48 Hrs. (1982): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
48 Hrs. is a 1982 action thriller directed by Walter Hill, starring Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy. It runs 1 hour 36 minutes and earned $78.9 million worldwide. It earned 2 award nominations, including New Star of the Year – Actor at the Golden Globes 1983. Critics gave it 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and 71 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 36m (96 min)
- Director
- Walter Hill
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Paramount Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is 48 Hrs. About?
The premise of 48 Hrs. without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A hardened, rule-bending cop, Jack Cates, secures the release of convict Reggie Hammond for 48 hours to track down a dangerous criminal. The unlikely pair, a wisecracking bank robber and a volatile police officer, must work together as they chase a ruthless killer across San Francisco. Their contrasting personalities and methods create friction while they pursue a half-million-dollar reward and seek justice, facing danger and unexpected complications every step of the way.
48 Hrs. Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- criminal
- villain
- murder of a police officer
- bar fight
- neo noir
- police station
- violence
- tough cop
- shootout
- psychopath
- fistfight
- number in title
+38 more Show fewer
- fugitive
- detective
- argument
- escaped prisoner
- manhunt
- stakeout
- foot chase
- boyfriend girlfriend relationship
- talking about sex
- long take
- sociopath
- insult
- hostility
- partner
- revenge
- tough guy
- escape from prison
- african american
- shot to death
- held at gunpoint
- showdown
- two man army
- police detective
- maverick cop
- fight
- chinatown san francisco
- stolen money
- prostitute
- mercilessness
- hit with a car door
- car chase
- interracial friendship
- native american
- buddy cop
- racism
- murder
- kidnapping
- machismo
48 Hrs. Cast
Nick Nolte leads the cast, with Eddie Murphy. Directed by Walter Hill.
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Director Walter Hill
More from Walter Hill
More films directed by Walter Hill, best-rated first: The Long Riders, Hard Times, Crossroads and Streets of Fire.
48 Hrs. Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave 48 Hrs. 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and 71 on Metacritic.
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Rotten Tomatoes 92% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 69%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 71 Metascore
User score 7.0
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 67% User score
See on TMDB
48 Hrs. Plot Summary
What happens in 48 Hrs. from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
As Albert Ganz (a man well-versed in the realm of crime) orchestrates his bold escape from custody with the assistance of his partner-in-crime Billy Bear, the pair has their eyes fixed on San Francisco. Their initial objective: to eliminate Henry Wong, a former associate who has become too friendly for their liking. In pursuit of them is SFPD Inspector Jack Cates, alongside his reliable team members Inspectors Algren and Van Zant, who are hot on the heels of Ganz and Billy. The duo cleverly checks into a hotel under assumed identities, which turns into a deadly confrontation when the officers arrive.
Full summary
The whole story of 48 Hrs., scene by scene
48 Hrs. Box Office
48 Hrs. grossed $78.9 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$78.9M
- US & Canada
- $78.9M
48 Hrs. Awards & Nominations
48 Hrs. earned 2 award nominations, including New Star of the Year – Actor at the Golden Globes 1983. The 2 nominations come from 2 ceremonies.
2 nominations2 ceremonies
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Golden Globes 1983 1 nomination- Nominated New Star of the Year – Actor – Eddie Murphy
- Golden Globes 1982 1 nomination
- Nominated New Star of the Year – Actor – Eddie Murphy
48 Hrs. Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 2 trailers.
- Trailer 48 Hrs. (1982) Original Trailer [FHD]
How Well Do You Know 48 Hrs.?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who orchestrates the daring escape from custody?
Cars in 48 Hrs.
76 cars on screen, including the 1964 Cadillac DeVille Convertible and the 1970 GMC TDH 5305 N.
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1964 Cadillac DeVille Convertible Main role -
1970 GMC TDH 5305 N Important role -
Intermeccanica 356 A Speedster Important role -
1951 Chevrolet Advance-Design Minor role
Seen 48 Hrs.?
Movies Like 48 Hrs.
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Another 48 Hrs., 48 Hours and Gone in 60 Seconds.
48 Hrs. FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of 48 Hrs., each answered in a sentence.
How long is 48 Hrs.?
48 Hrs. runs 1 hour 36 minutes (96 minutes).
When was 48 Hrs. released?
48 Hrs. was released on December 8, 1982.
Who directed 48 Hrs.?
48 Hrs. was directed by Walter Hill.
More films by Walter Hill Who is in the cast of 48 Hrs.?
48 Hrs. stars Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy.
How much did 48 Hrs. make at the box office?
48 Hrs. grossed $78.9 million worldwide.
How is 48 Hrs. rated?
48 Hrs. has 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, 71 on Metacritic and 67% on TMDB.
Was 48 Hrs. nominated for any awards?
48 Hrs. received 2 nominations across 2 ceremonies.
Does 48 Hrs. have a post-credit scene?
No. 48 Hrs. has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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