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      Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid

      R Released May 23, 1973 2 hr. 2 min. Western List
      56% 57 Reviews Tomatometer 82% 5,000+ Ratings Audience Score Sheriff Pat Garrett (James Coburn) is ordered by Governor Wallace (Jason Robards) to go after the outlaw Billy the Kid (Kris Kristofferson) because the cattle businessmen want him caught. Although Garrett and Billy are old friends, the lawman must abide by his duty. However, Garrett and his deputies have great difficulty catching Billy, who is very cunning. Along the way, Billy also gains the assistance of Alias (Bob Dylan), a mysterious knife-wielding stranger. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered May 07 Buy Now

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      Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid

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      Critics Consensus

      Sam Peckinpah's mournful salute to the bygone West achieves moments of ruthless poetry, but clear signs of studio-dictated cuts and oft-unintelligible dialogue will make this dirge a slog for some.

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      Audience Reviews

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      Leander S Everyone operate irrational. The empty and meaningless grinning of Kris Kristofferson is unbearable. I wonder if they wanted to look Billy the Kid like Jim Morrison. It does not work. There is no desperation, not fate, no heat in this movie as should be in a movie with this topic. And why is Bob Dylan in this movie? Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/22/24 Full Review Howard D The critics are brain-dead in their appraisal of this film. Peckinpah is just perfect with this one. Every person I've shown this movie to absolutely loved it. I am a big James Coburn fan so perhaps I'm a bit biased. As with many of Peckinpah's other films the small roles are filled by some fantastic character actors who really add to the genuine feel the movie has. Great soundtrack from Bob Dylan. I don't want to over-hype the film but this is one of my top 5 all time favorites. The critics are dead wrong on this one. The studio already nearly ruined this movie when they forced edits and created a horrific original print that bombed when released, but thankfully this film has been resurrected and saved from the incompetent studio suits. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/08/23 Full Review Nick F I have loved this film since the first time I saw it more than 30 years ago and having just watched it again still love it (I think it's the 1988 cut?). It stands apart and well out from other westerns. I can't understand how the Rotten Tomatoes summary can describe such a masterpiece as a durge. It's captivating for those with a normal attention span. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/23/23 Full Review Kevin B It's ok would watch again. Not one of the best though Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review John R Screw Bob Dylan. I hate his character (who was unnecessary), I hate his facial expressions, his 6 different hats for no apparent reason, the annoying amount of his music that was thrust into my ears throughout the entire film and the fact that he really did not do anything or serve any kind of purpose. Also the rest of the movie was boring, many of the characters were introduced solely so that they could die in the scene in which they were introduced and there was no sense of a driving story. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/09/23 Full Review steve d fairly incompetent given its cast. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

      View All (57) Critics Reviews
      Jay Cocks TIME Magazine Even in the maimed state in which it has been released, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid is the richest, most exciting American film so far this year. There are moments and whole sequences here that stand among the best Peckinpah has ever achieved. Jun 14, 2022 Full Review Phil Strassberg Arizona Republic Unfortunately, a number of things, such as a clutch of clichés merely remolded to sound different, mar and flaw the otherwise interesting, certainly visually attractive, interpretation by Peckinpah. Jun 14, 2022 Full Review Kevin Kelly Boston Globe A monotonous and despicable movie. Jun 14, 2022 Full Review John Hofsess Maclean's Magazine Dylan’s presence is so slyly subversive that the film -- as a Western -- barely survives. Instead it becomes an unintentional comedy, which is great for Dylan’s fans but an unforgivable casting gaffe if you’re a Peckinpah enthusiast. Jun 15, 2022 Full Review Bernard Drew Gannett News Service There seems to be a killing every five minutes in "Pat Garrett," but who is killing whom and why, are rather fuzzy and of minor consideration. Jun 14, 2022 Full Review Marjorie Hoffman Austin American-Statesman All of them love and kill one another like so much good fun until finally, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid just ends up as one big casualty. Jun 14, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Sheriff Pat Garrett (James Coburn) is ordered by Governor Wallace (Jason Robards) to go after the outlaw Billy the Kid (Kris Kristofferson) because the cattle businessmen want him caught. Although Garrett and Billy are old friends, the lawman must abide by his duty. However, Garrett and his deputies have great difficulty catching Billy, who is very cunning. Along the way, Billy also gains the assistance of Alias (Bob Dylan), a mysterious knife-wielding stranger.
      Director
      Sam Peckinpah
      Screenwriter
      Rudy Wurlitzer
      Distributor
      Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp., MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
      Production Co
      Metro Goldwyn Mayer
      Rating
      R
      Genre
      Western
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      May 23, 1973, Original
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jan 1, 2008
      Sound Mix
      Mono
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