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Jean-Claude Van Damme, Powers Boothe, Raymond J. Barry, Whittni Wright, Ross Malinger ... see more see more... , Dorian Harewood , Steve Aronson , Michael R. Aubele , Karen Baldwin , Pat Brisson , William Cameron , Bernard Canepari , Bill Dalzell III , John Hateley , Jeff Howell , Tommy Lafitte , Ray Laine , Audra Lindley , Kate McNeil , Larry John Meyers , Faith Minton , Paul Mochnik , Jean Pierre Nutini , Manny Perry , Diane Robin , Rohn Thomas , Dixie Neyland Tymitz , Dean E. Wells , Jophery C. Brown , Rick LeFevour , Brian Smrz , John Sterling , Jeff Habberstad , Harold Surratt , Fred M. Waugh , Michael Gaston , Gilbert B. Combs , Brian Delate , Luc Robitaille , Bill Clement , Ed Evanko , Jennifer D. Bowser , Jay Caufield , Alan Clement , Jack Erdie , David Flick , Glenn Alan Gardner , Mark Hager , Rosine 'Ace' Hatem , Jeff Hochendoner , Brian Hutchison , Jeff Jimerson , Mark Kachowski , Callum Keith-King , Mike Lange , Butch Luick , Fred Mancuso , Anthony Marino , Ken Milchick , Brad Moniz , Daniel R. Pagath , Allan Pinsker , Douglas Rees , Thomas Saccio , Vinnie Sciullo , Jack Skelly , Phil Spano , Paul Steigerwald , Milton E. Thompson Jr. , Rema D. Webb , Glenda Morgan Brown , John Hall

Pittsburgh Penguins owner Howard Baldwin was the producer of Sudden Death, and the action is set in his hockey arena, in which the Penguins are playing the Chicago Blackhawks. Pittsburgh fire inspecto... read more read more...r Darren McCord (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is attending the game with his two children. He's quit fighting fires because of a tragedy a few years earlier involving a child he couldn't save. Also at the game is the vice-president of the United States (Raymond Barry), who is the target of a terrorist plot. The terrorist leader, an insane ex-CIA agent named Joshua Foss (Powers Boothe), has masterminded a scheme to hold the vice-president hostage in his luxury suite while demanding that payments be transferred to his account electronically at the end of each period of the game. If he doesn't get his money, he will kill one member of the vice-president's party at the end of each period, and at game's end he will order ten bombs hidden in the arena to be detonated with all 17,000 fans present. McCord discovers the plot while his daughter Emily (Whittni Wright) is kidnapped by the terrorists too. McCord must dispatch the villains and find the bombs, while saving all the hostages. Luckily, he is adept at martial arts. He fights one henchman dressed in a Penguins mascot outfit in the arena's kitchen, and another terrorist on the arena's retracting dome. At one point, McCord switches identities with a player, is sent into the game, and scores a goal. Director Peter Hyams also directed Van Damme in the blockbuster Timecop. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi

Flixster Users

39% liked it

33,412 ratings

Critics

52% liked it

33 critics

R, 1 hr. 50 min.

Directed by: Peter Hyams

Release Date: December 22, 1995

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DVD Release Date: November 1, 1998

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Stats: 832 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (832)

  • phubbs1
    August 1, 2010
    phubbs1
    This is a pretty good 'Die Hard' style flick, 'Die Hard' in a ice hockey stadium haha the villian, Boothe is pretty nasty and the action is good and strong. The final scene is abit over the top but this is a good action effort.
  • kenstachnik
    May 17, 2010
    kenstachnik
    Really really typical 90's action flick...with on exception...
    Jean Claude Van Damme fights a penguin.
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    February 14, 2010
    DragonEyeMorrison
    Die Hard on ice.
  • stormyweather980
    August 15, 2009
    stormyweather980
    I've seen just about all of Van Damme's movies and I have to say that I think "Sudden Death" is the best one so far. It's not your typical Van Damme movie when you compare it to most of his others. Most of his movies are mainly just fights throughout most of the film, which is al... read moreways awesome. But I think it's even better when a fighting movie such as "Sudden Death" has more of a plot to it.
    Someone kidnaps his daughter and is holding her and the Vice President captive. The man holding them hostage wants a lot of money or he will blow up the whole hockey arena. Van Damme must find a way to get his daughter back while saving everybody else in the arena.

