Bruce Willis Stars In An Overlooked Heist Movie That’s Streaming Free Right Now
Hudson Hawk, a film Bruce Willis wrote and stars in, is streaming for free on Pluto TV.
Since the late 80s, Bruce Willis has been known as one of the biggest action stars ever to have his name placed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Following his breakout role in Die Hard in 1988, Willis went on to have an extremely successful career that spanned almost four decades. But even the brightest stars are bound to have made a few duds, like Hudson Hawk, which is currently streaming for free on Pluto TV.
Hudson Hawk hit theaters in 1991, just three years after Bruce Willis got his big break in Die Hard. By this time, Willis had begun to snatch up a few high-profile roles, starred alongside other Hollywood A-listers like Tom Hanks in A Bonfire of Vanities, and his career was picking up with Hudson Hawk being one of four movies Willis appeared in that year.
Unfortunately, this action-comedy ended up being a critical flop, and, aside from its underground cult following, has pretty much been forgotten about… Until now. Hudson Hawk stars Bruce Willis in the one and only theatrical film the actor ever attempted to both star in and write.
Willis teamed up with Robert Kraft and Steven E. de Souza to pen the script that would be directed by Michael Lehmann, who had recently found commercial success with the dark comedy, Heathers. The story follows Willis as Hudson Hawk, a petty burglar who is forced to steal Leonardo Da Vinci’s artwork for a rich couple as part of their plan to dominate the world.
Despite the wacky plot, the film features a star-studded cast, including Danny Aiello, Andie MacDowell, James Coburn, and David Caruso who come together with Bruce Willis to perform a slapstick action feature with a surreal sense of humor. Hudson Hawk showcases a blend of over-the-top cartoon comedy, conspiracy theories, secret societies, and historical mysteries, infusing the film with a whimsical and light-hearted atmosphere.
This unique approach to comedy sets the film apart from traditional action flicks, providing audiences with a refreshing and offbeat cinematic experience that perhaps the critics weren’t quite ready for.
One of the film’s recurring plot devices involves Hudson Hawk (Bruce Willis) and his partner Tommy “Five-Tone” (Danny Aiello) engaging in simultaneous but separate singing performances to coordinate their daring escapades. These dynamic Willis-Aiello duets, featuring iconic songs such as Bing Crosby’s “Swinging on a Star” and Paul Anka’s “Side by Side,” contribute to the movie’s charm and energy that ultimately made this film the cult classic that it’s become.
The soundtrack showcases the actors’ musical talents while providing an enjoyable accompaniment to the film’s adventurous spirit.
These musical scenes give insight into Bruce Willis’s talent as a musician, an aspect of the actor that many fans aren’t aware of. In fact, Willis even has a pop star alter-ego named Bruno Radolini, under whose name the actor released an album in 1987, which actually rose to number 14 on the Billboard Top 200.
While Willis is most known for being an action star, he ended up releasing two more albums later in his life.
However, despite Bruce Willis’s musical talent, it evidently wasn’t enough to please the critics when Hudson Hawk hit theaters. Despite its star-studded cast and unique blend of humor and action, this ill-fated action-comedy was met with harsh criticism upon its release in the United States. Grossing only $17 million domestically, the film earned three Razzie Awards, including the infamous Worst Picture category.
But all is well that ends well for Bruce Willis and his Hudson Hawk cohorts because this action classic managed to find a more receptive audience internationally, ultimately accumulating $80 million in global box office revenue.
This gave the film an accumulated $97 million at the box office, which was enough to combat its $64 million budget. Since then, the film has gone on to accumulate a cult audience that is continuously growing as the film is introduced to new generations via streaming platforms.
Despite being one of the most panned roles of Bruce Willis’s career, Hudson Hawk is a one-of-a-kind action comedy that is well worth the watch, especially if you’re into weird comedies. The film’s ultimate international success, cult following, and the fact that it is currently available to stream online stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of unconventional storytelling and the enduring legacy of a film that dared to be different.
You can stream Hudson Hawk on Pluto TV.
