A government institution called the Finnish Film Foundation funds filmmaking there, and I wrote several screenplays but never got any money. They were sent back to me, and they said that they were too commercial for them.

Harlin directed the WWE Studios action movie 12 Rounds starring John Cena. X. Instead Harlin made another foray into low-budget horror with The Covenant which was another moderate commercial success.

His film Cutthroat Island (1995) held the Guinness world record for "Biggest Box-Office Flop of All Time". Harlin's movies have earned US$506543064 in the United States as of January 2013 making him the 87th highest-grossing director in the American market.