Sudden Death (1995)

52% of critics liked it
(33 reviews)
39% of users liked it
(33,202 ratings)

Pittsburgh Penguins owner Howard Baldwin was the producer of Sudden Death, and the action is set in his hockey arena, in which the Penguins are playing the Chicago Blackhawks. Pittsburgh fire inspector Darren McCord (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is attending the game with his two children. He's quit… More Pittsburgh Penguins owner Howard Baldwin was the producer of Sudden Death, and the action is set in his hockey arena, in which the Penguins are playing the Chicago Blackhawks. Pittsburgh fire inspector Darren McCord (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is attending the game with his two children. He's quit fighting fires because of a tragedy a few years earlier involving a child he couldn't save. Also at the game is the vice-president of the United States (Raymond Barry), who is the target of a terrorist plot. The terrorist leader, an insane ex-CIA agent named Joshua Foss (Powers Boothe), has masterminded a scheme to hold the vice-president hostage in his luxury suite while demanding that payments be transferred to his account electronically at the end of each period of the game. If he doesn't get his money, he will kill one member of the vice-president's party at the end of each period, and at game's end he will order ten bombs hidden in the arena to be detonated with all 17,000 fans present. McCord discovers the plot while his daughter Emily (Whittni Wright) is kidnapped by the terrorists too. McCord must dispatch the villains and find the bombs, while saving all the hostages. Luckily, he is adept at martial arts. He fights one henchman dressed in a Penguins mascot outfit in the arena's kitchen, and another terrorist on the arena's retracting dome. At one point, McCord switches identities with a player, is sent into the game, and scores a goal. Director Peter Hyams also directed Van Damme in the blockbuster Timecop. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 50 min.
Directed By: Peter Hyams
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Dec 22, 1995 Wide
On DVD: Nov 1, 1998
Studio: MCA Universal Home Video

Critic Reviews

Stephen Holden, New York Times
Offers above-average pyrotechnics, a body count that steadily mounts, and plenty of hand-to-hand combat.
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
Sudden Death is one of the best action thrillers of 1995. It's also the film Jean-Claude Van Damme has been building up to for 10 years.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Despite the elaborate stunts, go-go-go direction from Peter Hyams, plus butt-kicking and surprise goalie action from Van Damme, Death deserves the hockey-puck booby prize for...getting its jollies by putting kids in jeopardy.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
A treat for Jean-Claude Van Damme fans, a superior action thriller loaded with jaw-dropping stunts and special effects, and strong in production values.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Sudden Death isn't about common sense. It's about the manipulation of action and special-effects sequences to create a thriller effect, and at that it's pretty good.
Richard Harrington, Washington Post
Though the climactic duel atop the arena roof is patently absurd, it's also exciting as events go into sudden-death overtime, just like the game being played below.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Good clean fun, with just the right ratio of explosions to dialogue.
James Jennings, Film4
Van Damme is at his butt-kicking best, with Sudden Death offering all the thrills, spills and stuff blowing up that action fans relish.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Reuniting Hyams and Van Damme, director and star of Timecop, this spectacular nail-biter exploits their combined, if limited, abilities to the full.
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily
The best of the many Die Hard rip-offs made during the 1990s. Sudden Death is a thrilling rollercoaster ride of hard-edged action.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Wooden-as-ever Van Damme is no Bruce Willis, unfunny main bad guy Powers Boothe is no Alan Rickman, and uninspired director Peter Hyams is no John McTiernan.
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
Gets a lot of mileage out of the well-worn trapped-in-a-blank-full-of-hostages action genre.
Fred Topel, About.com
Fun Die Hard knockoff that uses the stadium for all its worth. The mascot fight is a highlight.
Jeanne Aufmuth, Palo Alto Weekly
A mildly satisfying high-energy romp complete with outstanding professional hockey footage and intense physical confrontations.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
I'm surprised not only that there wasn't a lawsuit over the film, but also by how watchable the film is (though it truly is bad, it's fun at least).
Dragan Antulov, rec.arts.movies.reviews
Works as entertaining mix of good action and unintended comedy, but the viewers won't enjoy it today as much as they did in 1995.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
Although this is an uninspired re-working of the Die Hard formula, it is probably O.K. as mindless holiday entertainment.

Read all 17 critic reviews

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

Phil H

This is a pretty good 'Die Hard' style flick, 'Die Hard' in a ice hockey stadium haha the villian, Boothe is pretty nasty and the action is good and strong. The final scene is abit over the top but this is a good action effort.
Ken S

Really really typical 90's action flick...with on exception... Jean Claude Van Damme fights a penguin.
Tsubaki S

Die Hard on ice.
Jason O

I've seen just about all of Van Damme's movies and I have to say that I think "Sudden Death" is the best one so far. It's not your typical Van Damme movie when you compare it to most of his others. Most of his movies are mainly just fights throughout most of… More
I've seen just about all of Van Damme's movies and I have to say that I think "Sudden Death" is the best one so far. It's not your typical Van Damme movie when you compare it to most of his others. Most of his movies are mainly just fights throughout most of the film, which is always awesome. But I think it's even better when a fighting movie such as "Sudden Death" has more of a plot to it. Someone kidnaps his daughter and is holding her and the Vice President captive. The man holding them hostage wants a lot of money or he will blow up the whole hockey arena. Van Damme must find a way to get his daughter back while saving everybody else in the arena. "Sudden Death" is what all the other Van Damme movies isn't. It has a major storyline to it, great special effects, and even a few funny parts such as when Van Damme has to be a real goalie in the game to keep the badmen from finding him. If you're a Van Damme fan or if you like great action movies, "Sudden Death" is definitely for you. NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2000. I've always loved Van Damme movies and have seen nearly all of his, and this is definitely one of my absolute favorites from his library.
Lenny M

