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IMDbPro

Mercenary

  • Video
  • 19961996
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
5.0/10
547
YOUR RATING
John Ritter and Olivier Gruner in Mercenary (1996)
  • Action
  • Drama
  • Thriller
Jonas Ambler is a rich businessman who's wife is killed by kidnappers. So he decides to get even. He hires a mercenary to find and kill the kidnappers. There's only one catch, he wants to go... Read allJonas Ambler is a rich businessman who's wife is killed by kidnappers. So he decides to get even. He hires a mercenary to find and kill the kidnappers. There's only one catch, he wants to go with them.Jonas Ambler is a rich businessman who's wife is killed by kidnappers. So he decides to get even. He hires a mercenary to find and kill the kidnappers. There's only one catch, he wants to go with them.
IMDb RATING
5.0/10
547
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Avi Nesher
  • Writers
    • Avi Nesher(story)
    • Steven Hartov(screenplay)
    • Beverly Graf(story editor)
  • Stars
    • Olivier Gruner
    • John Ritter
    • Robert Culp
Top credits
  • Director
    • Avi Nesher
  • Writers
    • Avi Nesher(story)
    • Steven Hartov(screenplay)
    • Beverly Graf(story editor)
  • Stars
    • Olivier Gruner
    • John Ritter
    • Robert Culp
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 15User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos15

    Olivier Gruner in Mercenary (1996)
    Jaime Pressly in Mercenary (1996)
    Ed Lauter and Greg Mascarena in Mercenary (1996)
    Mercenary (1996)
    Olivier Gruner in Mercenary (1996)
    John Ritter in Mercenary (1996)
    John Ritter and Lara Harris in Mercenary (1996)
    Ed Lauter in Mercenary (1996)
    John Ritter in Mercenary (1996)
    Greg Mascarena in Mercenary (1996)
    Greg Mascarena in Mercenary (1996)
    Mercenary (1996)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Olivier Gruner
    Olivier Gruner
    • Capt. Karl 'Hawk' May
    John Ritter
    John Ritter
    • Jonas Ambler
    Robert Culp
    Robert Culp
    • McClean
    Ed Lauter
    Ed Lauter
    • Jack Cochran
    Michael Zelniker
    Michael Zelniker
    • Alan Bailey
    Martin Kove
    Martin Kove
    • Phoenix
    Lara Harris
    Lara Harris
    • Joanna Ambler
    Lindsey Ginter
    Lindsey Ginter
    • Klinge
    • (as Lindsey Lee Ginter)
    Nils Allen Stewart
    Nils Allen Stewart
    • Bad Dave
    Michael Reid Davis
    • Hendrix
    Duke Valenti
    Duke Valenti
    • Bandit Boss
    Kevin Knotts
    • Barman
    Mark Poitras
    • Commo Man #1
    Robert Werhan
    Robert Werhan
    • Frank
    Bryan Lee
    • Yakuza
    David J. Partington
    • Airport Customs Inspector
    Patricia Skeriotis
    Patricia Skeriotis
    • Kurdish Woman
    Avner Garbi
    • Prof. Nasir Majdi
    • Director
      • Avi Nesher
    • Writers
      • Avi Nesher(story) (screenplay)
      • Steven Hartov(screenplay)
      • Beverly Graf(story editor)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Mercenary II: Thick & Thin
    3.8
    Mercenary II: Thick & Thin

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Jonas says, "As it says in the Bible the enemy of my enemy is my friend." Unsurprising for this kind of a movie he doesn't know what he's talking about, since it occurs nowhere in the Bible, being rather an old proverb mentioned at wikipedia's "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
    • Goofs
      The Kurdish woman captive is shown from the back to be completely naked, but in the last shot, where she stretches to retrieve a gun, she's wearing panties.
    • Quotes

      [to her rescuers after being freed from a gang of kidnappers]

      Pre-teen American Girl: Goddamn motherfuckin' ass-suckin' son of a bitch cocksuckers! Untie my fuckin' hands!

      McClean: Well, Daddy is sure going to be glad to have her home.

    • Connections
      Followed by Mercenary II: Thick & Thin (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      La Bamba
      Arranged by Charles Hutchinson, Alan Anderson, David Scott

      Performed by Popdefect

    User reviews15

    Review
    Top review
    1/10
    Avoid This at ALL COSTS
    This was a remarkably BAD idea. JOHN RITTER, who we knew for so long as the main guy in the " Three's Company " comedy series, had made a step out to the big screen to play a great role in SLING BLADE. He could have stopped right there and let that performance be the standard he was judged on by his fans.

    WHY he even gave this ridiculous film a second look is unbelievable. His role is ridiculous enough, but every other role is right down there too. After 8-10 minutes of watching this literally incredible mess, the thought came to me that it might indeed be a dark comedy -- even with the rat-tat-tat action scenes, and the seriousness (?) of his revenge. It's as if the director tells Ed Lauter "OK, all you gotta do is give me your best Dolph Lungren from beginning to end". The gangsters that Ritter's front man encounters early at the sleazy bar are so damn over the top with their evil schtick that they are indeed HILARIOUS. And this film is remarkable in how poorly the actors use curse words -- so dramatic, so overdone ..... sooooo WHATTTT ?

    This entire production will not endure as a resume highlight of anyone who is In the closing credits. One hopes that everyone involved retired with this effort. To this film, PLEASE JUST GO AWAY ... RIP ....
    helpful•0
    0
    • dukeboy-15329
    • Mar 8, 2022

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 17, 1997 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Найманець
    • Filming locations
      • Utah, USA
    • Production companies
      • Argo Films
      • Conquistador Entertainment
      • Home Box Office (HBO)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $10,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 42 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby

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