Wanted: Dead or Alive, released in theaters on January 16, 1987, reimagines the classic 1950s TV Western of the same name as a gritty, contemporary action film steeped in Cold War paranoia and 1980s excess.
The movie stars Rutger Hauer as Nick Randall (the grandson of Josh Randall (Steve McQueen) from the television series), a former CIA operative now operating as a highly effective, independent bounty hunter in Los Angeles.
Randall’s quiet but profitable life is violently interrupted when a series of bombings grips the city, orchestrated by the notorious and cold-blooded international terrorist, Malak Al Rahim (Gene Simmons).
Randall is reluctantly drawn into the manhunt when his former associate and current police contact, Lieutenant Philmore Walker (Robert Guillaume), tasks him with locating the terrorist.
What follows is a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game across L.A., where Randall, aided by his girlfriend Terry (Mel Harris), must rely on his unconventional methods, often clashing with the official channels that seek to control him.
The film excels in establishing Randall as the ultimate anti-hero, a man outside the system who plays by his own lethal rules.
Hauer embodies this perfectly, bringing both intensity and a weary resignation to the role of a professional killer trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy.
Simmons, playing against type as the ruthless terrorist, delivers an unsettling performance that grounds the villainy with a chilling sense of purpose.
The supporting cast including William Russ, Jerry Hardin, and Hugh Gillin fleshes out the bureaucratic and often corrupt world Randall operates in.
Rutger Hauer and Gene Simmons in Wanted: Dead or Alive (Photo/New World Pictures)
Reception for Wanted: Dead or Alive
Wanted: Dead or Alive grossed $2.8 million on its opening weekend, finishing eighth at the box office. The top film of the weekend was Critical Condition ($5.7 million) starring Richard Pryor.
The film would gross $7.6 million in its theatrical run.
Legacy
While a solid, successful action picture of its time, the film’s lasting legacy is rooted in its unique genre crossing: casting a rock star in a major villainous role and positioning Hauer as a true action icon.
Wanted: Dead or Alive remains a quintessential piece of stylish 80s action, offering satisfying thrills and a compelling lead performance that cements its status as a cult classic.
