Bruce Willis’ 31%-Rated Comedy Is Secretly a Masterpiece (Even More Than Die Hard)

We like to hunt for movies that were either rejected by critics or flopped at the box office. And with this one we're in for a treat. The movie we're going to talk about today has it all: critics hated it, and it lost almost $90 million.

The early '90s was a unique time for movies. It was an era when filmmakers weren't afraid to throw the established rules out the window and experiment with genres.

Those movies seemed to exist in their own universe, operating on their own twisted logic. That's exactly where Hudson Hawk lands, a film that was simply too quirky, too ahead of its curve for 1991 audiences to fully appreciate.

Hudson Hawk (1991): The Misunderstood Masterpiece

Hudson Hawk follows a charismatic thief who, after serving his time, dreams of nothing more complicated than enjoying a perfect cappuccino. Instead, he gets pulled into an adventure involving Leonardo da Vinci's lost works, eccentric billionaire villains, and secret societies.

And it probably already sounds unlike anything you've seen before (that's because it is).

This movie is special for the sheer joy it takes for being exactly what it is. It doesn't try to fake being serious, or pretend like it's something that it's not. It's just hilariously self-aware.

Think Ocean's Eleven meets Monty Python, with a splash of James Bond thrown in there.

Critical Reception of Hudson Hawk

The initial response to Hudson Hawk was, to put it mildly, brutal. Critics didn't understand it at all. Yet, those who got it, really (and we mean REALLY) got it.

Richard Brody from The New Yorker wrote:

"Nonetheless, I had a lot more fun with “Hudson Hawk” than I ever did with “Die Hard” or “The Terminator, ” because it offers, from beginning to end, such a prodigious, even profligate, display of imagination."

Thank you, Mr. Brody. We were just starting to think we were the only ones who thought the same thing.

Film critic CJ Sheu nailed another crucial thing:

"But if you can get on the wavelength that the filmmakers envisioned, it's a wild, joyful ride."

And that's exactly it, Hudson Hawk requires viewers to let go of their preconceptions and simply embrace the madness.

Now's the perfect moment to give Hudson Hawk the attention it deserves. Whether you're discovering it for the first time or returning for another watch, you're in for a treat. The film is currently available to stream for free on Hoopla. And remember our advice: embrace the madness.