Sudden Death | Rotten Tomatoes (2025)

51% Tomatometer 37 Reviews 40% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings

Ex-fireman Darren McCord (Jean-Claude Van Damme) has a new job working security at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena. Hoping to impress his kids, he's scored tickets to the Stanley Cup Finals, unaware that the place has been taken over by a group of terrorists. Ex-CIA agent Joshua Foss (Powers Boothe) is holding the vice president hostage in a press box and plans to blow up the building if he doesn't pay the ransom. But, when Darren learns of his scheme, he jumps into action to save the day.

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Sudden Death

Sudden Death

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Critics Consensus

Sudden Death may not be a classic, but exciting set pieces and strong work from Jean-Claude Van Damme help this action thriller pay off part of its Die Hard debt.

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Critics Reviews

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Sudden Death | Rotten Tomatoes (1) William Thomas Empire Magazine Tripe, but hard not to enjoy. Rated: 3/5 Nov 13, 2017 Full Review Sudden Death | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Entertainment Weekly Rated: D- Dec 27, 2010 Full Review Sudden Death | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Geoff Andrew Time Out Reuniting Hyams and Van Damme, director and star of Timecop, this spectacular nail-biter exploits their combined, if limited, abilities to the full. Feb 9, 2006 Full Review Sudden Death | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Matt Brunson Film Frenzy After the success of Die Hard, it wasn’t much of a surprise to see “Die Hard on a bus” (Speed), “Die Hard on a ship" (Under Siege), etc. But did anyone have “Die Hard at a hockey game” on their bingo card? Rated: 3/4 Sep 14, 2024 Full Review Sudden Death | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Brian Orndorf Blu-ray.com Instead of scoring with a surefire premise, "Sudden Death" follows the title's direction, keeling over before game even begins. Rated: C Sep 21, 2020 Full Review Sudden Death | Rotten Tomatoes (6) David Nusair Reel Film Reviews An especially blatant Die Hard knockoff... Rated: 2.5/4 Jan 5, 2017 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Alex F Sudden Death has many action set pieces. And lots of explosions for a fun watch. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/10/24 Full Review Jonathan O Before there was M. Night's Trap, there's Sudden Death a mid 90's of Die Hard rip-off but it's really entertaining action thriller and Van Damme is an action star actor way better than Steven Seagal. In Sudden Death packs with exhilarating thrills and amazing stunts and choreograph fight scene that will make your jaw drop. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/01/24 Full Review Fung S Very entertaining with good storyline, good action & good fight, good production & good 🔉🔊sound effect,9️⃣7️⃣% or A+👏🏼💪🏼👍🏼 Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/31/24 Full Review Topi L Good action movie, but the length should have been shorter. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/14/23 Full Review Audience Member "Die Hard" at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena during Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Has some truly ridiculous moments. JCVD fighting a villain in a mascot costume in the arena's kitchen. JCVD playing goalie for the Penguins DURING THE GAME. It's trash, but watchable trash. Rated 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Jean-Claude Van Damme doing what he does best in the action movie department.Darren McCord used to be a fire fighter 2 years ago. But after feeling like he failed saving a child he has now has a new job working security at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena. He's also divorced from his wife. Hoping to impress his kids, Emily and Tyler he's scored tickets to the Stanley Cup Finals. The bad news is that the place has been taken over by a group of terrorists. An ex-CIA agent Joshua Foss is holding the vice president hostage in a press box and plans to blow up the building if he doesn't pay the ransom. But Darren figures out the plan much better than the authorities. So it's up to him to thwart their nefarious operation.Think of this like Die Hard but on ice.Great action, impressive explosions, not much originality in terms of plot and execution but there's a big twist in the middle I didn't expect.Fun stuff I admit. Van Damme doing his best action schlock and Booth chews up the delicious scenery as the big villain.Manages to accomplish a lot in a tight premise. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

Peter Hyams Director Jean-Claude Van Damme Darren McCord Powers Boothe Joshua Foss Raymond J. Barry Vice President Whittni Wright Emily McCord Ross Malinger Tyler McCord
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Sudden Death

Sudden Death: Official Clip - Bye Bye, Terrorist Sudden Death: Official Clip - Bye Bye, Terrorist 2:58 Sudden Death: Official Clip - Bad Guy On Ice Sudden Death: Official Clip - Bad Guy On Ice 2:38 Sudden Death: Official Clip - Last Minute Save Sudden Death: Official Clip - Last Minute Save 3:06 Sudden Death: Official Clip - The Penguin Mascot Fight Sudden Death: Official Clip - The Penguin Mascot Fight 2:57 Sudden Death: Official Clip - Hero From Above Sudden Death: Official Clip - Hero From Above 3:44 Sudden Death: Official Clip - A Toy Flamethrower Sudden Death: Official Clip - A Toy Flamethrower 2:01 Sudden Death: Official Clip - Death by Chicken Bone Sudden Death: Official Clip - Death by Chicken Bone 1:59 Sudden Death: Official Clip - A Good Goalie Sudden Death: Official Clip - A Good Goalie 3:19 Sudden Death: Official Clip - I'll Find the Bombs Myself Sudden Death: Official Clip - I'll Find the Bombs Myself 2:29 Sudden Death: Official Clip - The Best Kind of Lunatic Sudden Death: Official Clip - The Best Kind of Lunatic 1:45 View more videos

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Sudden Death

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Synopsis Ex-fireman Darren McCord (Jean-Claude Van Damme) has a new job working security at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena. Hoping to impress his kids, he's scored tickets to the Stanley Cup Finals, unaware that the place has been taken over by a group of terrorists. Ex-CIA agent Joshua Foss (Powers Boothe) is holding the vice president hostage in a press box and plans to blow up the building if he doesn't pay the ransom. But, when Darren learns of his scheme, he jumps into action to save the day.

Director
Peter Hyams

Producer
Moshe Diamant, Howard Baldwin

Screenwriter
Karen Elise Baldwin, Gene Quintano

Production Co
Universal Pictures, Imperial Entertainment, Signature Films

Rating
R

Genre
Action

Original Language
English

Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 19, 2016

Box Office (Gross USA)
$20.2M

Runtime
1h 50m

Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo
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Sudden Death | Rotten Tomatoes (2025)

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