Subscribe to watch - 14-day free trial, then £4.99 a month
This film is certified

- Contains moderate bloody violence, soft drug use and moderate nudity

The Harder They Come
The cult classic, acknowledged as the catalyst for the popularisation of reggae in the US, sees Jimmy Cliff traversing the underbelly of Jamaican shanty-town life.
Drama 1972 103 mins
Director: Perry Henzell
Overview
The cult classic acknowledged as the catalyst for the popularisation of reggae in the US, and the vehicle that propelled Jimmy Cliff to stardom, balancing violence, humour and timeless grooves in equal measure as its story traverses the underbelly of Jamaican shanty-town life.
The Harder They Come was Perry Henzell's first feature and he wouldn't make a follow-up for over 30 years, while screenwriter Trevor Rhone came third in a 2007 BFI poll of 100 Black Screen Icons.

Accessibility
Related
Drama

No Place Like Home: Redux No Place Like Home: Redux
Drama 2019 89 mins Director: Perry Henzell
Perry Henzell’s long-lost second feature is a love letter to Jamaica, as we follow a filmmaker searching the island for a lost actor.

Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne
Drama 1945 87 mins Director: Robert Bresson
Robert Bresson’s tale of sexual intrigue, rivalry and revenge among Parisian socialites, with glittering dialogue by Cocteau.

Dogman Dogman
Drama 2018 103 mins Director: Matteo Garrone
Gomorrah director Matteo Garrone presents a masterful tale of twisted friendship, not-so-petty crime and revenge.

The Trial of Joan of Arc The Trial of Joan of Arc
Historical drama 1962 64 mins Director: Robert Bresson
The legendary story of Joan of Arc is powerfully retold in Robert Bresson’s minimalist masterpiece.

Meek's Cutoff Meek's Cutoff
Drama 2010 103 mins Director: Kelly Reichardt
Kelly Reichardt's absorbing and beautifully composed western, set on the Oregon trail in the 1840s.

Story of a Love Affair Story of a Love Affair
Drama 1950 103 mins Director: Michelangelo Antonioni
Michelangelo Antonioni's debut feature is a noirish thriller following a jealous industrialist who hires a private eye to investigate his wife.
From Jamaica to the World: Reggae on Film

Burning an Illusion Burning an Illusion
Drama 1982 102 mins Director: Menelik Shabazz
Menelik Shabazz’s pioneering first feature traces the emotional and political growth of a young black couple in Thatcher’s London.

Babylon Babylon
Drama 1980 95 mins Director: Franco Rosso
A young Rastafarian toaster (rapper) aims for success at a Reggae Sound System competition, in this cult classic from Franco Rosso that pulstaes with an irresistible dub soundtrack.

The Story of Lover's Rock The Story of Lover's Rock
Documentary 2011 100 mins Director: Menelik Shabazz
Menelik Shabazz (Burning an Illusion) shines a light on the music genre often dubbed ‘romantic reggae’; a uniquely black British sound that developed in the late 70s and 80s against a backdrop of riots, racial tension and sound systems.

Studio 17: The Lost Reggae Tapes Studio 17: The Lost Reggae Tapes
Documentary 2019 86 mins Director: Mark James
A treasure trove of rescued tapes revives the golden age of reggae and reveals the fascinating story behind one of Jamaica’s most legendary recording studios, Randy’s Studio 17.

No Place Like Home: Redux No Place Like Home: Redux
Drama 2019 89 mins Director: Perry Henzell
Perry Henzell’s long-lost second feature is a love letter to Jamaica, as we follow a filmmaker searching the island for a lost actor.

Being Blacker Being Blacker
Documentary 2018 89 mins Director: Molly Dineen
Molly Dineen’s acclaimed documentary about renowned Brixton-based music producer Blacker Dread.
Directed by Perry Henzell

No Place Like Home: Redux No Place Like Home: Redux
Drama 2019 89 mins Director: Perry Henzell
Perry Henzell’s long-lost second feature is a love letter to Jamaica, as we follow a filmmaker searching the island for a lost actor.
New

Saint Jack Saint Jack
Melodrama 1979 115 mins Director: Peter Bogdanovich
An American pimp spends his days hustling on the streets of 1970s Singapore, but dreams of more, in Peter Bogadanovich’s sultry screen adaptation of Paul Theroux’s novel.

No Place Like Home: Redux No Place Like Home: Redux
Drama 2019 89 mins Director: Perry Henzell
Perry Henzell’s long-lost second feature is a love letter to Jamaica, as we follow a filmmaker searching the island for a lost actor.

Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne
Drama 1945 87 mins Director: Robert Bresson
Robert Bresson’s tale of sexual intrigue, rivalry and revenge among Parisian socialites, with glittering dialogue by Cocteau.

Dogman Dogman
Drama 2018 103 mins Director: Matteo Garrone
Gomorrah director Matteo Garrone presents a masterful tale of twisted friendship, not-so-petty crime and revenge.

The Trial of Joan of Arc The Trial of Joan of Arc
Historical drama 1962 64 mins Director: Robert Bresson
The legendary story of Joan of Arc is powerfully retold in Robert Bresson’s minimalist masterpiece.

Bull Bull
Crime 2021 88 mins Director: Paul Andrew Williams
After ten years’ absence, a vicious gangster (Neil Maskell) returns to his old stomping ground to find his son and take revenge on the gang that double-crossed him.