Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows
1998·Documentary·1h 33m
7.1
★
This documentary follows superstar Bret Hart during his last year in the WWF. The film documents the tensions that resulted in The Montreal Screwjob, one of the most controversial events in the history of professional wrestling, in which Vince McMahon, Shawn Micheals, and others, legitimately conspired behind the scenes to go against the script and remove Bret Hart as champion.
Directed by Paul Jay
sports
wrestling
wrestler
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Cast
Bret Hart
Self
Vince McMahon
Self
Steve Austin
Self
Michael Hickenbottom
Shawn Michaels
Mick Foley
Self
Brian Pillman
Self
Tammy Lynn Sytch
Sunny
Mark Calaway
The Undertaker
Mike Hegstrand
Road Warrior Hawk
Joe Laurinaitis
Road Warrior Animal
Del Wilkes
The Patriot
Earl Hebner
Earl Hebner
Crew
Paul Jay
Director
Paul Jay
Writer
Joan Hutton
Director of Photography
Paul Jay
Producer
Sally Blake
Producer
Popular Reviews
23 reviews
Jack Smith
7.0★ · 04/07/26
It really sucks what happened to the Hart’s after this
It really sucks what happened to the Hart’s after this
Alfred HitchTOK
8.0★ · 10/25/25
For wrestling fans the infamous ‘Montreal Screwjob’ remains one of the most divisive and talked about moments of the ‘attitude era’ of professional wrestling in the 90s.
For documentary filmmaker Paul Jay it became a ‘right place, right time’ jackpot, providing fans with a fascinating insight into the backstage shenanigans inherent in sports entertainment.
Following Bret Hart as his contract with WWF draws to its cessation date, we following the Canadian hero and member of the legendary Hart family, as he struggles between head and his heart, does he take a massive pay day from rival WCW or stay loyal to his long term employer WWF? And if he does stay loyal can he really trust his boss Vince McMahon, who seems to favour the more flamboyant Shawn Michaels as his champion.
There is such great content here, from the backstage access across many events, to the colourful characters of the Hart clan, especially grizzled patriarch Stu (do not go into the basement) and capturing the delicious walk of shame aftermath of the screwjob (which I won’t spoil here).
Hart doesn’t have a lot of humour about him and at this time he was at odds with the style and era of wrestling that many fans (myself included) loved, but he also comes across as a man with a genuine passion for wrestling as an art form, and a man who gave loyalty was not shown the same respect back, and had the personal conviction to take a stand.
And all of this is pre-Bill Goldberg!
For documentary filmmaker Paul Jay it became a ‘right place, right time’ jackpot, providing fans with a fascinating insight into the backstage shenanigans inherent in sports entertainment.
Following Bret Hart as his contract with WWF draws to its cessation date, we following the Canadian hero and member of the legendary Hart family, as he struggles between head and his heart, does he take a massive pay day from rival WCW or stay loyal to his long term employer WWF? And if he does stay loyal can he really trust his boss Vince McMahon, who seems to favour the more flamboyant Shawn Michaels as his champion.
There is such great content here, from the backstage access across many events, to the colourful characters of the Hart clan, especially grizzled patriarch Stu (do not go into the basement) and capturing the delicious walk of shame aftermath of the screwjob (which I won’t spoil here).
Hart doesn’t have a lot of humour about him and at this time he was at odds with the style and era of wrestling that many fans (myself included) loved, but he also comes across as a man with a genuine passion for wrestling as an art form, and a man who gave loyalty was not shown the same respect back, and had the personal conviction to take a stand.
And all of this is pre-Bill Goldberg!
For wrestling fans the infamous ‘Montreal Screwjob’ remains one of the most divisive and talked about moments of the ‘attitude era’ of professional wrestling in the 90s.
For documentary filmmaker Paul Jay it became a ‘right place, right time’ jackpot, providing fans with a fascinating insight into the backstage shenanigans inherent in sports entertainment.
Following Bret Hart as his contract with WWF draws to its cessation date, we following the Canadian hero and member of the legendary Hart family, as he struggles between head and his heart, does he take a massive pay day from rival WCW or stay loyal to his long term employer WWF? And if he does stay loyal can he really trust his boss Vince McMahon, who seems to favour the more flamboyant Shawn Michaels as his champion.
There is such great content here, from the backstage access across many events, to the colourful characters of the Hart clan, especially grizzled patriarch Stu (do not go into the basement) and capturing the delicious walk of shame aftermath of the screwjob (which I won’t spoil here).
Hart doesn’t have a lot of humour about him and at this time he was at odds with the style and era of wrestling that many fans (myself included) loved, but he also comes across as a man with a genuine passion for wrestling as an art form, and a man who gave loyalty was not shown the same respect back, and had the personal conviction to take a stand.
And all of this is pre-Bill Goldberg!
For documentary filmmaker Paul Jay it became a ‘right place, right time’ jackpot, providing fans with a fascinating insight into the backstage shenanigans inherent in sports entertainment.
