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Hard Times

Play trailer Poster for Hard Times PG 1975 1h 32m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
71% Tomatometer 89 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
During the Great Depression, Chaney (Charles Bronson) bare-knuckle boxes to survive. Speed (James Coburn), an avid gambler, recognizes his talent and becomes his manager. They hire a cut man named Poe (Strother Martin), and Speed borrows cash from some gangsters to bet on Chaney's fight. They win, but Speed gambles and loses his portion and remains in debt. In the end, a rival manager named Gandil (Michael McGuire) buys Speed's debt and forces Chaney to fight Speed against his toughest foe yet.
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Hard Times

Hard Times

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Critics Consensus

Hard Times occasionally gets knocked down by its slight and overly brutish narrative, but strong performances, atmospheric grit, and Walter Hill's sparse direction elevate it into a compellingly pulpy fable.

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Critics Reviews

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John Simon New York Magazine/Vulture Sep 27, 2025
Its rickety plot is a mere excuse for frequent, long, and ugly scenes of fisticuffs, unreal even in their conception of how much punishment the human body can take. Go to Full Review Frank Rich New York Post Sep 27, 2025
Screenwriter Walter Hill... has made an enviable directorial debut and given Charles Bronson the best starring vehicle he's ever had. Go to Full Review Dilys Powell The Times (UK) Sep 27, 2025
It is brief, it is economical. I think it is to be remembered. Go to Full Review Frank Gagnard Times-Picayune Mar 30, 2026
In his attempt at mythic structure, writer-director Hill has made everything drier and less meaningful than life. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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nick S @Nick_S 3 days ago Entertaining movie with a good support cast. Pulled it's punches a little in the fight scenes. Also a little hard to fathom the point the writer was trying to make. See more Dominic B @RT83360345 Aug 13, 2026 I love Walter Hill movies. But this was really flat. Charles Bronson knocks down all comers without breaking a sweat, and both his and Coburn's characters are stunningly one-dimensional. See more Max M @Househuntermax Jul 8, 2026 Firmly establishes the style of Walter Hill. No wasted scenes, moves along quickly and establishes tough gritty characters. See more Alejandro E @Alex970 Jul 5, 2026 The story of a tramp turned underground fighter may not be a gem from the 1970s. However, the main reason to watch it is Charles Bronson, in one of his most memorable roles. Just what you need for a weekend. See more Farah R @Farah Jul 4, 2026 Hard Times is nicely shot but a bit boring. The plot is too simple and the characters lack development, leaving them at the end of the movie exactly where they were at the beginning, which begs the question: what was the point? See more Robert T @RT70963987 Feb 8, 2026 This is one of the best movies depicting the depression era since Grapes of Wrath. Beautiful shots of the New Orleans and surrounding area enhances the film. Outstanding performances and storyline. See more Read all reviews
Hard Times

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Cast & Crew

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Walter Hill

Director

Charles Bronson

Chaney

James Coburn

Speed

Jill Ireland

Lucy Simpson

Strother Martin

Poe

Margaret Blye

Gayleen Schoonover

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Hard Times

Hard Times (1975) Hard Times (1975) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis During the Great Depression, Chaney (Charles Bronson) bare-knuckle boxes to survive. Speed (James Coburn), an avid gambler, recognizes his talent and becomes his manager. They hire a cut man named Poe (Strother Martin), and Speed borrows cash from some gangsters to bet on Chaney's fight. They win, but Speed gambles and loses his portion and remains in debt. In the end, a rival manager named Gandil (Michael McGuire) buys Speed's debt and forces Chaney to fight Speed against his toughest foe yet.
Director
Walter Hill
Producer
Lawrence Gordon
Screenwriter
Bruce Henstell, Bryan Gindoff, Walter Hill
Production Co
Columbia Pictures, Claridge Productions
Rating
PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
May 14, 2014
Runtime
1h 32m
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