Three Fugitives
Performance & Direction: Three Fugitives Review
Last updated: February 16, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Three Fugitives (1989) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 6.7/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Comedy.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Comedy is often anchored by its ensemble, and Three Fugitives features a noteworthy lineup led by Nick Nolte . Supported by the likes of Martin Short and Sarah Rowland Doroff , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: Three Fugitives
Quick Plot Summary: Released in 1989, Three Fugitives is a Comedy, Crime film directed by Francis Veber. The narrative brings laughter through sharp writing and comedic timing, providing amusement while touching on deeper societal themes. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict involving Nick Nolte.
Ending Explained: Three Fugitives
Ending Breakdown: Directed by Francis Veber, Three Fugitives concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to comedy resolution.
The conclusion addresses the core thematic questions involving Nick Nolte, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the comedy themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Three Fugitives reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Three Fugitives Real vs. Reel: Is it Based on a True Story?
Three Fugitives incorporates elements from real criminal cases. As a comedy, crime film directed by Francis Veber, it navigates the space between factual accuracy and narrative engagement for Nick Nolte's character.
Historical Context
The film takes creative liberties to enhance dramatic impact. Core events maintain connection to source material while adapting for theatrical presentation.
Creative interpretation shapes the final narrative, focusing on emotional truth over strict chronology.
Accuracy Assessment: Three Fugitives adapts its source material for dramatic purposes. The film prioritizes thematic resonance over documentary precision.
Who Should Watch Three Fugitives?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Comedy films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of Nick Nolte or the director
- Want some laughs and light entertainment
Box Office Collection: Three Fugitives
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $15.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $40.6M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
Three Fugitives Budget
The estimated production budget for Three Fugitives is $15.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: Three Fugitives
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Where to Watch Three Fugitives Online?
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Google Play MoviesYouTubeThree Fugitives Parents Guide & Age Rating
1989 AdvisoryWondering about Three Fugitives age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Three Fugitives is 96 minutes (1h 36m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.7/10, and global performance metrics, Three Fugitives is classified as a HIT. It remains an essential part of the 1989 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Three Fugitives worth watching?
Three Fugitives is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Comedy movies. It has a verified rating of 6.7/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Three Fugitives parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Three Fugitives identifies it as PG-13. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Three Fugitives?
The total duration of Three Fugitives is 96 minutes, which is approximately 1h 36m long.
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Critic Reviews for Three Fugitives
"Three Fugitives" has an opening twenty minutes which could have been problematic it has been so well executed, but fortunately this film has something truly worthwhile to develop into. It boasts a lot of good action sequences and features comedy which is genuinely funny - especially during the bank robbery at the beginning. It also manages to strike an incredibly entertaining balance between being a whimsical slice of family friendly fare with the always charming and delightful presence of Sarah Rowland Doroff - an absolutely enchanting child able to effectively burrow her way beneath even Nick Nolte's gruff exterior to secure a place in his affections - and something aimed towards a more mature audience by providing a liberal serving of swearing and violence. This parallel approach could have derailed the entire film and it is a relief to find out the complete opposite just happens to be true.
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
