Passenger
Paul Farentino
as A.T.A.C. Man
Edward Fox
as A.T.A.C. Man
Randy Francklan
as A.T.A.C. Man
Caesar Cordova
as Puerto Rican Proprietor
Billy Dee Williams
as Matthew Fox
Rutger Hauer
as Wulfgar
Charles Duval
as Dr. Ghiselin
Al Levitsky
as A.T.A.C. Man
Richard Noyce
as A.T.A.C. Man
Dar Robinson
as A.T.A.C. Man
Judee Wales
as A.T.A.C. Man
Luke Walter
as A.T.A.C. Man
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Critic Reviews for Nighthawks

All Critics (20) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (14) | Rotten (6)

  • Nighthawks, an aggressively shallow police thriller pitting New York undercover cops against international terrorists.

    December 18, 2015 | Full Review…

    Gary Arnold

    Washington Post
    Top Critic

  • 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…

    Variety Staff

    Variety
    Top Critic

  • 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…
    Time Out
    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 | Rating: 3.5/4

    Janet Maslin

    New York Times
    Top Critic

  • The already conventional story sacrifices its best moments for the dramatic. [Full Review in Spanish]

    August 16, 2019 | Full Review…

    Jesús Fernández Santos

    El Pais (Spain)

  • A thoroughly entertaining product of what now seems a more innocent time.

    September 18, 2018 | Full Review…

    Pat Padua

    Spectrum Culture
View All Critic Reviews (20)

Audience Reviews for Nighthawks

  • Mar 01, 2015
    Stallone in his first cop role has to be one of his best, Not action wise but performance wise, Stallone and his partner have a cat and mouse chase with a terrorist nothing new but very well told and well acted and Rutger Hauer was a brilliant villian, There wasn't a great deal of shoot outs but some nice chases, The ending was good even if it was a little silly but still a great film.
    Jamie C Super Reviewer
  • Feb 19, 2011
    Thriller film starring Sylvester Stallone, Billy Dee Williams, Lindsay Wagner, Persis Khambatta, Nigel Davenport and Rutger Hauer. It was directed by Bruce Malmuth. The original music score was composed by Keith Emerson(of Emerson, Lake and Palmer).A good movie, with great finale.Check it out.
    Andre T Super Reviewer
  • Aug 30, 2010
    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 than he usually is in this, way more of a hothead and energetic. However, it's Rutger Hauer as the terrorist mastermind Wulfgar who totally dominates the movie. The cinematography is great, just another one of the many strong suites this has. I love the story, terrorism has never been handled quite so well in a cop movie. This is believable, non-stereotyped and just really cool. It's a shame that this goes along without a bigger fanbase, hopefully one day it will be appreciated properly.
    Conner R Super Reviewer
  • May 22, 2010
    Bruce Malmuth's riveting suspenseful cat-and-mouse thriller, concerning two New York City undercover police officers Deke DaSilva and Matthew Fox, played by marvelously Sylvester Stallone and Billy Dee Williams, they are reassigned to a special unit run by a Interpol terrorist expert nicely played by the late Nigel Davenport, who is tracking a ruthless, cold-blooded international terrorist known as Wulfgar, played brilliantly by Holland's top actor Rutger Hauer in his impressive American film debut, Hauer is absolutely chilling in the role and matches Stallone scene for scene, as a matter of fact his villain completely dominates this exciting police thriller, he is a crafty and murderous fiend who rationalized his actions and has no problem blowing a department store full innocent victims including children for his cause. There are plenty of hair-raising moments including a terrific chase through the Manhattan subway and a showdown on the Roosevelt island tramway car high above the East River. Astute direction by Malmuth, with outstanding supporting performances by Joe Spinell, Persis Kahambatta and Lindsay Wagner. A sensational cop thriller from the early 80's. Highly Recommended.
    Danny R Super Reviewer
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