← Back to results
Nighthawks
1981 99 min United States of America, United Kingdom, France R 16+
★6.5
Action, Crime, Thriller
Director: Bruce Malmuth, Gary Nelson, Sylvester Stallone
Trailers
EN
EN
EN
Description
When one of Europe's most lethal terrorists shows up in New York, an elite undercover cop is assigned to take him down by any means necessary.
Budget:
$5M
US Gross:
$14.91M
Worldwide:
$19.91M
Starring
Sylvester Stallone
Actor
Rutger Hauer
Actor
Billy Dee Williams
Actor
Key opinion
Nighthawks is frequently regarded as an overlooked 80s classic that benefits significantly from the intense chemistry between Sylvester Stallone and Rutger Hauer. While some viewers criticize its plot logic and pacing, many appreciate its gritty, procedural atmosphere and its status as a vital precursor to the modern action-thriller.
| Acting | Rutger Hauer delivers a charismatic, career-defining performance as the terrorist Wolfgar that stands as the film's undeniable highlight. | |
| Acting | The tense, cat-and-mouse dynamic between Stallone's grounded detective and Hauer's cold antagonist provides the film with its core narrative propulsion. | |
| Production | The film effectively captures the grime and atmosphere of early 1980s New York City, lending it a sense of gritty authenticity. | |
| Acting | Sylvester Stallone’s portrayal of a gritty, non-superhero police officer offers a refreshing and realistic departure from his more famous action roles. | |
| Screenplay | Opinions on the screenplay are divided: supporters praise its procedural tension and character-driven focus, while critics find the plot predictable, naive, or logically strained. | |
| Pacing | The film's pacing is polarizing; it is lauded by some for building steady, suspenseful tension through tactical preparation, while others find the narrative flow uneven or slow. |