The Hurricane (1999)
86%RT Audience Score: 87%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
7 wins & 18 nominations total
Thanks in large part to one of Denzel Washington’s most powerful on-screen performances, The Hurricane is a moving, inspirational sports drama, even if it takes few risks in telling its story
The Hurricane” is a movie that packs a punch, just like the boxer it’s based on. Denzel Washington delivers a knockout performance as Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, and it’s no wonder he ran away with the movie. The story itself is complex, but the film feels a bit too simple at times. However, it’s still a powerful case of injustice that will leave you feeling moved. Plus, with a supporting cast that includes some talented actors, you’ll be rooting for them to break out of their two-dimensional roles. Overall, “The Hurricane” is a film that’s worth watching, even if it’s not a perfect knockout.
Production Company(ies)
The 10 East Vanishing Angle
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language and some violence
Year of Release
2000
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Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:2h 26m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 14, 2000 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 28, 2006
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
Worldwide gross: $73,956,241
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $128,270,871
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 902
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 13,988,099
US/Canada gross: $50,699,241
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $87,933,563
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 813
US/Canada opening weekend: $384,640
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $667,126
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,335
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $50,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $86,720,789
Production budget ranking: 476
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $46,699,145
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$5,149,062
ROI to date (est.): -4%
ROI ranking: 1,417
Denzel Washington
Rubin “Hurricane” Carter
Vicellous Reon Shannon
Lesra Martin
Deborah Kara Unger
Lisa Peters
Liev Schreiber
Sam Chaiton
John Hannah
Terry Swinton
Dan Hedaya
Detective Vincent Della Pesca
Show all Cast & Crew
Director(s)
Norman Jewison
Writer(s)
Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, Sam Chaiton, Terry Swinton, Armyan Bernstein, Dan Gordon
Producer(s)
Armyan Bernstein, Norman Jewison, John Ketcham
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
7 wins & 18 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (113) | Top Critics (37) | Fresh (94) | Rotten (19)
Denzel dazzles in biopic of imprisoned boxer.
December 24, 2010 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Common Sense Media
TOP CRITIC
The movie’s dogged humorlessness, and its sixties-style cant, don’t do justice to all the political crosscurrents in this story.
August 7, 2004
Peter Rainer
New York Magazine/Vulture
TOP CRITIC
A reminder that there’s still a lot to be said for the good old-fashioned inspirational Hollywood movie.
April 25, 2003 | Rating: 3/4
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
The drama is hung on a vendetta between a flawed-but-honourable man and a doggedly bad cop. Yes, it’s Valjean and Javert, together again.
December 2, 2002
Richard Kelly
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
August 2, 2002 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
Give director Norman Jewison credit for two things: 1) He made the movie; 2) He let Washington run away with it.
June 18, 2002 | Rating: 3/4
Mick LaSalle
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
A powerful case of injustice lacking punch.
February 16, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Tony Black
Cultural Conversation
The film, directed by Norman Jewison, feels a bit too simple for such a complex story, but Washington transcends the problems to provide his best acting since Malcolm X.
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Bob Grimm
Sacramento News & Review
Startlingly inept coming from a generally accomplished director like Norman Jewison.
September 24, 2007 | Rating: 2/5
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com
There is a talented supporting cast, but they are not given much opportunity to break out of the two-dimensional symbolism they are cloaked with in the script by Armyan Bernstein and Dan Gordon.
April 9, 2005 | Rating: B
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews
The film has genuine impact, and I’m betting that leading and supporting Oscar nominations will follow.
May 20, 2003 | Rating: 3.5/4
Jim Shelby
Palo Alto Weekly
A thoughtful, moving story, and a triumph for Jewison, Washington, and Carter himself.
February 8, 2003 | Rating: 4/5
John R. McEwen
Film Quips Online…
Plot
This film tells the story of Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, an African-American man who rose above his troubled youth to become a top contender for the middle-weight boxing title. However, his dreams are shattered when he is accused of a triple murder, and is convicted to three natural-life terms. Despite becoming a cause celebre and his dogged efforts to prove his innocence through his autobiography, the years of fruitless efforts have left him discouraged. This changes when an African-American boy and his Canadian mentors read his book and are convinced of his innocence enough to work for his exoneration. However, what Hurricane and his friends learn is that this fight puts them against a racist establishment that profited from this travesty and have no intention of seeing it reversed.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
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