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Sylvester Stallone, Billy Dee Williams, Rutger Hauer, Nigel Davenport, Persis Khambatta ... see more see more... , Lindsay Wagner , Joe Spinell , Hilary Thompson , Jim Beaver , Al Cerullo , Tawn Christian , Caesar Cordova , Steve Daskawisz , E. Brian Dean , Charles Duval , Clebert Ford , Edward Fox , Jamie Gillis , Yvette Hawkins , Al Levitsky , Walter Mac Neil , Robert Pugh , Luke Reilly , Thomas Rosales Jr. , Jacques Roux , Jose Santana , Howard Stein , Catherine Mary Stewart , Frederick Treves , Luke Walter , Karl Wickman , Cliff Cudney , Tony Munafo , Dar Robinson , Jean-Pierre Stewart , Obaka Adedunyo , Joe Dabenigno , Tom Degidon , Paul Farentino , Eivind Harum , Brian Osborne , Walter Mathews

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 (Ru... read more read more...tger 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. ~ Linda Rasmussen, Rovi

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51% liked it

6,848 ratings

Critics

71% liked it

14 critics

R, 1 hr. 45 min.

Directed by: Bruce Malmuth

Release Date: April 4, 1981

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DVD Release Date: October 19, 1999

Stats: 282 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (282)

  • kenstachnik
    February 6, 2011
    kenstachnik
    Rambo and Lando more or less remake French Connection, but with a terrorist (Rutger Hauer in his debut) instead of a drug dealer.
  • ythelastman89
    August 30, 2010
    ythelastman89
    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 performa... read morences. 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.
  • cancercapricorn2002
    August 13, 2010
    cancercapricorn2002
    .Nighthawks is a remarkable film on many levels and more than eerily prophetic, considering what took place in New York City twenty years after its release in 1981. It focuses on two undercover police detectives, Sgt. Deke DaSilva(Sylvester Stallone) and his partner Sgt. Matthew ... read moreFox(Billy Dee Williams)who work in the NYPD Citywide Street Crime Unit as decoy officers. Donning different disguises, they walk the streets of the City's toughest neighborhoods, offering themselves up as bait for muggers and other lowlifes. This unit was responsible for taking a lot of guns and dangerous people off the streets. Unfortunately, in the wake of the Amadou Diallo shooting in the Bronx in 1999, it was disbanded.

    The arrival in New York of an international terrorist named Wulfgar(Rutger Hauer) finds the two Detectives temporarily reassigned to an elite counter-terrorist unit called ATAC. A British expert on counterterrorism in general and Wulfgar in particular(Nigel Davenport) is recruited by the Department to train the selectees in the different strategies and tactics they'll need to deal with this new threat. His character, Peter Hartman, is an old hand at understanding the terrorist mentality and how they operate. He is also a believer in "taking the shot" when the opportunity presents itself, even if it results in "collateral damage", or death to a civilian hostage.

    Stallone's character has a big problem with all this. He indicates that he didn't join the Department to kill people, whether they're street criminals, terrorists, or especially, innocent civilians. Clashing with Hartman at every juncture, he says he doesn't want any part of this and indicates to the Englishman that he's quitting the unit. His partner talks him out of it by telling him that Hartman sees him as one of the best and that's why he was chosen. In reviewing DaSilva's wartime kill record in Vietnam, Hartman tells him that he has faith that when the time comes, he'll do what needs to be done.

    Wulfgar is very intelligent, cunning and good-looking and his MO is to hook up with women he meets at discos and move in with them, using their apartments as a safe house. When he meets Pam(Hilany Thompson), an airline stewardess, she asks him what he does for a living. Knowing that she won't believe him, he tells her the truth- that he's an international terrorist wanted by the police in various European countries. When she stumbles upon his weapons stash in her closet after he moves in with her, she realizes too late that what he told her was not a jocular remark. When the police find her body they also find a clue that he inadvertently left behind indicating what his strike target here in the City will be. DaSilva and Fox start scouring the discotheques with the woman's photo in hand to try and get a line on whom she might have hooked up with. They hit paydirt when DaSilva spots whom he suspects might be Wulfgar at a disco with his newly altered facial appearance, courtesy of plastic surgery in Europe. DaSilva uses the police trick of staring Wulfgar down to see if he gets hinky and Wulfgar realizes he's been "made." A chase into the subway ensues, with Wulfgar taking an elderly woman hostage at knifepoint. DaSilva gets him in his sights but doesn't take the shot out of fear of hitting the hostage. In the ensuing chase, Sgt. Fox is ambushed by Wulfgar, who slices his face open and then makes good his escape. DaSilva, whose button has now been pushed, will no longer harbor any illusions about what he's dealing with.

    Wulfgar's associate in terrorism is one Shakka Holland, played by the beautiful late Indian actress Persis Khambatta. She is so effective in her portrayal of a coldhearted woman who kills without compunction or remorse, that your blood will be chilled when you see her on screen. Without even saying anything, she will terrify you. You will not forget the look on her face. It will definitely haunt your dreams.

    We all know that the movie is leading up to a climactic confrontation between DaSilva and Wulfgar. And we know when that moment of truth arrives that DaSilva, now effectively disabused of his "I'm not here to kill anyone" philosophy, will indeed do what needs to be done. I won't reveal the ending here, other than to say that it reflects well on his training and experience in the Street Crime Unit.

