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

286 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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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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Zach Pope

Zach Pope Reviews

08/07/2023

Almost a perfect movie that delivers fantastic performances

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Stephen W.

@SWITHEYW Mar 15

The setting was wonderful, the dry Texas scrublands and the dirt-poor Texas towns, and the interaction between the cops and the robbers, Jeff Bridges was great, and so were both of the robbers but I particularly like Chris Pine’s performance

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Calvin M

@RT63601224 Mar 10

Well acted but an ok movie. Nothing special.

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Joe W

@JoeWasik Mar 3

Interesting movie made in a Texas style (like No Country for Old Men) where everyone is tough, life is hard, and menu wear cowboy hats.

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Matt T

@ArmchairCritic76 Mar 1

Sure, the storyline is fairly shallow and predictable, but not every movie has to be a mind-bending puzzle, nor should they be. The story is gripping and deeply human. A gritty and intense glimpse into the lives of two brothers determined to leave a legacy, at any cost.

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ill 3

@RT25493494 Feb 22

This wasn't bad but very overrated. The whole film is kinda pedictable, caricatural and there's just not a lot of things that make you invested in the characters or the story. I don't think it was bad at all though

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TheMovieSearch R

@TheMovieSearch Feb 17

Hell or High Water is a gripping, slow burn crime thriller that blends tension with emotional depth. The story follows two brothers robbing banks across struggling Texas towns, but beneath the heists lies a powerful commentary on desperation and economic hardship. Chris Pine delivers a restrained, layered performance, while Ben Foster brings volatile intensity that keeps every scene on edge. Jeff Bridges adds gravitas as the determined Texas Ranger pursuing them. The cinematography captures the bleak landscape beautifully, reinforcing the film’s themes. Smartly written and expertly directed, it is tense, thoughtful, and absolutely worth watching. The pacing allows every confrontation to breathe, building toward a final exchange that feels earned rather than forced. It is not just about crime, but about legacy, family, and survival in a fading American frontier.

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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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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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