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Hiding Out
Hiding Out
Hiding Out
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Hiding Out
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBob Giraldi
Written byJoe Menosky
Jeff Rothberg
Produced byJeff Rothberg
Starring
CinematographyDaniel Pearl
Edited byEdward Warschilka
Music byAnne Dudley
Distributed byDe Laurentiis Entertainment Group
Release date
  • November 6, 1987 (1987-11-06)
Running time
98 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$7 million[1]
Box office$7.02 million (domestic)[2]

Hiding Out is a 1987 American romantic thriller comedy-drama film starring Jon Cryer as a state's witness who disguises himself as a high school student in order to avoid being killed by the mob.

Plot

[edit]

Andrew Morenski and two others, all stockbrokers, have passed bogus bonds for a mobster awaiting trial. After an evening out at a bar, one of them is killed in his home. The next morning, the FBI take the other two into protective custody.

Convincing his FBI bodyguards to have breakfast out of the safe house, Andrew and the agents are followed by hitmen. One of the bodyguards is killed in the diner, the other injured, and Andrew flees the scene. While running from the hitmen, he boards a train, temporarily escaping. Andrew hitchhikes with a truck driver to Topsail, Delaware, where he phones his Aunt Lucy, who tells him to meet her at the high school where she is the nurse.

Shaving his beard and bleaching the sides of his hair blonde give Andrew a punk look. He trades his $500 Italian sports coat for an overcoat from a bum to complete the look. Arriving at Topsail High School, the office personnel mistake him for a new student and register him for classes. He takes the name of Maxwell Hauser (off a Maxwell House coffee can).

Andrew's cousin does not recognize him at first. He eventually pulls him aside, revealing himself. He also sleeps at Patrick's, unbeknownst to his aunt.

Not willing to take the teachers' attitudes, Andrew becomes a hero to those tired of the school's status quo. This upsets Kevin O'Roarke, the current class president, and captures the heart of Ryan Campbell. During an afternoon at the local diner, he accidentally drops a birthday card meant for his grandmother (who had raised him) and it gets mailed. Later, a hitman posing as an FBI agent contacts his grandmother and sees the card and its postmark, telling him where Andrew is hiding.

One night, back from a date with Ryan, Patrick stops Andrew from entering the house. FBI agents have arrived, knowing he is close because he used his ATM card. Patrick takes his mother's keys and Andrew ends up using the high school as his refuge. He meets the school janitor, Ezzard, and shares a drink with him, revealing who he is. Andrew embraces the opportunity to run for class president, not knowing the election committee has already decided to rig the results in favor of Kevin.

Bored with high school, and realising he is the last witness against the mobster, Andrew decides to drop out. During the presentation of class election results, Kevin is announced the winner. However, he demands a recount, which reveals that most want Andrew as class president. As Andrew starts to address the crowd, a hitman begins firing at the stage. Ezzard, watching the proceedings, manages to dispose of one of the hitmen, while the other moves up into the rafters of the gym. Andrew chases him and Patrick uses a spotlight to blind the hitman, who loses his grip and falls to the gym floor below.

Images of graduation are spliced into images of Andrew taking the stand in court against the mobster for whom he had sold the bogus bonds. After his testimony, Andrew is given a few minutes to say farewell to his grandmother before being placed in the Witness Protection Program.

The last scene is of Ryan, sitting under a tree at a university. Andrew, now known as Eddie Collins, appears from behind the tree and tells her he has decided to become a teacher.

Cast

[edit]

Soundtrack

[edit]

Four songs from the film's soundtrack entered the record charts in the United States: "Crying" by Roy Orbison (re-recorded as a duet with k.d. lang[3]); "Live My Life" by Boy George; "Catch Me (I'm Falling)" by Pretty Poison, which went top ten in the US and also topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in September 1987; and the top-20 U.S. hit "You Don't Know" by Scarlett and Black. The UK hit "Seattle" by Public Image Ltd. was also recorded in 1987 and featured in the film.

