The 1975 sports drama Hard Times, originally known as The Streetfighter, is set to stream on Netflix starting Wednesday, July 1. The film, which features Charles Bronson in a critically acclaimed performance, has been hailed as a masterpiece by fans on IMDb.
Directorial Debut of Walter Hill
Marking the directorial debut of Walter Hill—known for The Warriors (1979), 48 Hrs. (1982), and Dead for a Dollar (2022)—the story follows Chaney, a down-on-his-luck streetfighter struggling to survive the Great Depression. Determined to build a better life, he teams up with unreliable gambler Speed (James Coburn) and cutman Poe (Strother Martin) while taking on local fighters in New Orleans.
Star-Studded Cast
Rounding out the cast is Jill Ireland, Bronson's real-life wife, who plays his love interest Lucy Simpson. Margaret Blye portrays Speed's girlfriend Gayleen, and Michael McGuire takes on the villainous role of ruthless businessman and sponsor Chick Gandil.
Critical Acclaim
Hard Times holds a Certified Fresh score of 71% on Rotten Tomatoes. Noted critic Roger Ebert called it a "powerful, brutal film containing a definitive Charles Bronson performance". Fans have also praised Bronson's portrayal, with one IMDb user calling it "one of the most unappreciated great films of this or any other time". Another fan noted, "This movie has it all: a feel-good story, tough bare-knuckle boxing action, and Charles Bronson pairing up with the great James Coburn."
Hard Times is available to stream on Netflix from July 1.
