Hard Target
1993, Action, 1h 34m
35 Reviews 25,000+ RatingsWhat to know
Hard Target gets a boost from John Woo's stylish direction, but at heart, it's still another silly, explosion-dependent action thriller in the Jean-Claude Van Damme oeuvre. Read critic reviews
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Cast & Crew
Chance Boudreaux
Emil Fouchon
Pik van Cleef
Natasha `'Nat'` Binder
Det. Marie Mitchell
Uncle Douvee
News & Interviews for Hard Target
Critic Reviews for Hard Target
All Critics (35) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (20) | Rotten (15)
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The combo is an incendiary mix: Woo unleashes all barrels in vintage Hong Kong action style while Van Damme delivers not only his martial-arts prowess but some well-developed acting skills as well.
September 3, 2020 | Full Review… -
Though it lacks the epic feel and melodramatic sincerity of Woo's Oriental movies, this is nevertheless first-rate action.
November 13, 2017 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review… -
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September 7, 2011 | Rating: B+ | Full Review… -
A disappointing American debut of the Hong Kong cult director John Woo is a decent action vehicle by standards of its star Jean-Claude Van Damme but, hampered by a B script and flat characters, it doesn't bear Woo's auteurist signature and unique vision
October 10, 2006 | Rating: C+ -
It's what Hollywood wanted Woo for: bigger, brighter explosions.
June 24, 2006 | Full Review… -
Presenting Mr. Van Damme as reverentially as Sergio Leone did the young Clint Eastwood, Mr. Woo displays a real aptitude for malignant mischief, which is this story's stock in trade.
August 30, 2004
Audience Reviews for Hard Target
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Sep 06, 2013[img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img]Directors C Super Reviewer
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Jun 06, 2012What do you get when you combine the master of action John Woo and a Belgium Martial Artist Jean-Claude Van Damme? You get a stupid over the top action movie that's actually kind of enjoyable action movie. Hard Target is about Chance (Van Damme) who's hire by a woman to look for her missing father and discover a human hunting game behind his disappearance. I know you're probably thinking I'm crazy enjoying a Van Damme movie that's so stupid and over the top, but that's where most of the fun comes. Sure it does have some stupid moment, like how Van Damme punches a snake killing it and biting off its tail for a trap and then the snake comes back to life when a henchman steps on a trap. You will only see something that ridiculous in a Van Damme movie, and he's also the only guy I've seen so far that unloads an entire gun clip on one guy and does a roundhouse kick to finish the job. Unlike most of Van Damme movies, Hard Target actually does a decent job giving Van Damme some cool moments with a so-so story that's actually tolerable. The story is not well written to be honest, but it gets the job done and that's what ultimately counts. If you're going into Hard Target expecting a complex action flick with a decent story you're going to be disappointed. Instead go into Hard Target and have some over the top fun. I give credit to John Woo for quickly paying homage to one mine of personal favorite, Reservoir Dog, with a quick ear cutting scene and for making one of the few Van Dame movies worth your time. As you could expect the action is well done as with any John Woo movie (except Paycheck) and Van Damme is enjoyable, though some will laugh at his mallet. Now you could complain the supporting cast does a better job in acting department than Van Damme, but I certainly haven't see any of the supporting cast balancing on a top of a motorcycle with oil leaking, crashing it into a truck, surviving the crash, and blowing up the truck. Now there are some occasions of Van Damme speaking English poorly, but he's certainly more entertaining than Steven Seagal to be honest. Unlike Steven Seagal who come out to invincible in his movies, Van Damme actually does get hurt in his movies and you could actually tell Van Damme trying to change facial expression unlike Seagal who has the same expression in every got Damme (pun intended) movie. Hard Target is certainly nothing special in the action genre, but it is better than most of John Woo and Jean-Claude Van Damme American movies to be fair. If you're into the mood for some over the top fun that you could sit through and pass the time, Hard Target is definitely the movie for you.Caesar M Super Reviewer
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Apr 14, 2011Director, John Woo's first American film is an action masterpiece. A fun, explosive and adrenaline-charged edge of your seat action-packed thriller. It's loaded with dark humor, bone-crunching fights and enough explosive gun-battles to keep any action fan entertained. Van Damme and Woo are a stellar team together, bringing exactly what we want. Easily one of Jean-Claude Van Damme's best films. Lance Henriksen gives a thrilling and intense performance. This is one wickedly cool and wildly entertaining action movie.Al S Super Reviewer
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Jul 01, 2010Van Damme has one Badass haircut...but otherwise...a pretty average movieMartin S Super Reviewer
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