Reception

[edit]

Roger Ebert compared the film to Like Father, Like Son, also released in 1987, in that it was an "example of the newest Hollywood genre, the Generation Squeeze, in which plots artificially combine adult and teenage elements" in order to attract the latter to the movie theater while attracting enough of an adult audience for the success of the rental market.[4] Ebert describes as "dumb" the main plot device involving the gangsters' continuing pursuit of Andrew, and the story arc about the janitor he befriends, and notes that the film fails to depict how the 29-year-old protagonist could have much in common with Gish's character, who is more than 10 years younger than he is.[4] He credited the film with getting him to wonder what it would be like to revisit one's high school years, but cites Peggy Sue Got Married from 1986 as a film that had portrayed that scenario much more successfully.[4]

Janet Maslin called the film "pleasant enough" with "mild" jokes that "revolve around things such as Mr. Cryer's accidentally giving tax advice to the father of a teenage girl he's dating, or his feeling out of place at the roller rink." She thought the film's conclusion suggested that Cryer "could have unexpected charm in more adult roles."[5]

The Time Out Film Guide called the film "predictable, slackly plotted nonsense, marginally redeemed by a genial young cast."[6]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 38% of 8 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.7/10.[7]

References

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[edit]
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Hiding Out

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Hiding Out is a American -drama film directed by Bob Giraldi and starring as Andrew Morenski, a young who, after testifying against the mob, goes into hiding by disguising himself as a high named Max Hauser in a small town. The film blends elements of romance, , and teen as Morenski navigates high life, forms unexpected relationships, and evades his pursuers. The plot follows Morenski, who has been unwittingly involved in selling counterfeit bonds for organized crime figures in Boston. After surviving assassination attempts following his testimony in a trial, he flees to the suburban home of his aunt and uncle, where he enrolls in his cousin's high school to maintain a low profile, adopting a punk hairstyle and youthful persona. There, he becomes entangled in school activities, including a budding romance with classmate Ryan Campbell (Annabeth Gish) and conflicts with bullies, all while the mob closes in. The screenplay, written by Joe Menosky and Jeff Rothberg, draws on 1980s tropes of adult regression into adolescence for humor and tension. Key cast members include as Morenski's cousin Patrick, as the mob hitman, and supporting roles by (Jon's mother) as Aunt Lucy and as a waitress. Produced by with a budget of approximately $7 million, the film was shot primarily in . Its soundtrack features 1980s pop tracks, including "Live My Life" by and "Catch Me (I'm Falling)" by Pretty Poison, enhancing the era's nostalgic vibe. Upon release on November 6, 1987, Hiding Out received mixed reviews, praised for Cryer's charismatic performance and lighthearted moments but criticized for contrived plotting and uneven tone. It holds a 38% approval rating from critics on based on eight reviews, with an audience score of 69% as of November 2025. Commercially, it grossed about $7 million domestically, underperforming at the but gaining a for its 1980s teen movie appeal. The film has since been restored and re-released in 4K UHD formats, highlighting its enduring charm as a period piece.

Production

Development

The original screenplay for Hiding Out was co-written by Joe Menosky and Jeff Rothberg, drawing inspiration from the premise of a young forced to hide from the mob by disguising himself as a high school student, thereby merging thriller tension with elements of teen . The project was developed under the after Rothberg pitched the concept at a Hollywood party, where it was championed by studio development executive Sharon Morrill and acquired for production, with Rothberg also serving as . Bob Giraldi was selected to direct, marking his debut in feature filmmaking following a successful career directing music videos—such as Michael Jackson's ""—and television commercials; principal photography wrapped in May 1987. Jon was cast in the lead role during .

Filming

Principal photography for Hiding Out took place from March 30, 1987, to April 29, 1987. The production filmed the opening stockbroker scenes in Boston, Massachusetts, including the key diner sequence at the Blue Diner on 150 Kneeland Street. Subsequent high school and suburban sequences were primarily shot in Wilmington, North Carolina, utilizing the Tileston School on Ann Street for exterior school shots. The cousin's house was filmed at 210 N. 15th Street in Wilmington. Editing was overseen by Edward Warschilka, with wrapping up by fall 1987 ahead of the film's November release, yielding a final runtime of 98 minutes.

