Harlin's "Nightmare" cost a scant $6.5 million and brought in nearly $50 million, prompting eager producers to besiege him in the hope he could wring even more brilliance out of a larger budget. Though one of his biggest bombs followed (1990's decidedly unpopular "The Adventures of Ford Fairlane" starring the obnoxious Andrew 'Dice' Clay), Harlan had no time to sulk, immediately plunging ahead on the incredibly successful sequel "Die Hard 2" (1990). Harlin debuted as a producer with the gentle "Rambling Rose" (1991) starring his then-love interest Laura Dern, Diane Ladd and Robert Duvall. This critically acclaimed small film was the first feature from Harlin's production company, Midnight Sun Pictures. He returned to actioners with the high-budget Sylvester Stallone vehicle "Cliffhanger" (1993).

Harlin formed Forge Productions (aka The Forge) with his wife Geena Davis, but to date the efforts of this production company have been lackluster. "Speechless" (1994), which Harlin produced but did not direct, was the best of the fare. A cheerful comedy poking fun at politics and the news media, it depended on the strength of leads Michael Keaton and Davis to overcome the film's unevenness. Nothing could save the disastrous pirate pic "Cutthroat Island" (1995), short of Errol Flynn returning from the dead (and even he would have needed something more than the special effects and stunts to spare). The ridiculous--but stylish--comic-book thriller "The Long Kiss Goodnight" (1996) wasn't much better, and the once happy couple parted in 1997.

After a brief stint in "movie jail" Harlin returned for the bizarre, pulpy and yet surprisingly entertaining "Deep Blue Sea" (1999), a sci-fi adventure pitting humans against scientifically engineered sharks with enhanced intelligence. Enhanced intelligence was nowhere to be see in his next effort, the high-octane but dim-witted race car drama "Driven" (2001) starring Sylvester Stallone and Burt Reynolds; and his follow-up, the crime thriller "Mindhunters" (2004) about a team of elite FBI profilers tracking a serial killer, made nary a ripple at the box office. The director was then tapped to replace Paul Schrader when Schrader was deposed as the director of the horror prequel "Exorcist: The Beginning" (2004), starting the entire movie over from scratch with the exception of retaining actor Stellan Skarsgard in the Father Mirren role. Despite the fresh start, the movie was drubbed by critics.