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Poster for The Harder They Come

The Harder They Come

Seen it?

1972 | 103 min | Crime, Drama, Music

Sunday Safe Betearly rating

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

Critics loved it (92% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office flop. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for crime-drama fans. If you loved Elvis or Dancer in the Dark, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Dark and gritty.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 43 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated R: expect violence and drug use.
  • Made in 1972: an older pace and style.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

Ivanhoe Martin arrives in Kingston, Jamaica, looking for work and, after some initial struggles, lands a recording contract as a reggae singer. He records his first song, "The Harder They Come," but after a bitter dispute with a manipulative producer named Hilton, soon finds himself resorting to petty crime in order to pay the bills. He deals marijuana, kills some abusive cops and earns local folk hero status. Meanwhile, his record is topping the charts.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    92% on Rotten Tomatoes, 77 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    6.6 out of 10

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Reach & staying powerWeak

    Streaming release that reached a small audience so far

  • Buzz & cultural impactSolid

    About 92K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Perry Henzell

  • Jimmy CliffIvanhoe "Ivan" Martin
  • Janet BartleyElsa
  • Carl BradshawJose
  • Ras Daniel HartmanPedro
  • Basil KeanePreacher
  • Bob CharltonHilton
  • Winston StonaDetective Ray Jones
  • Lucia WhiteMother
  • Volair JohnsonPushcart Boy
  • Beverly AndersonHousewife