“Hot Shots!” is a comedic parody film directed by Jim Abrahams. The film follows the story of Topper Harley (played by Charlie Sheen), a former Navy pilot who is recruited by the US government to destroy Saddam Hussein’s nuclear power plant in Iraq. Along the way, he must deal with his personal demons, including a troubled relationship with a fellow pilot and his father’s legacy as a legendary pilot.
The film is a spoof of popular action films such as “Top Gun” and “Rambo”, and features a number of comedic set pieces and visual gags.
Review:
The film received generally positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of 83% based on 36 reviews, with an average rating of 6.9/10. The critical consensus reads: “A wacky, irreverent spoof of airplane disaster movies, Hot Shots! delivers plenty of gags and a handful of memorable moments.”
Awards:
The film was not a major awards contender and did not receive any significant nominations or wins.
Popularity:
The film was a commercial success, grossing over $180 million worldwide against a budget of $26 million. It has since become a cult classic and is often cited as one of the best parody films of the 1990s. Its success led to a sequel, “Hot Shots! Part Deux”, which was released in 1993.
| Directed by | Jim Abrahams |
|---|---|
| Produced by | Bill Badalato Pat Proft |
| Written by | Jim Abrahams Pat Proft |
| Starring | Charlie Sheen, Cary Elwes, Valeria Golino, Jon Cryer, Kevin Dunn, Bill Irwin, Lloyd Bridges, William O’Leary, |
| Music by | Sylvester Levay |
| Cinematography | Bill Butler |
| Edited by | Jane Kurson Eric A. Sears |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
| Release date | July 31, 1991 |
| Running time | 84 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $26 million |
| Box office | $181.1 million |
