Bruce Willis Did Not Agree With the Critics Over One of His Biggest Flops Despite Its Disappointing $17 Million Worth Box Office Collection

Despite the negative reviews, Bruce Willis liked Hudson Hawk and believes it might have been a little too hip for people

Bruce Willis has explored a variety of genres from comedy to action to attain the A-list status he is known for in Hollywood today. While this achievement is the result of his impressive blockbuster filmography, it is fair to say that he also had to accept the movies that were unable to perform well at the box office. Amid the list, 1991’s Hudson Hawk is the one movie that was critically panned. However, the retired actor has different opinions about that flick.

Bruce Willis as David Dunn in Split

Directed by Michael Lehmann, Willis contributed to penning the script and theme song of the disastrous movie. However, his efforts were unable to produce the same results as it was a huge critical and commercial failure only grossing $17 million and earning three Razzies including Worst Picture.

Bruce Willis Couldn’t Agree With Critics for Hudson Ha

Sandra Bernhard, Bruce Willis, and Richard E. Grant in Hudson Hawk [Left to Right]

Hudson Hawk could have become a great addition to Willis’s filmography but it turned out to be otherwise. Despite being an action-comedy genre, it was highly panned by critics and audiences as many found fault with the film’s execution, plot, and humor. Critics were unable to catch a specific tone in the movie which made it difficult for audiences to enjoy it. Chicago Tribune reviewed it as “boring and banal, overwrought and undercooked, Hudson Hawk is beyond bad.”

Meanwhile, Rolling Stone via Metacritic stated,

“A movie this unspeakably awful can make an audience a little crazy. You want to throw things, yell at the actors, beg them to stop.”

Though the reviews were nothing but negative, they varied differently from what the Die Hard actor thought about it. In an interview with the Mirror, he expressed that he still liked the movie despite its negative reception.

“I really like [Hudson Hawk].”

Bruce Willis continued to share why he felt that his movie was unable to keep the audience engaged at the time.

“I just get the feeling that, at the time, it might have been a little too hip for the room.” 

While several factors contributed to the movie’s failure, its production budget was one thing that many thought was difficult to tackle. Several factors contributed to the movie’s failure but behind-the-scenes complications were one thing that many had difficulty tackling.

Hudson Hawk Screenwriter Shared It ‘Deserved to Get Ripped’

Bruce Willis in Hudson Hawk (1991)

In an interview with Fandom, the film’s co-screenwriter Steven De Souza gave an insight into what went possibly wrong with the action-comedy flick. He pointed out that the actor was the one who was penning and taking control of the directorial work.

“Bruce took over the whole movie. Started re-writing it and directing it. The studio flew me over to Italy. I was there for five weeks. Every day I’d say ‘Has he stopped re-writing?’ and they’d say ‘No.’ And there was no way I was going to pull the pencil out of his hand. But they had me there in case I could undo what he was undoing.”

Meanwhile, director Michael Lehmann stated, “Bruce Willis was not rewriting the script, ever.” The screenwriter further added that the flick “deserved to get ripped.”

However, the director walked down the same path as Willis shared that he liked what he created in the movies while deeming the experience as a difficult one. Meanwhile, the movie has gained a cult following among some fans.

It stars Willis in the titular role, a skilled cat burglar who is forced into a series of heists after he gets released from prison. With a blended genre of action and comedy, the movie featured a star-studded cast including Danny Aiello, and Andie MacDowell however failed to make a top spot in Willis’ filmography list.

Hudson Hawk is available to watch on Netflix and Prime Video.