After the Sunset (2004)

“After the Sunset” is a 2004 heist comedy film directed by Brett Ratner and starring Pierce Brosnan, Salma Hayek, and Woody Harrelson.

The film follows Max Burdett (Pierce Brosnan), a retired master thief, and his partner-in-crime and lover Lola Cirillo (Salma Hayek), as they decide to retire to a tropical paradise after pulling off a final heist. However, their retirement is disrupted when FBI agent Stanley P. Lloyd (Woody Harrelson) shows up and informs them that a valuable diamond is going to be on display on a nearby cruise ship, and he suspects that Max is planning to steal it.

Max and Lola decide to take on the challenge and steal the diamond, while trying to avoid Lloyd’s surveillance. Along the way, they must also deal with their complicated relationship, as well as the arrival of a local gangster who wants a cut of their heist.

The film received mixed reviews from critics and was a moderate box office success. However, it has gained a small following over the years as a fun and lighthearted heist film with charming performances from its lead actors.

Cast

The cast of “After the Sunset” includes:

These actors play the main characters in the film, with Brosnan and Hayek as the two leads and Harrelson as the primary antagonist.

Production

“After the Sunset” was directed by Brett Ratner and produced by Beau Flynn, Jay Stern, and Tripp Vinson. The screenplay was written by Paul Zbyszewski and Craig Rosenberg.

The film was shot on location in the Bahamas and Los Angeles, with additional filming taking place in Puerto Rico and New York. The production budget was estimated to be around $58 million.

The film features an original score composed by Lalo Schifrin, with additional music by various artists including Earth, Wind & Fire, Bill Withers, and Stevie Wonder.

“After the Sunset” was released in November 2004 by New Line Cinema and received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the chemistry between Brosnan and Hayek but criticized the film’s plot and pacing. Despite its mixed reception, the film was a moderate box office success, grossing over $61 million worldwide.

Reviews

“After the Sunset” received mixed reviews from critics upon its release. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 18% based on 134 reviews, with an average rating of 4/10. The site’s consensus reads, “After the Sunset is a lightweight heist caper with little chemistry between Pierce Brosnan and Salma Hayek.”

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film two out of four stars, calling it “one of those movies where you can’t believe a single thing the characters say or do, and the plot is a labyrinth of forced whimsy and preposterous coincidences.”

However, some critics did praise the chemistry between Brosnan and Hayek. Peter Travers of Rolling Stone called them “the best reason to see After the Sunset,” and Claudia Puig of USA Today said that their “sizzling chemistry” was the film’s “most appealing element.”

Despite its mixed reviews, “After the Sunset” has gained a small following over the years as a fun and lighthearted heist film with charming performances from its lead actors.

Where are they now?

Here is some information about what the main cast of “After the Sunset” is up to now:

  • Pierce Brosnan continues to act in films and television shows, and has also taken on some producing and directing roles. Some of his notable recent credits include “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” (2018) and “The Son” (TV series, 2017-2019).
  • Salma Hayek has continued to act in films and television, and has also taken on some producing and directing roles. Some of her notable recent credits include “The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” (2021) and “Monarca” (TV series, 2019-2021).
  • Woody Harrelson has continued to act in films and television shows, and has also taken on some producing and directing roles. Some of his notable recent credits include “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” (2021) and “The Highwaymen” (2019).
  • Don Cheadle has continued to act in films and television shows, and has also taken on some producing and directing roles. Some of his notable recent credits include “Avengers: Endgame” (2019) and “Black Monday” (TV series, 2019-present).
  • Naomie Harris has continued to act in films and television shows, and has also taken on some producing roles. Some of her notable recent credits include “No Time to Die” (2021) and “The Third Day” (TV series, 2020).
  • Chris Penn passed away in 2006.
  • Troy Garity has continued to act in films and television shows, and has also taken on some producing roles. Some of his notable recent credits include “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar” (2021) and “The Good Fight” (TV series, 2019-present).
  • Obba Babatundé has continued to act in films and television shows, and has also done some directing and producing work. Some of his notable recent credits include “Dear White People” (TV series, 2017-2019) and “S.W.A.T.” (TV series, 2018-2021).
  • Mykelti Williamson has continued to act in films and television shows. Some of his notable recent credits include “Fences” (2016) and “Chicago P.D.” (TV series, 2018-present).

Fun facts

Here are some fun facts about “After the Sunset”:

  1. Pierce Brosnan and Salma Hayek were originally set to star in the film “Hotel” together, but the project fell through. They later reunited to make “After the Sunset”.
  2. The production crew built a replica of a cruise ship for the film, which was used in some of the key scenes.
  3. The film’s opening sequence, which features Brosnan and Hayek robbing a diamond, was filmed in a real jewelry store in Los Angeles. The store’s owner reportedly agreed to let the filmmakers shoot there because he thought it would be good publicity for his business.
  4. The film’s score was composed by legendary composer Lalo Schifrin, who is best known for his work on the “Mission: Impossible” TV series.
  5. Don Cheadle’s character, Henri Mooré, is named after a famous thief from the 19th century.
  6. Woody Harrelson’s character, FBI Agent Stanley P. Lloyd, is a nod to the character he played in the TV series “Cheers”, Woody Boyd. The middle initial “P” is also a reference to the character’s middle initial on “Cheers”, Woody P. Boyd.
  7. The film’s final scene was shot in Puerto Rico, where the crew had to contend with strong winds and rain from a tropical storm.
  8. The film’s title, “After the Sunset”, refers to the time period when a thief can relax and enjoy the fruits of their labor, after successfully pulling off a heist.

Box office

“After the Sunset” was a moderate box office success, grossing over $61 million worldwide against a production budget of around $58 million.

In the United States and Canada, the film opened in 2,819 theaters and grossed $11.1 million in its opening weekend, debuting at #4 at the box office. The film went on to gross $28.3 million domestically.

Internationally, the film grossed $32.8 million, with its highest-grossing markets being the United Kingdom ($8.8 million), Germany ($5.5 million), and Australia ($3.5 million).

Overall, while “After the Sunset” did not perform as well as some other heist films of its time, it still managed to earn a respectable profit for the studio.

Trailer

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