Bad Guy, Kill, Ass.
Dean M

Jean-Claude Van Damme makes a fabulous performance in this marvelous action movie - <i>Die Hard</i> in a hockey arena. And I was surprised Van Damme could use little ASL (American Sign Language) while giving his love respect to her daughter.
Dean !

a so-so action film, set at an ice hockey game. A bit like Snake eyes but with a hostage situatuion. Doesn't pack a punch like some of his other films.
danny d

decent flick
Jason S

Action.
Steven V

Sudden Death is a well made movie, it has great action sequences, pretty good acting and a very high level of entertainment. The movie starts out really well, and ends really well. A high level of entertainment makes Sudden Death a must see.
Curt C

It's Van Damme and hockey! Come on, how can I give a movie where he fights a guy in a penguin suit less than three stars?
Lee K

Not bad but he has alot better movies out there to see.
Jim W

Sudden Death is one of Van Damme's better action films. It's a Die Hard rip-off set at a hockey game. But it's a Die Hard rip-off that's also entertaining.
RJ M

Of all the Die Hard wannabe's to come down the pike, Jean-Claude Van Damme's "Die Hard In A Hockey Arena" is one of the best. A lightning faced action movie that makes absolutely the most of it's surroundings. From fist fights in the kitchen, to gun fights in… More
Of all the Die Hard wannabe's to come down the pike, Jean-Claude Van Damme's "Die Hard In A Hockey Arena" is one of the best. A lightning faced action movie that makes absolutely the most of it's surroundings. From fist fights in the kitchen, to gun fights in the locker room, to dangling from the overhanging scoreboard, Van Damme puts his best Bruce Willis forward, as he tries to stop a group of terrorists that have taken hostages in the arena during the last game of the NHL Stanley Cup finals. Director Peter Hyams does his usual double duty as director of photography and provides action on a large scale. Powers Boothe is the smooth criminal holding not only the Vice President hostage, but Van Damme's daughter as well. He's calm, methodical, and smooth as he executes his plans and his hostages with ease. Plenty of time is given to Van Damme to showcase his martial arts skills as the fights are plentiful, and up close and personal. The movie is not perfect of course. Some of the bad guys are too cliched, and the final downfall of the bad guy not only defies the laws of physics, but is kind of lame. Still, it's a great action movie, and proof that Van Damme could've had a much bigger career than what it has become.

Read all 14 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Jean-Claude Van Damme as Darren McCord

            Powers Boothe as Joshua Foss

            Raymond J. Barry as Vice President

            Whittni Wright as Emily McCord

            Ross Malinger as Tyler McCord

            Dorian Harewood as Hallmark

            Steve Aronson as Dooley

            Michael R. Aubele as Ace

            Karen Baldwin as TV Director

            Pat Brisson as Player

            William Cameron as Secret Service

            Bernard Canepari as Jefferson

            Bill Dalzell III as Spota

            John Hateley as Briggs

            Jeff Howell as Usborn

            Tommy Lafitte as Sugarman Guard

            Ray Laine as Foss Man #1

            Audra Lindley as Mrs. Ferrara

            Kate McNeil as Kathi

            Larry John Meyers as Box Secret Service #2

            Faith Minton as Carla

            Paul Mochnik as Andrew Ferrara

            Jean Pierre Nutini as Employee

            Manny Perry as Brody

            Diane Robin as Mrs Baldwin

            Rohn Thomas as Mayor Taylor

            Dixie Neyland Tymitz as Mrs Wirtz

            Dean E. Wells as Kloner

            Jophery C. Brown as Wootton

            Rick LeFevour as Ante Room SS Man

            Brian Smrz as Thug

            John Sterling as Kitchen Secret Service Agent

            Jeff Habberstad as Lewis

            Harold Surratt as Hallmark's Secret Service

            Fred M. Waugh as Bluto

            Michael Gaston as Hickey

            Gilbert B. Combs as Hallmark's Secret Service

            Brian Delate as Blair

            Luc Robitaille as Himself

            Bill Clement as Pre-Game Announcer

            Ed Evanko as Baldwin

            Jennifer D. Bowser as Joan

            Jay Caufield as Tolliver

            Alan Clement as Mr Wirtz

            Jack Erdie as Scratch

            David Flick as Spectator

            Glenn Alan Gardner as Sugarman Driver

            Mark Hager as Elevator SS Man

            Rosine 'Ace' Hatem as Concessionaire

            Jeff Hochendoner as Duckerman

            Brian Hutchison as Young Agent

            Jeff Jimerson as Anthem Singer

            Mark Kachowski as Beaumont

            Callum Keith-King as Kitchen Assistant

            Mike Lange as Play by Play Announcer

            Butch Luick as Fat Man

            Fred Mancuso as Pratt

            Anthony Marino as Vendor

            Ken Milchick as Coach

            Brad Moniz as Toowey

            Daniel R. Pagath as Assistant Coach

            Allan Pinsker as Order Man

            Douglas Rees as Spotter

            Thomas Saccio as Foss Helicopter Pilot

            Vinnie Sciullo as Foss Man

            Jack Skelly as Elderly Guard

            Phil Spano as Player

            Paul Steigerwald as Color Commentator

            Milton E. Thompson Jr. as Kurtz

            Rema D. Webb as Cindy

            Glenda Morgan Brown as Mrs Taylor

            John Hall as Hallmark's Secret Service
See full cast

Sudden Death (1995)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Cast

Trailers & Clips