The Harder They Come
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.
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Based on audience scoresWhere to stream The Harder They Come
Streaming now in the United States on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Criterion Channel, Fandor, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel, and Kanopy.
Rent or buy in the United States on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube.
Trailers and promos
The Harder They Come Trailer
The Harder They Come Teaser - 50th anniversary screenings
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Frequently asked questions about The Harder They Come
Where can I watch The Harder They Come in the United States?
The Harder They Come is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Criterion Channel, Fandor, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel, and Kanopy in the United States, and to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. Streaming availability is provided by JustWatch and can change over time.
Is The Harder They Come on Amazon Prime Video?
Yes. The Harder They Come is streaming on Amazon Prime Video in the United States, alongside fuboTV, Criterion Channel, Fandor, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel, and Kanopy.
Can I watch The Harder They Come for free?
The Harder They Come streams free with ads in the United States on Kanopy, Hoopla, Fawesome, and The Roku Channel. A subscription is not required, though the service may ask you to register.
What are the ratings for The Harder They Come?
The Harder They Come scores 6.6 on The Movie Database.
Who stars in The Harder They Come?
The Harder They Come stars Jimmy Cliff, Janet Bartley, Carl Bradshaw, Ras Daniel Hartman, and Basil Keane. Perry Henzell is the director.
How long is The Harder They Come?
The Harder They Come runs 1h 43m (103 minutes).
When did The Harder They Come come out?
The Harder They Come was released on August 1, 1972.
Which studio made The Harder They Come?
The Harder They Come was produced by International Films in Jamaica.
Ratings and streaming availability are aggregated from third-party sources; metadata from The Movie Database (TMDB), streaming data from JustWatch. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. Streaming availability checked September 2026.