The Harder They Come
1972, English. Directed by Perry Henzell.
With a Piece in His Hand He Takes on the Man!
Ivanhoe Martin arrives in Kingston, Jamaica, looking for work and, after some initial struggles, lands a recording contract as a reggae singer. He records his first song, "The Harder They Come," but after a bitter dispute with a manipulative producer named Hilton, soon finds himself resorting to petty crime in order to pay the bills. He deals marijuana, kills some abusive cops and earns local folk hero status. Meanwhile, his record is topping the charts.
- Runtime
- 1h 43m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
Start now and it ends at ….
Popcorn Flick
Fun if you don’t overthink it.
6.6/10 from 133 TMDB viewer ratings.
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Where to watch The Harder They Come
The Harder They Come is streaming on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, and Fandor in India.
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YouTubeAvailability in India as of 11 November 2026. Streaming data by JustWatch.
Cast & crew
Details
- Released
- 1 August 1972
- Country
- Jamaica
- Written by
- Perry Henzell, Trevor D. Rhone
Check ratings elsewhere
News & fan talk
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The Harder They Come: quick answers
Is The Harder They Come worth watching?
Our verdict is Popcorn Flick: Fun if you don’t overthink it. It scores 6.6/10 from 133 TMDB viewer ratings.
How long is The Harder They Come?
The Harder They Come runs 103 minutes (1h 43m).
Does The Harder They Come have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for The Harder They Come. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
The Harder They Come parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
The Harder They Come is rated R in India. Check the rating guidance before watching with young children.
Which OTT platform is The Harder They Come on?
The Harder They Come is streaming on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, and Fandor in India. (Checked 11 November 2026.)
What movies are like The Harder They Come?
If you liked The Harder They Come, try Get Rich or Die Tryin', Hustle & Flow, Notorious.
Who directed The Harder They Come?
The Harder They Come (1972) was directed by Perry Henzell and stars Jimmy Cliff, Janet Bartley, Carl Bradshaw.