Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

The Dead Pool

  • 19881988
  • RR
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
45K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Clint Eastwood in The Dead Pool (1988)
  • Action
  • Crime
  • Mystery
Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan must stop a sick secret contest to murder local celebrities, which includes himself as a target.Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan must stop a sick secret contest to murder local celebrities, which includes himself as a target.Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan must stop a sick secret contest to murder local celebrities, which includes himself as a target.
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
45K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Buddy Van Horn
  • Writers
    • Harry Julian Fink(characters)
    • Rita M. Fink(characters)
    • Steve Sharon(story)
  • Stars
    • Clint Eastwood
    • Liam Neeson
    • Patricia Clarkson
Top credits
  • Director
    • Buddy Van Horn
  • Writers
    • Harry Julian Fink(characters)
    • Rita M. Fink(characters)
    • Steve Sharon(story)
  • Stars
    • Clint Eastwood
    • Liam Neeson
    • Patricia Clarkson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 170User reviews
    • 59Critic reviews
    • 46Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    The Dead Pool
    Trailer 0:30
    The Dead Pool

    Photos131

    Clint Eastwood and Evan C. Kim in The Dead Pool (1988)
    Clint Eastwood, Michael Currie, and Michael Goodwin in The Dead Pool (1988)
    Clint Eastwood in The Dead Pool (1988)
    The Dead Pool (1988)
    Clint Eastwood in The Dead Pool (1988)
    Clint Eastwood in The Dead Pool (1988)
    Clint Eastwood in The Dead Pool (1988)
    Clint Eastwood in The Dead Pool (1988)
    Clint Eastwood in The Dead Pool (1988)
    Clint Eastwood in The Dead Pool (1988)
    The Dead Pool (1988)
    Clint Eastwood in The Dead Pool (1988)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Clint Eastwood
    Clint Eastwood
    • Harry Callahanas Harry Callahan
    Liam Neeson
    Liam Neeson
    • Peter Swanas Peter Swan
    Patricia Clarkson
    Patricia Clarkson
    • Samantha Walkeras Samantha Walker
    Evan C. Kim
    Evan C. Kim
    • Al Quanas Al Quan
    David Hunt
    David Hunt
    • Harlan Rookas Harlan Rook
    Michael Currie
    Michael Currie
    • Captain Donnellyas Captain Donnelly
    Michael Goodwin
    Michael Goodwin
    • Lt. Ackermanas Lt. Ackerman
    Darwin Gillett
    • Patrick Snowas Patrick Snow
    Anthony Charnota
    • Lou Janeroas Lou Janero
    Christopher P. Beale
    • D.A. Thomas McSherryas D.A. Thomas McSherry
    • (as Christopher Beale)
    John Vick
    • Lt. Ruskowskias Lt. Ruskowski
    • (as John Allen Vick)
    Jeff Richmond
    Jeff Richmond
    • Freeway Reporter #1as Freeway Reporter #1
    Patrick N. Van Horn
    • Freeway Reporter #2as Freeway Reporter #2
    • (as Patrick Van Horn)
    Sigrid Wurschmidt
    • Freeway Reporter #3as Freeway Reporter #3
    Jim Carrey
    Jim Carrey
    • Johnny Squaresas Johnny Squares
    • (as James Carrey)
    Deborah A. Bryan
    • Girl in Rock Videoas Girl in Rock Video
    Nicholas Love
    Nicholas Love
    • Jeff Howseras Jeff Howser
    Maureen McVerry
    • Vicky Owensas Vicky Owens
    • Director
      • Buddy Van Horn
    • Writers
      • Harry Julian Fink(characters)
      • Rita M. Fink(characters)
      • Steve Sharon(story) (screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    Sudden Impact
    6.6
    Sudden Impact
    The Enforcer
    6.7
    The Enforcer
    Magnum Force
    7.2
    Magnum Force
    Dirty Harry
    7.7
    Dirty Harry
    Tightrope
    6.3
    Tightrope
    The Gauntlet
    6.4
    The Gauntlet
    Pale Rider
    7.3
    Pale Rider
    Pink Cadillac
    5.3
    Pink Cadillac
    The Rookie
    5.9
    The Rookie
    Any Which Way You Can
    6.1
    Any Which Way You Can
    Heartbreak Ridge
    6.8
    Heartbreak Ridge
    Every Which Way but Loose
    6.3
    Every Which Way but Loose