Plot

Andrew Morenski, a 29-year-old in , unwittingly becomes involved in selling bonds for a mob boss named Kapados. When Kapados goes on , Andrew testifies against him, leading to a . However, the mob targets Andrew for elimination, sending hitmen after the trial. At a diner under FBI protection, hitmen attack, killing one agent and injuring another. Andrew escapes the shootout and flees by train to Delaware, where he disguises himself by shaving his beard, dyeing and styling his hair into a punk look, and adopting the alias Max Hauser. To maintain a low profile, he seeks refuge with his aunt Lucy, a school nurse, and uncle in a suburban town, but avoids their home to evade surveillance. Instead, with help from his teenage cousin Patrick Morenski, Max enrolls as a senior at Patrick's high school, Topsail High. Posing as a rebellious transfer student, Max quickly integrates into school life. He bonds with Patrick and other students, clashes with bully Kevin O'Rourke, and develops a romance with bright classmate Ryan Campbell, who is Kevin's girlfriend. Max impresses Ryan by helping her father with a financial spreadsheet using his stockbroking expertise during a date that involves roller-skating. He reluctantly enters the student body president race against Kevin, using his adult savvy to campaign effectively. Secretly, Max hides in a room behind the school boilers, befriending the janitor who provides him shelter. Meanwhile, the ruthless mob enforcer Patrick tracks Max to the town. As the school approaches, tensions build with 's antagonism and the encroaching threat from the hitmen. At the assembly announcing the election results, Max confronts both and the mob enforcer in a climactic showdown. Using quick thinking and school resources, Max outmaneuvers the assassin, defeats the bullies, wins the , and secures his safety, allowing him to emerge from hiding.

Cast

ActorRole
Andrew Morenski / Max Hauser
Patrick Morenski
Ryan Campbell
Killer
Tim QuillKevin O’Donnell
Claude BrooksClinton
John SpencerLt. Manteo
Lucy Morenski
Gertrude
Grandma Jennie Morenski

Music

Soundtrack

The soundtrack for Hiding Out features a selection of licensed 1980s pop and rock songs that underscore the film's high school setting and the protagonist's immersion in teen life. These tracks were chosen to capture the vibrant energy of contemporary , contrasting the adult lead character's hidden identity with the carefree world of . Four songs from the entered the record charts in the United States: "Crying" by Roy Orbison (re-recorded as a duet with ); "Live My Life" by ; "Catch Me (I'm Falling)" by Pretty Poison; and "You Don't Know" by Scarlett & Black. Key songs include "Live My Life" by Boy George, performed during the house party scene to heighten the festive mood, which reached number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. "Catch Me (I'm Falling)" by Pretty Poison accompanies the romantic montage between the protagonist and his love interest, peaking at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning an ASCAP Award in 1989 for Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures due to its extensive radio airplay. "You Don't Know" by Scarlett & Black plays at the high school dance, reflecting the emotional undercurrents of young romance, and charted at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Seattle" by Public Image Ltd. energizes an action sequence with its post-punk drive, adding tension to the chase elements. The end credits feature the duet "Crying" by Roy Orbison and k.d. lang, a re-recording of Orbison's 1961 classic that peaked at number 42 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The official , Hiding Out (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), was released in 1987 by and includes ten tracks. The compilation highlights the era's and new wave influences, with contributions from artists like Lolita Pop ("Bang Your Head") and Hue & Cry ("I Refuse"). These licensed songs were integrated to amplify the film's nostalgic portrayal of teen experiences, distinct from the underlying instrumental score.

Score

The original score for the 1987 film Hiding Out was composed by , a British musician renowned for her contributions to the art-pop and electronic group . Dudley's score, one of her earliest film compositions, integrates 1980s electronic sounds with orchestral textures to underscore the film's tonal shifts between , romance, and suspense. The music features tense string arrangements during the mob chase sequences, upbeat synthesizer lines for the high school scenes, and delicate piano motifs in the romantic interludes between the protagonists. Dudley's approach emphasized emotional transitions, using synth-pop influences from her Art of Noise background alongside thriller-inspired elements to heighten the narrative's dramatic contrasts. The score was recorded in following , with a total runtime of approximately 30 minutes that seamlessly blends with the film's popular songs to support the overall atmosphere.