    "Sudden Death" is what all the other Van Damme movies isn't. It has a major storyline to it, great special effects, and even a few funny parts such as when Van Damme has to be a real goalie in the game to keep the badmen from finding him. If you're a Van Damme fan or if you like great action movies, "Sudden Death" is definitely for you. NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2000. I've always loved Van Damme movies and have seen nearly all of his, and this is definitely one of my absolute favorites from his library.
  • Chiefilms
    March 2, 2008
    Chiefilms
    Bad Guy, Kill, Ass.
  • deano
    January 27, 2008
    deano
    Jean-Claude Van Damme makes a fabulous performance in this marvelous action movie - Die Hard in a hockey arena. And I was surprised Van Damme could use little ASL (American Sign Language) while giving his love respect to her daughter.
  • Deano78
    May 31, 2007
    Deano78
    a so-so action film, set at an ice hockey game. A bit like Snake eyes but with a hostage situatuion. Doesn't pack a punch like some of his other films.
  • sanjurosamurai
    January 26, 2007
    sanjurosamurai
    decent flick
  • superclerk25
    December 28, 2006
    superclerk25
    Action.
  • husky10000years
    April 21, 2008
    husky10000years
    Sudden Death is a well made movie, it has great action sequences, pretty good acting and a very high level of entertainment. The movie starts out really well, and ends really well. A high level of entertainment makes Sudden Death a must see.

View All Sudden Death Reviews

Critic Reviews

Stephen Holden
May 20, 2003
Stephen Holden, New York Times

Offers above-average pyrotechnics, a body count that steadily mounts, and plenty of hand-to-hand combat. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
June 18, 2002
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Sudden Death is one of the best action thrillers of 1995. It's also the film Jean-Claude Van Damme has been building up to for 10 years. Full Review

Peter Travers
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Despite the elaborate stunts, go-go-go direction from Peter Hyams, plus butt-kicking and surprise goalie action from Van Damme, Death deserves the hockey-puck booby prize for...getting its jollies by ...

Kevin Thomas
February 13, 2001
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

A treat for Jean-Claude Van Damme fans, a superior action thriller loaded with jaw-dropping stunts and special effects, and strong in production values. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Sudden Death isn't about common sense. It's about the manipulation of action and special-effects sequences to create a thriller effect, and at that it's pretty good. Full Review

Richard Harrington
January 1, 2000
Richard Harrington, Washington Post

Though the climactic duel atop the arena roof is patently absurd, it's also exciting as events go into sudden-death overtime, just like the game being played below. Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

Van Damme races against time, trying to thwart Boothe and defuse all the bombs. But in the hands of director Peter Hyams, these are just banal action-movie chores. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

About the best thing that can be said about this movie is that the action scenes, directed by Peter Hyams, are choreographed with flair. Unfortunately, the material connecting them is worthless. Full Review

November 2, 2008
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Good clean fun, with just the right ratio of explosions to dialogue. Full Review

James Jennings
November 2, 2008
James Jennings, Film4

Van Damme is at his butt-kicking best, with Sudden Death offering all the thrills, spills and stuff blowing up that action fans relish. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Sudden Death Trivia

  • An incurable romantic, terrified of commitment and frightened to express his true feelings, falls for an enigmatic American beauty he only seems to meet on social occasions and it takes the sudden death of a close friend to give him the courage at long last to make his move ???  Answer »
  • What was the 'Sudden Death' in the film 'Beerfest'?  Answer »
  • The first name of the former playboy playmate who's sudden tragic death shocked the world in 2007.  Answer »
  • In what arena did the movie "Sudden Death" take place?  Answer »
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