Hell or High Water

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1:33

Hell or High Water

R

2016

1h 37m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Western

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

287 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Toby is a divorced father who's trying to make a better life for his son. His brother Tanner is an ex-convict with a short temper and a loose trigger finger. Together, they plan a series of heists against the bank that's about to foreclose on their family ranch. Standing in their way is Marcus, a Texas Ranger who's only weeks away from retirement. As the siblings plot their final robbery, they must also prepare for a showdown with a crafty lawman who's not ready to ride off into the sunset.

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Critics Consensus

Hell or High Water offers a solidly crafted, well-acted Western heist thriller that eschews mindless gunplay in favor of confident pacing and full-bodied characters.

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Eric Kohn

IndieWire

12/31/2016

B+

Just as it taps into a dying corner of American society, Hell or High Water resurrects the power of western mayhem done right.

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Donald Clarke

Irish Times

12/28/2016

4/5

We will never get another Howard Hawks or Raoul Walsh, but, every now and then, we see a film that pays homage to their spirit.

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John Wenzel

Denver Post

12/14/2016

3/4

This neo-Western works splendidly as a self-contained tale of loyalty, loss and redemption, with polished turns from a smoldering Chris Pine and spunky Ben Foster.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

May 14

4/5

…Taylor Sheridan’s writing gives Hell or High Water an extra dimension, one with a socio-economic edge…with Jake Roberts as his editor, David Mackenzie handles the action scenes with economy and proficiency…

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

10/17/2024

3/5

Director David Mackenzie's new film is inspired in ambition but lax in execution. Its edge is the inability to decide whether to bark or bite.

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JD Duran

InSession Film

08/19/2024

A

Mackenzie is a forced to be reckoned with and I, for one, cannot wait to see where his career goes after seeing this film.

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Josh G

@Parsifal83 Jul 31

A masterful modern Western that proves the genre still has plenty to say. Every major character is treated with empathy, making it impossible not to understand, and at times even root for, the outlaws while never losing sight of the harm they inflict. Smart, gripping, and deeply humane.

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Matt M

@Mattmtns Jul 26

Good acting by Jeff Bridges, but otherwise “meh”.

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Chris S

@Janomi Jun 8

This is a good modern western from Taylor Sheridan’s early catalog, with solid character development and multiple layers of conflict driving both Toby and Marcus, whom Chris Pine and Jeff Bridges play very well. Sheridan’s script balances the personal struggles of the Howard brothers with the larger themes of economic decline and the changing American West without becoming overly preachy. I’m typically not a fan of actors playing essentially the same role in multiple movies, but like John Wayne before him, Jeff Bridges does it as well as anyone working today. His grizzled Texas Ranger feels familiar, yet remains engaging throughout. This wasn’t Ben Foster’s best role, but that was more due to the script than his performance; I thought he played the part very well. Foster brought the unpredictability and intensity that the character required. Overall, it’s one of the stronger modern westerns of the last decade and an excellent showcase of Sheridan’s strengths as a writer.

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Vaughn M.

@Chpow1010 Jun 6

I can’t find a single thing wrong with this movie I love it

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Judah S.

@Judah3963 May 18

A master craft with exceptional acting complicated meaning and maybe the most Texan movie ever made. It makes you think about the details in depth and packs an emotional punch. A true western classic!

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Orin D

@RT64117979 Apr 30

As a big fan of westerns, I am always looking for good ones that I have not seen. I found this one on a list of great westerns & if it's not "great" it is certainly very good.Jeff Bridges is as always excellent. The cinematography is terrific w/ beautiful west Texas as fine scenic setting. By all means watch this fine film! Orin P. Domenico

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David Mackenzie

Director

Jeff Bridges

Sheriff Marcus Hamilton

Chris Pine

Toby

Ben Foster

Tanner

Gil Birmingham

Alberto Parker

Marin Ireland

Debbie

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Hell or High Water: 'Texas' Trailer

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Synopsis

Toby is a divorced father who's trying to make a better life for his son. His brother Tanner is an ex-convict with a short temper and a loose trigger finger. Together, they plan a series of heists against the bank that's about to foreclose on their family ranch. Standing in their way is Marcus, a Texas Ranger who's only weeks away from retirement. As the siblings plot their final robbery, they must also prepare for a showdown with a crafty lawman who's not ready to ride off into the sunset.

Director: David Mackenzie
Producer: Sidney Kimmel, Peter Berg, Carla Hacken, Julie Yorn
Screenwriter: Taylor Sheridan
Distributor: CBS Films, Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Madison Wells, CBS Films, Odd Lot Entertainment, Film 44, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, LBI Entertainment
Rating: R (Language Throughout|Brief Sexuality|Some Strong Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller, Western, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 19, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 8, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $27.0M
Runtime: 1h 37m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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