8 Heads in a Duffel Bag (1997)

11% of critics liked it
(18 reviews)
34% of users liked it
(20,891 ratings)

Cross What's up Doc with Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia and you get this dark screwball comedy of murder and lost luggage. Mafia hitman Tommy Spinelli (Joe Pesci) is flying to San Diego with a bag that holds eight severed heads, which he's bringing to his superiors to prove that some… More Cross What's up Doc with Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia and you get this dark screwball comedy of murder and lost luggage. Mafia hitman Tommy Spinelli (Joe Pesci) is flying to San Diego with a bag that holds eight severed heads, which he's bringing to his superiors to prove that some troublesome rival mobsters are permanently out of the picture. Medical student Charlie Pritchett (Andy Comeau) is headed to Mexico with his fiancée Laurie Bennett (Kristy Swanson) to meet her parents. Charlie's suitcase is identical to Tommy's, and it's not until Tommy arrives in San Diego that he discovers that there are no heads in his bag, while Charlie realizes his duffel most certainly does not contain his vacation wardrobe. Tommy finds Charlie's address in the bag and heads to the fraternity house he calls home, where he drafts Charlie's friends Ernie (David Spade) and Steve (Todd Louiso) into finding him some replacement heads post-haste. Meanwhile, Laurie's parents (Dyan Cannon and George Hamilton) are a bit miffed to discover that their future son-in-law is travelling with a bag full of rotting heads, while Laurie is ready to give Charlie his walking papers. Eight Heads in a Duffel Bag was the directorial debut of screenwriter Tom Schulman, who won an Academy Award for his script for the movie Dead Poets Society. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 35 min.
Directed By: Tom Schulman
Written By: Tom Schulman
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Apr 18, 1997 Wide
On DVD: Oct 8, 2002
Studio: Orion Home Video

Critic Reviews

Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
should have been funnier with this title
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A lame farce.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Jeff "

I saw this one when it came out. I thought it was a decent flick, nothing to great, but not that bad. I've seen far worst comedies than this. I thought that the film had some decent comedic bits here and there, but nothing to really make it stand out. This is really a decent… More
I saw this one when it came out. I thought it was a decent flick, nothing to great, but not that bad. I've seen far worst comedies than this. I thought that the film had some decent comedic bits here and there, but nothing to really make it stand out. This is really a decent little comedy, one that is mildly funny. Joe Pesci is pretty good, and without him in the film, this would have been a total dud. However, this is enjoyable enough to watch at least once. As a whole, there are far better comedies out there, than this, but for the most part, this one does have a few good laughs here and there. The film had potential to being a memorable comedy, and I think it's quite a shame because the idea the film was very interesting. I think it's too bad that they didn't focus more on the quality of the jokes. The jokes are at times lacking, and don't stand out. I don't see the film as a total waste of time, more like a mindless comedic viewing experience that's quite forgettable. 8 Heads in a Duffel Bag is a decent film to watch. I found the film quite enjoyable but this is not a film I would watch again. The gags like I said could have been improved on, but some do make you chuckle. In the end it's a shame they couldn't have thought of better material to add to its interesting premise. A decent comedy that has a few decent laughs and far from bad as what many critics have said.
AJ V

I don't know why some people saw this as a stupid comedy. I really love it. It's like half dark comedy and half screwball comedy. The story is good, although it's not a new one. The actors are good too, they're all very funny. I highly recommend this movie,… More
I don't know why some people saw this as a stupid comedy. I really love it. It's like half dark comedy and half screwball comedy. The story is good, although it's not a new one. The actors are good too, they're all very funny. I highly recommend this movie, even if no one else will.
Anthony L

Bit rubbish but Joe Pesci is very watchable!
Lady D

You'll never think of the song Mr Sandman the same again!
James A

Scripts matter not to this once mighty dwarf.
Deb S

I love black comedies and in this one Joe Pesci plays a hit-man whose duffle bag gets accidentally switched with a young fellow named Charlie who's on vacation in Mexico to meet his future parents-in-law. Charlie makes the horrible discovery when he opens his bag to find 8… More
I love black comedies and in this one Joe Pesci plays a hit-man whose duffle bag gets accidentally switched with a young fellow named Charlie who's on vacation in Mexico to meet his future parents-in-law. Charlie makes the horrible discovery when he opens his bag to find 8 severed heads. He and his fiancé Laurie (Kristy Swanson) desperately try to ditch the bag of heads in a nice, unassuming place, while Pesci roughly interrogates Charlie's pal Ernie (David Spade). Good for a few chuckles and David Spade provides some laughs during the scenes that he shares with Joe Pesci.
Marcus W

No idea how they came up with that title. Anyway, Joe Pesci is a hitman charged with transporting eight heads in a duffel bag to a mob boss. But, OH NO! The bag gets mixed up with a student's at the airport! Hilarity ensues.