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The Way of the Gun

Play trailer Poster for The Way of the Gun R 2000 1h 59m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
46% Tomatometer 132 Reviews 70% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
They make no excuses. They don't ask forgiveness. Their story is without compromise, brutal and simple. For contemporary desperados Parker and associate Longbaugh, crime means survival at any cost. Their impromptu plan to kidnap surrogate mother Robin, just weeks from delivering the son of Hale and Francesca Chidduck, seems to be a fast way to cash in on a fat ransom and head for the border. But their haste does indeed make waste.
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The Way of the Gun

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Critics Consensus

Christopher McQuarrie may exhibit a way behind the camera in the stylish The Way of the Gun, but his script falters with dull characterization and a plot so needlessly twisty that most viewers will be ready to tune out before the final reveal.

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Stephen Hunter Washington Post Jun 18, 2019
It's good fun for bad boys. Go to Full Review Desson Thomson Washington Post Jun 18, 2019
Writer-director Christopher McQuarrie, who wrote The Usual Suspects, has made a film that I admire more than I love, whose ending makes me recoil emotionally, even as I recommend the thing. Go to Full Review Joe Morgenstern Wall Street Journal Jun 17, 2019
The Way of the Gun is doomy trash, a blood-soaked saga of remorseless killers and natural-born blatherers. I'm sure I've seen worse movies, but nothing so steadfastly unpleasant comes to mind. Go to Full Review Frank J. Avella The Contending Jul 15, 2025
B-
...a mega-mixed bag—a terrific cast and that snappy McQuarrie dialogue, but little character development beyond the superficial, with no one really worthy of any kind of redemption. Go to Full Review Joe Lipsett Queer.Horror.Movies. Jul 12, 2025
3/5
Philippe struggles with [the] hard-boiled dialogue, and the pacing is draggy in parts, but overall it's a solid directorial calling card for McQuarrie, particularly his ability to handle multiple types of action. Go to Full Review Douglas Davidson Elements of Madness Jun 25, 2025
... so many twists, turns, and double-crosses that the duo must contend with that the film itself starts to droop under the weight of everything so the details help keep the audience invested where a trimmer runtime might’ve done the same. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mate P @matepolcz Jun 11, 2026 ***SLIGHT SPOILERS*** The Way of the Gun is an allegory for the process of filmmaking. I'm not a person who sees this type of stuff, but before watching, I heard Christopher McQuarrie (my favourite filmmaker) talking about this film a lot. He also talks about how bad it is, so I didn't expect it to be good. Although it's perfectly okay. I don't like amoral films, but at least there was Joe, who felt similar to Robert Duvall's character in Jack Reacher, so I liked him very much. The directing is pretty all over the place, but the final sequence is awesome. The cinematography has its moments, while the pacing isn't too bad either. The cast is pretty huge considering the size of the budget. The lead performances are great, but James Caan's presence is just different. Thank God, McQ made this movie, because this is one of the big reasons why we got great films like Fallout and Dead Reckoning from him. See more Daisy P @RT71672200 Mar 30, 2026 So many great actors in one film!!! Loved it My ❤️ first fave Benicio del Toro!! Juliette Lewis ❤️ Taye Diggs, James Cahn, Ryan Phillipe. Action 🎬 🎬 See more Roberto L. @RobertoLongstaff29 Feb 3, 2026 “I think a plan is just a list of things that don’t happen”. See more Luke S @CouchBasedMovieGuy Jan 30, 2026 Ignore the journalist reviewers and their pretentious critiques of the film and sit down and enjoy the movie yourself. See more Jack F @MovieFan111 Nov 17, 2025 It's worth a watch especially if your a Benicio Del Toro fan like me. Great cast overall. See more Oaklee D @ODie63 Oct 20, 2025 Quentin Tarantino meets the Coen brothers is the best way I can describe this film. See more Read all reviews
The Way of the Gun

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Cast & Crew

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Christopher McQuarrie

Director

Ryan Phillippe

Parker

Benicio del Toro

Longbaugh

James Caan

Sarno

Juliette Lewis

Robin

Taye Diggs

Jeffers

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The Way of the Gun

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The Way of the Gun

The Way of the Gun (2000) The Way of the Gun (2000) Nicky Katt, Ryan Phillippe and Taye Diggs. Juliette Lewis is Robin. Ryan Phillippe is Parker and Benicio Del Toro is Longbaugh. Parker (Ryan Phillippe) and Longbaugh (Benicio Del Toro). Ryan Phillippe is Parker. Benicio Del Toro is Longbaugh and James Caan is Sarno. Benicio Del Toro is Longbaugh. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis They make no excuses. They don't ask forgiveness. Their story is without compromise, brutal and simple. For contemporary desperados Parker and associate Longbaugh, crime means survival at any cost. Their impromptu plan to kidnap surrogate mother Robin, just weeks from delivering the son of Hale and Francesca Chidduck, seems to be a fast way to cash in on a fat ransom and head for the border. But their haste does indeed make waste.
Director
Christopher McQuarrie
Producer
Kenneth Kokin
Screenwriter
Christopher McQuarrie
Distributor
Artisan Entertainment
Production Co
Artisan Entertainment
Rating
R (Sexuality|Language|Violence)
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 8, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
May 1, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA)
$6.0M
Runtime
1h 59m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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