Walter Hill said of the film, "I wanted to make a down-and-dirty thriller. I wanted to shoot it in a fast, hard style. I wanted to work off the cuff, making it all happen right there."
The film was meant to be released on 3 July but this date was delayed due to the 1992 Los Angeles riots; the film was retitled and a new marketing campaign devised.
The film was originally called The Looters.
In the original script the character of Lucky was actually called Lucy and was King James' girlfriend. Also, Vince and Don were not from Fort Smith, Arkansas but from Ashland, Kentucky.