Production note The film was reportedly made by three directors after the original director was fired near the end of production.
Production note Warner Bros. rushed the movie into theaters as a 'wet print.'
Production note The budget reportedly ran from about $35 million to $54 million.
Production note The film grossed about $120.4 million.
Production note The movie used quick cuts on deaths to avoid an X rating.
Production note A dangerous heroin batch in the Bronx was reportedly stamped 'Tango and Cash.'
Production note The prison quarry finale was shot in Irwindale, California, with at least 11 cameras on some setups.
Production note Producer Craig says the movie’s comedy and Stallone’s acting did not fully work for him.
Rambo Used for the opening joke where Stallone’s character is compared with and then mocked as Rambo.
Lethal Weapon Used repeatedly as the closest tonal and structural comparison for the film’s buddy-cop setup.
48 Hours Referenced as an earlier model for paired cops who dislike each other and trade insults.
Beverly Hills Cop Referenced as both an influence and the best 80s buddy-cop movie.
Roadhouse Used as a 1989 action-movie comparison and as the movie Swayze went to do instead.
Kickboxer Mentioned as another 1989 action title in the crowded action-movie year.
Big Trouble in Little China Used to illustrate Kurt Russell’s action-star range.
Tombstone Referenced as another example of Russell balancing action and prestige charisma.
City Slickers Mentioned because Jack Palance won an Oscar after appearing in this kind of villainous, goofy role.
Predator Referenced in a discussion of action-star casting and Van Damme’s earlier attachment to the role.
Die Hard Used as a benchmark for action-star roles and police-movie structures.
Last Action Hero Mentioned as a later turning point toward more overt self-parody in action films.
Heat Referenced in a discussion of a prestige-TV version of Tango & Cash and in a separate conversation about Bill watching Heat late.
City Slickers Also referenced via Palance’s Oscar win after the film’s over-the-top villain work.
TNT Used as the channel where the movie played often for kids, shaping nostalgia.
