8 Million Ways To Die (1985)

0% of critics liked it
(7 reviews)
32% of users liked it
(376 ratings)

Jeff Bridges plays Matthew Scudder, an LA sheriff who loses his job due to his inability to stay away from booze. While attending an AA meeting, Scudder is invited to attend a party, where he meets the beauteous Sunny (Alexandra Paul). Also at the party is druggie Chance (Randy Brooks), an old enemy… More Jeff Bridges plays Matthew Scudder, an LA sheriff who loses his job due to his inability to stay away from booze. While attending an AA meeting, Scudder is invited to attend a party, where he meets the beauteous Sunny (Alexandra Paul). Also at the party is druggie Chance (Randy Brooks), an old enemy of Scudder's. It doesn't take long for Scudder to figure out that Chance is a pimp and Sunny is one of his hookers. She begs Scudder to help her break away from Chance. Not long afterward, Sunny is killed, and Scudder crawls back into the bottle. Eventually sobering up, he vows to avenge Sunny's death. Much blood is spilled before the killer is revealed; along the way, Scudder gets a new lease on life when he falls in love with ex-hooker Rosanna Arquette. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 55 min.
Directed By: Hal Ashby
Written By: Lawrence Block, Oliver Stone, David Lee Henry
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Apr 25, 1986 Wide
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
An oddly-paced work that is sometimes a thriller and sometimes a love story, succeeding at neither.
Walter Goodman, New York Times
How did Eight Million Ways to Die commit suicide? Let us count the ways.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Too bad that the gifted director Hal Ashby (Last Detail, Shampoo) ended his career with such a sleazy thriller that even the reliable and appealing Jeff Bridges can't salvage.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Considering the major talents involved here, one would expect to find something more than a run-of-the-mill crime thriller.
Mark Salisbury, Time Out
What happened? With Ashby, Bridges, Arquette and a script co-written by Oliver Stone, you expect the result to be better than a long drawn-out episode of The Equalizer.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Anthony L

Could this be one of the 80's most overlooked films? It has everything a cheesy 80's action/thriller should have, it's pretty edgy too with violence and colourful language. It should have a cult following at least but alas, I guess it just wasn't publicised very… More
Could this be one of the 80's most overlooked films? It has everything a cheesy 80's action/thriller should have, it's pretty edgy too with violence and colourful language. It should have a cult following at least but alas, I guess it just wasn't publicised very well but then to be fair, it's not going to appeal if you had hoped for a Hal Ashby film of the 70's. Being There/Harold & Maude this definitely ain't but give it a go, especially if you like a bit of 80's nostalgia.
Magnus X

An 80s favorite of mine with a great cast with among others Jeff Bridges, Rosanna Arquette, Randy Brooks and Andy Garcia.
Anthony V

I know, I know. With a cast like this, how could it go wrong? Well, trust me, it does.

Cast

            Jeff Bridges as Matthew Scudder

            Rosanna Arquette as Sarah

            Alexandra Paul as Sunny

            Randy Brooks as Chance

            Andy Garcia as Angel Maldonado

            Chip Arnold as Homicide Detective

            Fred Asparagus as Mundo

            James Avery as Deputy D.A.

            Loyd Catlett as Buster

            Danny De La Paz as Angel Heavy

            Frank Dent as Boot Salesman

            Christa Denton as Laurie

            Wilfredo Hernandez as Hector Lopez

            Jay Ingram as AA Member

            Zoaunne Le Roy as Nurse

            Luisa Leschin as Hector's wife

            Henry Lewis as Po' Boy's Market Manager

            Tommy 'Tiny' Lister as Nose Guard

            William Marquez as Tip

            Sue Rihr as Young Woman

            Victor Rivers as 3rd Angel Heavy

            Gene Ross as Slim

            Vyto Ruginis as Durkin

            Lisa Sloan as Linda Scudder

            Lynn Stalmaster
            
            Vance Valencia as Quintero

            Jack Younger as Drunk

            Don Edmonds as Elderly Man

            Art Fransen as Cop

            Phil Peters as Rugged Man

            Arthur Ervin as Waiter

            Mark Oliver Farley as Ollie

            Michael Galindo as 2nd Son

            Peter Galindo as Son

            Elva Garcia as Daughter

            Arie Gedis as Gambler

            Lois Gerace as 2nd AA Speaker

            Rosalind Ingledew as Tote Lady

            Roberto A. Jimenez as Jamie Rodriquez

            Robb Madrid as Victor Padillo

            Richard A. Michels as Player

            Raegan Newman as Girl

            Gilbert O. Parra as Gil

            Miriam E. Schubach as 1st AA Speaker

            Abigail Shelton as AA Member

            Victor Podillo
            
See full cast