Following Bret Hart as his contract with WWF draws to its cessation date, we following the Canadian hero and member of the legendary Hart family, as he struggles between head and his heart, does he take a massive pay day from rival WCW or stay loyal to his long term employer WWF? And if he does stay loyal can he really trust his boss Vince McMahon, who seems to favour the more flamboyant Shawn Michaels as his champion.
There is such great content here, from the backstage access across many events, to the colourful characters of the Hart clan, especially grizzled patriarch Stu (do not go into the basement) and capturing the delicious walk of shame aftermath of the screwjob (which I won’t spoil here).
Hart doesn’t have a lot of humour about him and at this time he was at odds with the style and era of wrestling that many fans (myself included) loved, but he also comes across as a man with a genuine passion for wrestling as an art form, and a man who gave loyalty was not shown the same respect back, and had the personal conviction to take a stand.
And all of this is pre-Bill Goldberg!
Pauli Hentilä
9.0★ · 09/05/25
Jordan peterson suositteli tätä 👍🏼
Jordan peterson suositteli tätä 👍🏼
Miles G
7.0★ · 06/27/25
"I don't think there are any good guys anymore. People seem to be sick of good guys."
I can definitely see how this could be compared to Gimme Shelter as some other people have done in the reviews. But it feels more organic while being easier to follow than Gimme Shelter. You watch as the documentary crew, making a little fluff piece about a year in Bret Hart's life stumble upon one of the greatest controversies in wrestling.
Beyond the wrestling component, it does, just as many people say about Gimme Shelter, mirror a larger cultural shift. One where American pop culture becomes so drenched in cynicism that evil is celebrated. People "have to give credit" to corruption, and backstabbing can be done publicly. There are many Bret Harts in the world, people who personally value integrity and positivity in a world of such greed that the only logical outcome is to be destroyed. This story couldn't have played out differently.
And it's a story made even bleaker by Canadian International Pictures' special features which include The Life and Death of Owen Hart, serving as a reminder that they drove the knife even deeper when the cameras stopped rolling.
I can definitely see how this could be compared to Gimme Shelter as some other people have done in the reviews. But it feels more organic while being easier to follow than Gimme Shelter. You watch as the documentary crew, making a little fluff piece about a year in Bret Hart's life stumble upon one of the greatest controversies in wrestling.
Beyond the wrestling component, it does, just as many people say about Gimme Shelter, mirror a larger cultural shift. One where American pop culture becomes so drenched in cynicism that evil is celebrated. People "have to give credit" to corruption, and backstabbing can be done publicly. There are many Bret Harts in the world, people who personally value integrity and positivity in a world of such greed that the only logical outcome is to be destroyed. This story couldn't have played out differently.
And it's a story made even bleaker by Canadian International Pictures' special features which include The Life and Death of Owen Hart, serving as a reminder that they drove the knife even deeper when the cameras stopped rolling.
"I don't think there are any good guys anymore. People seem to be sick of good guys."
I can definitely see how this could be compared to Gimme Shelter as some other people have done in the reviews. But it feels more organic while being easier to follow than Gimme Shelter. You watch as the documentary crew, making a little fluff piece about a year in Bret Hart's life stumble upon one of the greatest controversies in wrestling.
Beyond the wrestling component, it does, just as many people say about Gimme Shelter, mirror a larger cultural shift. One where American pop culture becomes so drenched in cynicism that evil is celebrated. People "have to give credit" to corruption, and backstabbing can be done publicly. There are many Bret Harts in the world, people who personally value integrity and positivity in a world of such greed that the only logical outcome is to be destroyed. This story couldn't have played out differently.
And it's a story made even bleaker by Canadian International Pictures' special features which include The Life and Death of Owen Hart, serving as a reminder that they drove the knife even deeper when the cameras stopped rolling.
I can definitely see how this could be compared to Gimme Shelter as some other people have done in the reviews. But it feels more organic while being easier to follow than Gimme Shelter. You watch as the documentary crew, making a little fluff piece about a year in Bret Hart's life stumble upon one of the greatest controversies in wrestling.
Beyond the wrestling component, it does, just as many people say about Gimme Shelter, mirror a larger cultural shift. One where American pop culture becomes so drenched in cynicism that evil is celebrated. People "have to give credit" to corruption, and backstabbing can be done publicly. There are many Bret Harts in the world, people who personally value integrity and positivity in a world of such greed that the only logical outcome is to be destroyed. This story couldn't have played out differently.
And it's a story made even bleaker by Canadian International Pictures' special features which include The Life and Death of Owen Hart, serving as a reminder that they drove the knife even deeper when the cameras stopped rolling.
Bradley Robins
9.0★ · 05/24/25
Me, a lifelong wrestling fan who has heard the story of The Montreal Screwjob countless times and already knows a lot about the Attitude Era and the Hart Family watching this: OMG what’s gonna happen next?!?!
Me, a lifelong wrestling fan who has heard the story of The Montreal Screwjob countless times and already knows a lot about the Attitude Era and the Hart Family watching this: OMG what’s gonna happen next?!?!