Release and reception

Box office

Hiding Out was released on November 6, 1987, in 988 theaters, earning $2,062,120 during its opening weekend and ranking No. 10 at the North American box office. The film ultimately grossed $7,019,441 domestically, with no separate international earnings reported, for a worldwide total of the same amount. Produced on a budget of $7 million by (DEG), the movie essentially broke even at the but was viewed as a modest success amid DEG's mounting financial difficulties, including reported losses of $1.3 million for the fiscal year ending February 1987 and eventual Chapter 11 filing in 1988. In the competitive 1987 market, it faced established hits like , which topped the charts that weekend with over $7 million, while benefiting from the ongoing popularity of the teen comedy genre exemplified by contemporaries such as . Mixed critical reception likely contributed to its limited attendance beyond the opening.

Critical response

Upon its release, Hiding Out received mixed reviews from critics, who often highlighted its uneven blend of , romance, and thriller elements. of the awarded the film 2 out of 4 stars, criticizing the implausible age-gap premise between the adult protagonist and his teenage love interest, as well as the film's inconsistent tone that shifted awkwardly between lighthearted high school antics and violent mob pursuits. Similarly, in described it as a "pleasant" teen but faulted its formulaic screenplay for lacking originality and providing scant explanation for the central disguise plot, resulting in mild jokes and an over-the-top climax. Aggregate scores reflect this ambivalence. On , the film holds a 38% approval rating based on 8 critic reviews, with an average score of approximately 4.7 out of 10. Audience reception has been somewhat warmer, earning a 6.3 out of 10 rating on from over 4,500 user votes as of 2025. Critics frequently praised the on-screen chemistry between and , noting their natural rapport that added charm to the romantic subplot, alongside nostalgic elements like high school and synth-heavy . However, common criticisms centered on the contrived narrative, which strained believability with its high-concept setup, and dated aspects such as the adult-teen romance that now appear problematic in hindsight. In retrospect, Hiding Out has been viewed as a cult favorite among 1980s teen films, appreciated for its escapist fun and period-specific appeal to audiences despite its flaws. Recent analyses in 2025 highlight its enduring charm as a lighthearted product of the era's age-disguise trend, evoking even as modern sensibilities critique its uneven execution. The mixed critical response likely contributed to the film's underperformance at the box office.

References

  1. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093186/
  2. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hiding_out
  3. https://www.letterboxd.com/film/hiding-out/
  4. https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/hiding-out-1987
  5. https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/06/movies/film-hiding-out.html
  6. https://www.tvguide.com/movies/hiding-out/cast/2000113110/
  7. https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Hiding-Out-Blu-ray/364555/
  8. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-08-23-ca-3173-story.html
  9. https://www.dga.org/craft/visualhistory/interviews/bob-giraldi
  10. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093186/locations/
  11. https://www.fast-rewind.com/locations_hidingout.htm
  12. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093186/fullcredits/
  13. https://screenmayhem.com/hiding-out-1987-is-a-hidden-gem-retro-review/
  14. https://forgottenfilmcast.wordpress.com/2011/09/27/hiding-out/
  15. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093186/soundtrack/
  16. https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1988-01-09/
  17. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093186/awards/
  18. https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1988-04-30/
  19. https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1988-01-30/
  20. https://www.discogs.com/release/1079215-Various-Hiding-Out-Original-Motion-Picture-Soundtrack
  21. https://www.themoviedb.org/person/851-anne-dudley
  22. https://theartofnoiseonline.com/Anne-Dudley.php
  23. https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/interpreter/anne-dudley/7329
  24. https://www.fast-rewind.com/music_hidingout.htm
  25. https://www.prsformusic.com/m-magazine/features/anne-dudley-master-melodies
  26. https://soundtrackcollector.com/catalog/composerdiscography.php?composerid=299
  27. https://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-chart/weekend/1987/11/06
  28. https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0093186/
  29. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-08-15-fi-91-story.html
  30. https://time.com/archive/6714547/star-of-his-own-dubious-epic/
  31. https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/most-popular/1987
  32. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/hiding_out/reviews
  33. https://mutantreviewersmovies.com/2025/07/21/hiding-out-1987-umm-hmm-i-er-yeah/
  34. https://silverscreenanalysis.com/forgotten-movies-from-the-80s-vol-4/
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