The Sugarland Express | Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes

Movies / TV

    Celebrity

      No Results Found

       View All       Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

      The Sugarland Express

      PG 1974 1h 49m Comedy Drama List
      87% Tomatometer 52 Reviews 66% Audience Score 5,000+ Ratings Married small-time crooks Lou-Jean (Goldie Hawn) and Clovis Poplin (William Atherton) lose their baby to the state of Texas and resolve to do whatever it takes to get him back. Lou-Jean gets Clovis out of jail, and the two steal their son from his foster home, in addition to taking a highway patrolman hostage. As a massive dragnet starts to pursue them across Texas, the couple become unlikely folk heroes and even start to bond with the captive policeman. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Apr 16 Buy Now

      Where to Watch

      The Sugarland Express

      Fandango at Home Prime Video

      Rent The Sugarland Express on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

      The Sugarland Express

      What to Know

      Critics Consensus

      Its plot may ape the countercultural road movies of its era, but Steven Spielberg's feature debut displays many of the crowd-pleasing elements he'd refine in subsequent films.

      Read Critics Reviews

      Critics Reviews

      View All (52) Critics Reviews
      Rex Reed New York Daily News A highly winning entertainment. Apr 20, 2021 Full Review John Huddy Miami Herald A work of depth and dimension. Apr 20, 2021 Full Review Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times It is astonishing to contemplate all that director Steven Spielberg and his writers Hal Barwood and Matthew Robbins, all of them in their theatrical feature debuts, have managed to accomplish. Apr 20, 2021 Full Review Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault Made before Spielberg became a thousand-pound gorilla, "Sugarland" is pleasantly small and unassuming. Rated: B+ Nov 29, 2022 Full Review Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies The Sugarland Express has become something of a cult classic mainly because of Steven Spielberg making it his first theatrical release. Rated: 3.5/5 Nov 23, 2022 Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Clearly, in Spielberg’s vision of cops and robbers, everyone is an average person, with reasonable motives and expectations and inclinations toward forgiveness, even when circumstances tend to demand more outrageous reactions. Rated: 7/10 Sep 22, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

      View All (294) audience reviews
      r96 s Quality! 'The Sugarland Express' is Steven Spielberg's first theatrical release as director, which is quite something given the movie seems like it was made by a seasoned vet. On a similar note, the look and feel of the film is absolutely outstanding; it has aged remarkably well visually, almost hard to believe it came out in 1974! I also really enjoyed the score, particularly Toots Thielemans on the harmonica, but that's no surprise - John Williams, duh! As for plot, it is very entertaining. I like how silly everything plays out for the first chunk and the film knows it, but events gradually rise up a notch throughout the 110 minutes. The more serious conclusion would've felt quite sudden and out of place, though it is portrayed and paced perfectly. Cast-wise, Goldie Hawn, William Atherton and Michael Sacks are excellent, though Ben Johnson is probably the one I'd rate highest. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/09/24 Full Review Alec B It may be derivative but the movie is so tightly controlled by Spielberg and so captivating from start to finish that it just doesn't matter. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/20/24 Full Review Vargtimmen B Spielberg suddenly opens up to me in the best traditions of American classic cinema in the spirit of John Wayne films. Brilliant work, unlike any of his films. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/14/23 Full Review Georgan G 3 & 1/4 stars. I generally liked the movie which had little to do with the real life event. But still, I kept asking myself, who is dumber? The couple who thinks the cops will let them go after all the ruckus? Or the law who chases them endlessly? Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/25/23 Full Review Crom W Goldie Hawn was made for this kind of role, 5 stars to her. Movie 3 stars. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Shioka O I want to give stars for the cinematography by Vilmos Zsigmond. Some scenes from dust to night are symbolic and typical New Hollywood style. On the other hand, the story (loosely based on the real people) is kinda empty and characters are not strong as Bonnie&Clyde. There are too many car crash/fire footages than thrill, and actually comedic. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 12/01/22 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

      Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

      More Like This

      View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
      93% 95% The Sting 82% 85% Minnie and Moskowitz 20% 33% More American Graffiti 91% 87% On Golden Pond 44% 32% Legal Eagles Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

      Movie News & Guides

      View All Movie News & Guides

      This movie is featured in the following articles.

      Rank Steven Spielberg’s 10 Best Movies Rank Goldie Hawn’s 10 Best Movies Steven Spielberg’s Best-Reviewed Movies

      Photos

      View All The Sugarland Express photos

      The Sugarland Express

      The Sugarland Express (1974) The Sugarland Express (1974) The Sugarland Express (1974) The Sugarland Express (1974) View more photos

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Married small-time crooks Lou-Jean (Goldie Hawn) and Clovis Poplin (William Atherton) lose their baby to the state of Texas and resolve to do whatever it takes to get him back. Lou-Jean gets Clovis out of jail, and the two steal their son from his foster home, in addition to taking a highway patrolman hostage. As a massive dragnet starts to pursue them across Texas, the couple become unlikely folk heroes and even start to bond with the captive policeman.
      Director
      Steven Spielberg
      Screenwriter
      Hal Barwood, Matthew Robbins
      Production Co
      Universal Pictures, Zanuck/Brown Productions
      Rating
      PG
      Genre
      Comedy, Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jan 1, 2015
      Runtime
      1h 49m
      Most Popular at Home Now