Cliffhanger

Name: Cliffhanger
Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller
Released: May 28, 1993
Duration: 112 min
Rating: 59
Cast: John Lithgow, Sylvester Stallone

1993

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 16 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 176 Ratings

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8.2

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8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 176 Ratings

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Cliffhanger

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Movie Details & Credits

TriStar Pictures | Release Date: May 28, 1993 | NC-17

Starring: John Lithgow, Sylvester Stallone

Summary: Sarah (Turner) was an inexperienced climber. She trusted Gabe (Stallone) to rescue her. But something went wrong high above the valley floor. Cliffhanger is high-altitude avalanche of action: a non-stop adventure peak with suspense and capped with heart-quaking terror. (Sony Pictures)

Director: Renny Harlin

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Thriller

Rating: NC-17

Runtime: 112 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Todd McCarthy

But where most rugged he-man films feature a few action sequences scattered throughout, director Renny Harlin keeps the adventure stuff in this reputed $ 65 million production coming at an astonishing pace. Read full review

Empire Mark Dinning

Action filmmaking at its best; a career high for director Harlin and arguably Stallone as well. Read full review

Marjorie Baumgarten

It grabs you by the viscera in the opening prologue and for the next two hours rarely lets go. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

Despite the don't-look-down Olympian settings, Cliffhanger's spirit is brutal and earthbound. Read full review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

On the other hand, the brutality and sadism it delivers at every opportunity, which we're supposed to take for granted as part of the "fun," left me feeling that any civilization that can create such an entertainment may not deserve to survive. Read full review

Mike Clark

After a tense, terrific, stomach-turning opening that may have moviegoing acrophobes recalling Vertigo, the film soon becomes the latest screen variation on cat-and-Mighty Mouse. [28May1993 Pg.04.D]

Desson Thomson

It's an eroticism of nastiness -- triple-X fare for dirty old men in raincoats. If you resist this sleazy gorefest, you'll be right to feel proud of yourself. Read full review

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User Reviews

RyanW

Apr 25, 2009

My dad and I are huge fans of Stallone and Cliffhanger is one of his finest. 2 thumbs up.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

smiyamot

Nov 29, 2015

A heist gone bad, bad guys searching for their lost loot, taking US Park Rangers hostage to lead them through the mountains to get it. Of course, the Rangers have personal issues which make them enemies, but the bad guys become the bigger foes. This movie is perfect for Stallone, not a lotA heist gone bad, bad guys searching for their lost loot, taking US Park Rangers hostage to lead them through the mountains to get it. Of course, the Rangers have personal issues which make them enemies, but the bad guys become the bigger foes. This movie is perfect for Stallone, not a lot of dialogue, not a lot of emoting, just muscling up mountains to save his buds. I don't have many DVDs but this one is in my collection.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

LoRevisor

Jan 2, 2015

Um dos melhores filmes de Sylvester Stallone,um suspense de ação genial,com cenas de grande tensão,comédia e ação. Uma Excelente atuação de Stallone.Um Excelente filme de ação!!!!!!!!

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

royalguy07

Jan 16, 2023

This is possibly the most 90s film ever made, every single person that pops up on screen is a 'that guy'. Lithgow is giving such a wild in and out accent performance I was floored by the it.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

amheretojudge

Aug 24, 2018

and at best pure fun..

Cliffhanger Cliffhanger is a plot driven action thriller about a group of mountain climbers that are cornered in a crisis after a heist goes wrong for the antagonist. Such action feature often relies upon the merit of screenplay and it is exhilarating, gripping andand at best pure fun..

Cliffhanger

Cliffhanger is a plot driven action thriller about a group of mountain climbers that are cornered in a crisis after a heist goes wrong for the antagonist. Such action feature often relies upon the merit of screenplay and it is exhilarating, gripping and sensible in here. The trail that each sub-plot and character and dramatic sequence leads to, is not only well constructed but is passionately projected with keen sense of awareness about the palpable surrounding offered. It may be flawed, but is undeniably entertaining in its own beats with nail-biting action and chase sequences. The writing offers few hints of maturity which latter unfortunately is mutilated or piled upon by the commercial aspect of the feature. Harlin's world runs on "hard work" as it doesn't offer any help to the characters, just the wittiness and boldness that makes them cross the line. It is shot beautifully with stunning visuals and appealing live locations as it wanders through mountain valleys offering the promised thrilling ride to the audience. The background score is a bit daft at certain points and so is short on cinematography but is rich on delivering sharp sound effects. The feature is well polished around the edges unlike such genre where it goes wrong, which is what keeps the audience tangled in its cold world; literally. Stallone; the screenwriter and protagonist, is in his A game on both the job that he has attempted to pull off and is supported well by Lithgow, Rooker and Turner. Harlin; the director, has done a decent work on executing the feature but is undermined by its mature screenplay. Gripping script, stunning locations that makes it pleasing encounter and hardcore choreographed action are the high points of the feature. Cliffhanger leaves the audience with a satisfying and expected experience that is at worst cliched and at best pure fun.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Voodoo123

Dec 1, 2018

+Excellent setting with great cinematography
+Memorable soundtrack from Trevor Jones
-Weak screenplay -Fantastic cast feel wasted here -Tonal pacing is a mess The film starts well yet soon becomes yet another Hollywood attempt to cash in on the success of the die hard series. Unfortunately+Excellent setting with great cinematography
+Memorable soundtrack from Trevor Jones
-Weak screenplay
-Fantastic cast feel wasted here
-Tonal pacing is a mess

The film starts well yet soon becomes yet another Hollywood attempt to cash in on the success of the die hard series. Unfortunately the script sucks and for a film so focused on action it is just poorly directed with no sense of where anyone is on this mountain range where people can seemingly appear from nowhere when the plot suits thus wasting what could be its great source of tension (i.e actually allow difficulty with characters scaling a mountainous terrain in pursuit of the mcguffin). The cast are fantastic and given some entertainingly corny lines. Overall I feel like this is one for the hardcore fans only!… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

Steven1981

Mar 20, 2020

Cliffhanger is possibly one of the most laughable, awful, embarrassing and rubbish movies ever made with action scenes that make you laugh and aren't that impressive or characters who seem like the three Stooges or are totally unconvincing. Stallone in this movie is unlikeable, MichaelCliffhanger is possibly one of the most laughable, awful, embarrassing and rubbish movies ever made with action scenes that make you laugh and aren't that impressive or characters who seem like the three Stooges or are totally unconvincing. Stallone in this movie is unlikeable, Michael Rooker needs knocking out, the woman who hangs around with Stallone is probably the only likeable character besides Ralph Waite who plays Frank.... Craig Fairbrass is ridiculous as one of the villains and John Lithgow is laughable too and ridiculously pathetic. Terrible film.… Expand

0 of 9 users found this helpful09

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