Reuniting Hyams and Van Damme, director and star of Timecop, this spectacular nail-biter exploits their combined, if limited, abilities to the full.
Comment
02/09/06
Sudden Death (1995)
53
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work 
Reviews Counted:32
Fresh:17
Rotten:15
Average Rating:5.2/10
Runtime: 1 hr 51 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
Synopsis: In this action-packed thriller, a ruthless gang of criminals holds the Vice-President of the United States hostage at a Stanley Cup finals ice hockey game in Pittsburgh's Civic Arena. The demented... [More]
Starring: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Powers Boothe, Raymond J. Barry, Dorian Harewood
Director: Peter Hyams
Reviews for Sudden Death
Top CriticVan Damme is at his butt-kicking best, with Sudden Death offering all the thrills, spills and stuff blowing up that action fans relish.
11/02/08
Top CriticPatched together from such familiar stuff that even ardent fans of the genre will find it hard to stay interested.
01/01/00
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.
04/03/03
A mildly satisfying high-energy romp complete with outstanding professional hockey footage and intense physical confrontations.
05/14/03
About the best thing that can be said about this movie is that the action scenes, directed by Peter Hyams, are choreographed with flair. Unfortunately, the material connecting them is worthless.
01/01/00
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.
12/05/04
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.
01/01/00
Top CriticThe movie is state-of-the-art, over-the-top, non-stop Hollywood hokum. And that's meant as a compliment, too.
04/17/02
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.
01/01/00
Hyams, who also teamed with Van Damme for Timecop, knows how to keep the action popping and there are some dramatically intense scenes. But it's far too sadistic.
01/01/00
Offers above-average pyrotechnics, a body count that steadily mounts, and plenty of hand-to-hand combat.
05/20/03
Top CriticSudden 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.
06/18/02
An exciting if often predictable reteaming of Timecop star Jean-Claude Van Damme and director Peter Hyams.
06/05/02
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).
04/20/03
I never realized how many ways there are to kill people in a kitchen.
01/01/00
Although this is an uninspired re-working of the Die Hard formula, it is probably O.K. as mindless holiday entertainment.
03/27/03
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.
02/13/01
Top CriticVan Damme races against time, trying to thwart Boothe and defuse all the bombs. But in the hands of director Peter Hyams, these are just banal action-movie chores.
01/01/00
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.
05/12/01
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Fresh Links
Featured
RT on YouTube 
Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.
RT on Twitter
Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.
IGN RSS Feeds