Kevin Hart's '72 Hours' Premieres on Netflix with Mixed Reviews

Kevin Hart's R-rated comedy "72 Hours" premiered on Netflix on July 26, 2026, starring Hart as Joe, a 40-year-old New York advertising executive struggling to connect with Gen Z consumers. After being accidentally added to a group chat, Joe joins a Miami bachelor party with four twentysomethings—played by Saturday Night Live cast members Marcello Hernández, Ben Marshall, and Kam Patterson, plus Mason Gooding—hoping to revive his career and prove his relevance to younger audiences.

Directed by Tim Story and produced by Will Packer, the film follows Joe as he funds the group's weekend getaway and attempts to harvest content for a new campaign. The plot incorporates a local drug dealer subplot involving Michael Mando, alongside a recurring gag in which Joe adopts a Tony Montana-inspired persona named Ricardo Montana after snorting cocaine. The supporting cast includes Teyana Taylor as Joe's girlfriend, Andy Garcia, Kevin Dunn, Zach Cherry, Mike Epps, and Katt Williams.

Critical reception has been decidedly mixed. Reviewers praised the chemistry between Hart and the younger ensemble cast, particularly noting the SNL performers' comedic timing and the film's self-aware commentary on Hart's generational disconnect. However, multiple critics faulted the film for derivative storytelling, comparing it unfavorably to "The Hangover," and criticized lazy humor built around gross-out gags, stereotypical accents, and recycled plot elements. The film also sparked discussion about its handling of racial stereotypes and insensitive character choices, with some critics noting the movie acknowledges but does not meaningfully address these issues.

One reviewer highlighted the "utter waste" of Teyana Taylor, whose character remains largely sidelined throughout the narrative. The film's secondary plots—involving Joe's commitment hesitation with his girlfriend and the Airbnb serving as a drug operation front—drew additional criticism for muddling the comedy with unnecessary complications. Despite the critical consensus leaning negative, some viewers found the ensemble entertaining and the film serviceable as a raunchy comedy that did not attempt to reinvent the genre. The film is rated R for pervasive language, sexual material, drug use, and graphic nudity, with a runtime of 105 minutes.