Harsh Times

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Harsh Times

R

2006

1h 55m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

48%

Tomatometer

94 Reviews

55%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Jim is a Gulf War veteran, and he believes it is his sworn duty to protect Americans by policing the streets of Los Angeles. His dreams are shattered when he is rejected by the Los Angeles Police Department leaving him and his Mexican paramour in the lurch. Jim is soon offered a position in the Department of Homeland Security leading him to recruit his unemployed best friend Mike to carve a path of devastation across the city.

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Critics Consensus

Despite a dedicated performance by Christian Bale, Harsh Times suffers from a heavy-handed and overly bleak plot.

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Brian Tallerico

UGO

Mar 24, 2007

It's an amazing performance, one of the best of the year, with Bale truly making you believe in this over-the-top character.

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Josh Rosenblatt

Austin Chronicle

Nov 25, 2006

3/5

Harsh Times wins in the end by keeping its fingers wrapped tightly around its viewers' throats.

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Rex Reed

Observer

Nov 15, 2006

Harsh Times is an hour-by-hour diary of two crazy, unreliable, irresponsible dudes trying to find a way to fit into the same society they hate, facing one hurdle after another until they appear to butcher half of Los Angeles.

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Fred Topel

Hollywood.com

Nov 20, 2008

2/5

Brian Holcomb

CinemaBlend

May 5, 2008

3/5

A crazy little film, modest in its scope but grand in its ambition. It paints it's story in loud primary colors, with intense pressure cooker characterizations.

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Ted Murphy

Murphy's Movie Reviews

Jul 14, 2007

C

HARSH TIMES is a portrait of a male-dominated world and inChristian Bale's fierce performance, Ayer has found the perfect actor. It's just unfortunate that the screenplay feels like a left-over from an era that has passed.

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Robert P

@Superbad Oct 19, 2026

Harsh Times is a 2.5 star Movie!

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Ben B

@suikofreak412 Jul 8, 2026

I actually really liked this movie

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Matt G

@RT83895044 Sep 30, 2025

There is nothing on this earth cooler to Jim and Mike than drinking beers.

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Steven T

@RT64860949 Dec 22, 2024

Not an easy movie to watch but the acting is great. Bale, before he was really a huge star, is incredible. Apt title.

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Stephen H

@RT54042133 Nov 11, 2024

Underrated film. Great performances all around.

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Michael R

@RT20874625 Jul 4, 2024

The two main characters bring this movie alive. Good soundtrack. Another Ayers gem.

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David Ayer

Director

Christian Bale

Jim Davis

Freddy Rodriquez

Mike Alonzo

Eva Longoria

Sylvia

Terry Crews

Darrell

Noel Gugliemi

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Synopsis

Jim is a Gulf War veteran, and he believes it is his sworn duty to protect Americans by policing the streets of Los Angeles. His dreams are shattered when he is rejected by the Los Angeles Police Department leaving him and his Mexican paramour in the lurch. Jim is soon offered a position in the Department of Homeland Security leading him to recruit his unemployed best friend Mike to carve a path of devastation across the city.

Director: David Ayer
Producer: Andrea Sperling, David Ayer
Screenwriter: David Ayer
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Andrea Sperling Productions, Crave Films, C.M. Films, Harsh Times LLC
Rating: R (Language|Drug Use|Strong Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 10, 2006, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 13, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.3M
Runtime: 1h 55m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby SRD
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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