Natasha Binder comes to New Orleans looking for her father, who has gone missing. In doing so, she meets a very hard man called Chance. He helps her find out that her father was killed by an organisation who sell the opportunity to hunt human prey. They are taking advantage of a police strike in New Orleans. Will the Muscles from Brussels win through?
Where to Watch Hard Target
Hard Target Ratings & Reviews
- RichardDecember 6, 2025I first saw this on VHS rental back in the ’90s and it’s exactly the kind of action flick that defined the era. John Woo’s American debut brings his Hong Kong flair to New Orleans: slow motion shootouts, balletic gunfights and explosions staged like opera. Jean‑Claude Van Damme, mullet in full glory, plays Chance Boudreaux, a drifter who helps Yancy Butler track down her missing father, only to uncover a twisted game where the rich hunt the homeless for sport. On VHS, the grain and tracking lines almost added to the grit. The film itself is pure Woo: doves flying, double fisted pistols and Van Damme kicking his way through Lance Henriksen and Arnold Vosloo’s villainous duo. It’s over the top, sometimes cheesy, but that’s the charm, a pulp story elevated by Woo’s style and JCVD’s stunt work. Compared to Woo’s Hard Boiled or The Killer, this is lighter fare, but it still delivers the goods. Watching it on rental felt like discovering a cult gem: outrageous action, a bluesy soundtrack and Wilford Brimley popping up as Van Damme’s Cajun uncle with a bow and arrow. A true VHS rental classic. Gritty, stylish, and proudly exaggerated.
- RecordedsnakeOctober 10, 2025This movie is pure ’90s action perfection. Jean-Claude Van Damme delivers one of his most iconic performances, blending slick martial arts, sharp one-liners, and incredible stunt work. John Woo’s signature style—slow motion, explosions, and balletic gunfights—turns every scene into a visual feast. It’s gritty, stylish, and endlessly rewatchable. If you love classic action movies with attitude and heart, Hard Target absolutely hits the mark!
- ርልዪረMarch 4, 2025Many people see "Jean-Claude Van Damme" in the lead and you think this another stupid, no-brainer action flick and guess what? It is! BUT, it is also a very entertaining film, kind of ripoff of the old "Most Dangerous Game" storyline....and, if you can suspend belief for 90-100 minutes, you'll be vastly entertained....and that's the name of the game, folks. Some of the action scenes are outrageous and big-time "Rambo" mentality, meaning an entire arsenal that could wipe out a small country is used against our hero and never seems to kill him! People are being shot in the streets but no is ever around in the middle of the day but the killers and victims? Usually that stuff annoys me, but I didn't seem to mind in this movie. In fact, it fits. Despite the lack of credibility, Van Dame standing on top of a speeding motorcycle as it heads towards an onrushing car, and later dodging all kinds of pretty neat weapons as he tries to help Yancy Butler, is just fun. John Wood-directed films tend to be ridiculously exaggerated and loud, so that's what you get. I am not a fan of many of his films, but I am of this one. It's pure macho madness with a Lance Henriksen doing what he does best: be an incredibly-nasty and brutal villain. An added bonus in here - a real hoot - is old man Wilfred Brimley as Van Damme's French uncle who comes to his nephew's aid. Add a great blues soundtrack and you have a great film to feed your male hormones with when needing to be fed some gratuitous violence. Final Verdict: Call It What You Will, But It IS Entertaining!
- stuhannafordApril 25, 2025It is what it is. Enjoy an 80’s style, action movie, this early 90’s entry will do the job. Van Damme fan? It’s around about a middling effort. Love a first class mullet? Bingo!
Hard Target Trivia
Hard Target was released on August 20, 1993.
Hard Target was directed by John Woo.
Hard Target has a runtime of 1 hr 37 min.
Hard Target was produced by Sean Daniel, James Jacks.
The key characters in Hard Target are Chance Boudreaux (Jean-Claude Van Damme), Pik van Cleef (Arnold Vosloo), Emil Fouchon (Lance Henriksen).
Hard Target is rated R.
Hard Target is an Action, Adventure, Thriller film.
Hard Target has an audience rating of 5 out of 10.