The Best Movie You Never Saw: Nighthawks

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Welcome to The Best Movie You NEVER Saw, a column dedicated to examining films that have flown under the radar or gained traction throughout the years, earning them a place as a cult classic or underrated gem that was either before it’s time and/or has aged like a fine wine.

The history behind NIGHTHAWKS is compelling stuff. Originally conceived as a third FRENCH CONNECTION sequel, which would have pitted Gene Hackman’s Popeye Doyle up against a terrorist modeled on the infamous Carlos the Jackal, while also pairing him with a partner that producers hoped would be played by Richard Pryor, the project went kaput when Hackman decided he had enough of the role. The script made its way to Universal, where it was redeveloped into a project for Sylvester Stallone, then coming off the first two ROCKY movies, meaning he was a star, but not quite the icon he would become. In this episode we look at the movie's reception, as well as it's place in Stallone's filmography.