SummaryConservative street cop Deke DaSilva (Sylvester Stallone) reluctantly agrees to terminate an international terrorist who has demanded media attention. But DaSilva's "at-home" tactics are very much put to the challenge.
Directed By:Bruce Malmuth, Gary Nelson, Sylvester Stallone
Written By:David Shaber, Paul Sylbert
Nighthawks
Metascore
Mixed or Average
56
User score
Generally Favorable
6.8
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Metascore
Mixed or Average
56
50% Positive
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
25% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
25% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
80
We've seen movies like Nighthawks before, but we haven't seen one in a while. That may be why this police film, with an international cast and a plot about international terrorism, has so much punch. All of it is standard stuff, and yet Nighthawks has been assembled with enough pep to make it feel fresh. It is particularly helped by the performances of Rutger Hauer, a Dutch actor who makes a startling impression as a cold-blooded fiend, and Sylvester Stallone, from whom less is definitely more.
75
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.
75
Sylvester Stallone and Billy Dee Williams star in a thriller about New York detectives trying to capture an international terrorist. The story is full of holes but compelling nevertheless because we do grow to hate the terrorist and want him stopped. [19 June 1981, p.8]
50
Unfortunately, screenwriter David Shaber hasn't laid the sort of tracks that can support a clever or gripping vehicle. The rickety foundation might be finessed by swift, dynamic direction -- the sort of approach William Friedkin brought to The French Connection or Walter Hill to The Warriors, an urban thriller Shaber also helped fabricate -- but newcomer Bruce Malmuth isn't agile enough.
50
The plot of Nighthawks makes no sense. Its thrills are strictly visual. Stallone (the cop) gives a restrained performance for once, and Rutger Hauer (the terrorist) shows why he was to make it big in Hollywood.
38
Nighthawks, a cops 'n' robbers thriller with terrorists where the robbers should be and cops as counter-terrorists, has a dirty job to do and does it. That is not an endorsement. Thumbscrews and cattle prods are real good at what they do, too. [11 Apr 1981]
30
This is one of those films that isn't a fllm but some repulsively complicated business deal. Nighthawks purports to be about terrorism, but it should be sued for nonpurport. [20 Apr 1981, p.93]
User score
Generally Favorable
6.8
50% Positive
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
44% Mixed
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
6% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
Jun 13, 2023
0
Dans ce film pourri, un Stallone qui se la joue Serpico (n’importe quoi), y compris avec son ex, la quelque peu défraîchie Super Jaimie (!) mais qu’on voit fort peu néanmoins. On tombe aussi sur Lando Calrissian mais avec un bonnet sur la tronche… qu’est-ce qu’il fout là au fait ?… ah oui le flic, je veux dire l’inspecteur qui suit Sylvestre dans sa chasse au terroriste ! Un terroriste joué par le méchant Rutger Hauer ! mais sensiblement en retrait quand même : il ne donne ici que le minimum syndical. En fait, tout le monde ici ne fournit que le service minimum, car tout le monde a bien vu qu’il s’agissait d’un nanar poussif ! Malgré son métrage raisonnable, le film n’a que l’allant d’un vieux téléfilm à deux dollars et demi et malgré son souci de réalisme, tout sonne étonnamment faux là-dedans. En tout cas, un film idéal pour passer une bonne nuit de sommeil, cette ringardise ridicule s’avère en effet un somnifère -involontaire- très efficace ! et un film de merde pour tout le reste.
Production Company:
- Universal Pictures
- Martin Poll Productions
- The Production Company
- Herb Nanas Productions
- Layton Productions
Release Date:Apr 10, 1981
Duration:1 h 39 m
Rating:R
Tagline:Wulfgar, an international terrorist holds the City of New York hostage, but Deke DaSilva, the most dangerous cop known to man, can take him down.




