    This is a well-crafted film with excellent performances, beautiful photography, and a storyline that will resonate with the viewer on a visceral level. It will keep you hooked from the opening sequence until the end, this is a very underrated Stallone film and well worth checking out for anyone in the mood for a good action thriller
  • rayman0071
    October 7, 2009
    rayman0071
    Sylvester Stallone and Billy Dee Williams together in this exciting suspensful cop thriller.
  • bottcorecords1
    November 6, 2008
    bottcorecords1
    In the late 70s-early 80s, police were encouraged to beat up criminals, knocking out teeth and breaking bones whenever possible. Deke (Stallone) is not above dressing up like a lady (despite the full beard) to lure in would-be muggers for he and his partner Detective Fox (Willia... read morems) to pistol whip and pound with fists whilst still finding time for his "lady" (the virtually unused Wagner). Meanwhile, we're introduced to an international terror organization led by the homicidal "Wulfgar" (Hauer), who kills a courier delivering a package to him and leading police to his door in the process. He leaves the courier, which was a mistake because the courier was delivering a passport with his photo on it. He's left with no choice but to alter his appearance with plastic surgery and make his way to the United States (where he's also going to start a new terror franchise). Meanwhile Deke, despite his flair for costumed pageantry, is picked for the anti-terrorist squad A.T.A.C (along with his hot-headed partner Fox), whose mission it is to track down Wulfgar and kill him. Deke though, is conscientious and doesn't want to be a cold-blooded killer. It's a weakness that leads to him allowing Wulfgar to escape at one point. Billy Dee Williams plays Tonto to Stallone's Kemosabe, and I mean that in every sense it can be taken. Once the scene of Wulfgar's initial terror attack is over, he never seems any more threatening than the muggers Deke is beating up (whilst wearing a dress, no less), and that's the main problem here: there's no sense of threat from this supposed terrorist. I can't help but think The Dark Knight was heavily influenced by this movie, but where the Joker was an actual menace and created real fear, Wulfgar seems a pale comparison. In fact, I'd call "NightHawks"' "The Dark Knight" without costumes and with less believability.
  • deano
    August 24, 2008
    deano
    From its explosive first scene to the breaktakingly suspenseful denouement, Nighthawks, about a police detective hunting a wily terrorist, is a thoroughly enjoyable, cool action film.
  • YLOWBSTARDreturns
    September 13, 2007
    YLOWBSTARDreturns
    One of the most underrated cop/thrillers around. One of Stallone's best perforrmances.
  • Dannyrovira
    January 22, 2012
    Dannyrovira
    A riveting, suspenseful cat-and-mouse thriller which well directed by Bruce Malmuth, concerning two undercover police officers Deke DaSilva and Matthew Fox, played excellently by Sylvester Stallone and Billy Dee Williams who are reassigned to a special unit run by a Interpol terr... read moreorist expert nicely played by Nigel Davenport who is tracking a ruthless and cold-blooded international terrorist known as Wulfgar, played brilliantly by Holland's top actor Rutger Hauer in his American film debut, Hauer is absolutely chilling in the role and matches Stallone scene for scene, as a matter of fact his villain Wulfgar completely dominates this motion picture, 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 above the East River. Outstanding supporting performances by Joe Spinell, Persis Kahambatta and Lindsay Wagner. An entertaining cop thriller from the early 80's. Highly Recommended.
  • Tecnoandre
    February 19, 2011
    Tecnoandre
    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... read more.Check it out.
  • jonnycrumley
    September 9, 2008
    jonnycrumley
    A highly underatted 80's thriller. Rutger Hauer gives a great performance as a terrorist planning to blow up New York. The only thing is, super cop Stallone is out to stop him. Check it out

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Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
January 30, 2009
Variety Staff, Variety

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. Full Review

Janet Maslin
August 30, 2004
Janet Maslin, New York Times

All of it is standard stuff, and yet Nighthawks has been assembled with enough pep to make it feel fresh. Full Review

July 25, 2010
TV Guide's Movie Guide

This very effective thriller features a chilling performance by Hauer as the emotionless killing machine. Stallone and Williams are also credible, and the film makes good use of its New York locations. Full Review

Chuck O'Leary
January 26, 2006
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily

A taut urban thriller with a hissable villain and an unforgettable ending. One of Stallone's best films.

January 26, 2006
Time Out

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. Full Review

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
January 31, 2004
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

Nighthawks is a compelling movie with plenty of adrenaline-pumping chase sequences. Full Review

May 24, 2003
Film4

While the plotting is familiar (especially after countless imitations), competent scripting, direction and acting make this above average entertainment. Full Review

Jon Niccum
November 1, 2002
Jon Niccum, Lawrence Journal-World

One of Stallone's better non-Rocky efforts

Scott Weinberg
October 6, 2002
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

Vicious and intense cat-and-mouse cop thriller.

Lori Hoffman
February 5, 2007
Lori Hoffman, Atlantic City Weekly

No review available.

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    • Deke DaSilva: It's not my responsibility to be apart of an accidental homicide!
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Nighthawks Trivia

  • What European actor's first major role in an American film was as a terrorist who is pursued by cop Sylvester Stallone in 'Nighthawks'? (he played a character in a 80s sci-fi film, called Roy,being chased by a cop)  Answer »
  • Name the movie in which Billy Dee Williams and Sylvester Stallone play undercover cops trying to catch bad guy Rutger Hauer.  Answer »
  • Tagline! One man can bring the world to its knees and only one man can stop him.  Answer »
  • In the film 'Hard Candy', where does Hayley go to meet Jeff for the first time?  Answer »
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