    Storyline

    Edit
    Even though he detests publicity, for once, the tough-as-nails San Francisco Police Department officer, Inspector Dirty Harry (1971), has hit the headlines for a good cause, after putting behind bars an infamous mobster. But now, Callahan's name is on a macabre list of soon-to-be-dead celebrities. Before long, the first one dies, the drug-addled rock star, Johnny Squares, and as more violent deaths follow, Callahan now fears that he is next in line. In the meantime, more and more, all indications point to the British horror-film director, Peter Swan. Who is the mastermind behind the anonymous hit-list and the twisted gambling game known as the Dead Pool? Can Harry get to the bottom of this deadly conundrum before it is too late? —Nick Riganas
    • funeral
    • neo western
    • modern western
    • contemporary western
    • cowboy cop
    • 101 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Dirty Harry Just Learned A New Game
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Crime
      • Mystery
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Reportedly, when Jim Carrey came in to audition for Clint Eastwood for this movie, he did not do one of his scenes from this movie, but instead did his Vegas Elvis Presley act, which cracked up Eastwood and his colleagues.
    • Goofs
      Director Peter Swan tells Inspector Callahan that he encountered Harlan Rook at every film screening or other public appearance, where Rook's comments showed that he knew everything about Swan's films. Rook also constantly pitched his screenplay to him. Despite this extensive contact and familiarity, Swan does not recognize Rook when he works closely with him on a daily basis as his special effects supervisor under a fake name.
    • Quotes

      Harry Callahan: Well, opinions are like assholes. Everybody has one.

    • Alternate versions
      Harry Callahan's character name becomes Harry ''Callaghan'' in the Italian version and titles because the local distributor thought it sounded better.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Green Fog (2017)
    • Soundtracks
      Welcome to the Jungle
      Written by Slash, Axl Rose (as W. Axl Rose), Steven Adler, Izzy Stradlin and Duff McKagan (as Duff McKagen)

      Performed by Guns N' Roses

      Courtesy of Geffen Records

      By arrangement with Warner Special Products

    User reviews170

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Harry Callahan might be getting older but he hasn't lost his touch.
    Part Five of the Dirty Harry series, now Harry Callahan must investigate the ongoings of the new game called 'The Dead Pool'. Kinda funny role by Liam Neeson as a horrible slasher movie director who rips off everything he has ever liked on film, he plays Guns and Roses while a heroin addicted Jim Carrey lip syncs to the song while stomping around next to a bed with a lady sitting there doing a rendition of the exorcist! As always, Harry gets a new partner who is a little shaky at first about working with 'Dirty' Harry. A lot of the scenes in this movie are 'Dirty Harry' inspired, talking to authority like their just somebody out on the street, the usual Dirty Harry one liners before the 44 magnum goes off, definitely good times but I think the series has seen its end. They've (the filmmakers) pretty much exhausted all the material you could rehash for another Dirty Harry film in this one and it barely ekes out in my opinion. Still very good and as always Mr. Clint Eastwood always puts on a great show. The best part has to be when Jannero's men come to keep a protective eye on Callahan (be Callahans' bodyguards) and Harry comes out of nowhere and just beats the crap out of both of them, really funny stuff. 7/10 stars, could've been eight out of ten stars if the reporter wasn't in the movie, she was very annoying.
    helpful•5
    1
    • legendaryunderdog
    • May 9, 2008

    FAQ2

    • What are the differences between the old British Version and the Uncensored Version?
    • How many Dirty Harry movies are there?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 13, 1988 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Dirty Harry in The Dead Pool
    • Filming locations
      • 550 El Camino Del Mar, Seacliff, San Francisco, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Warner Bros.
      • Malpaso Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $31,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $37,903,295
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $9,071,330
      • Jul 17, 1988
    • Gross worldwide
      • $37,903,295
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 31 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Clint Eastwood Built His 67-Year Career on Tradition While Changing the Industry Forever
    Clint Eastwood Built His 67-Year Career on Tradition While Changing the Industry Forever
    Sep 17Indiewire
    Cry Macho review – Clint Eastwood’s dull 70s drama evokes no tears
    Cry Macho review – Clint Eastwood’s dull 70s drama evokes no tears
    Sep 15The Guardian - Film News

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Clint Eastwood in The Dead Pool (1988)
    Top Gap
    By what name was The Dead Pool (1988) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    See the full list
    Image caption not available
    2:14
    The Most Anticipated Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    Watch the video

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.