Hudson Hawk: 7 Wild Facts From May 24, 1991’s Bomb
Hudson Hawk hit American theaters on May 24, 1991 and immediately became the most spectacular Bruce Willis flop of the Die Hard era. The $65 million action-comedy about a cat burglar forced to steal Leonardo da Vinci’s gold-making machine — sung partly in Bing Crosby standards — earned just $17 million domestically, swept the 1992 Razzies, and quietly became one of the most beloved cult classics of the 1990s. Thirty-five years later, the punchline has aged into a cult-favorite curiosity, and the story of how it got made is even wilder than the movie itself.
Bruce Willis as Eddie “Hudson Hawk” Hawkins, tipping the cat burglar’s signature fedora — May 24, 1991.
The Retro Almanac
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What Is Hudson Hawk? The Bruce Willis Movie Behind the Punchline
Hudson Hawk is a 1991 American action-comedy directed by Michael Lehmann (Heathers) and starring Bruce Willis as Eddie “Hudson Hawk” Hawkins, a master cat burglar fresh out of prison who wants nothing more than a perfect cappuccino. Within hours of his release, the CIA, a Mafia family, a Vatican operative played by Andie MacDowell, and a megalomaniac billionaire couple all force him back into the heist game to steal three Leonardo da Vinci masterpieces that hide the secret to making gold from lead.
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The Retro Almanac
A monthly roundup of "on this day" highlights from that month, decades back — plus first dibs on new retro merch drops. No spam, just the good stuff.
