Billy Jack (1971)

62% of critics liked it
(13 reviews)
62% of users liked it
(8,554 ratings)

Actor/auteur Tom Laughlin created the character of Billy Jack in the motorcycle flick The Born Losers. Wandering Christlike through the Southwest, Native American Vietnam veteran Billy Jack -- soft-spoken, but well-versed in martial arts -- champions the cause of a progressive school run by Jean… More Actor/auteur Tom Laughlin created the character of Billy Jack in the motorcycle flick The Born Losers. Wandering Christlike through the Southwest, Native American Vietnam veteran Billy Jack -- soft-spoken, but well-versed in martial arts -- champions the cause of a progressive school run by Jean Roberts (Delores Taylor, Laughlin's real-life wife). The bigoted white townsfolk don't cotton to Jean's minority-group students, so they do everything they can to humiliate and physically abuse the kids. When one of her charges is cruelly coated with white flour, Billy Jack goes berserk. Thus begins an orgy of self-righteous violence, culminating with our hero being hunted down on a murder charge. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 2 hr.
Directed By: Tom Laughlin, Clark Howat
Written By: Tom Laughlin
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics, Cult Movies

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1971 Wide
On DVD: Oct 31, 2000

Critic Reviews

Sean Axmaker, Seanax.com
[W]hen peaceful protest is met with guns and brutality, Billy kicks ass as a one-man-army of poetic justice.
Sean Axmaker, Seanax.com
... when peaceful protest is met with guns and brutality, Billy kicks ass as a one-man-army of poetic justice.
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Lame, self indulgent when released in 1971, but even more so now.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Billy Jack f*%k yea!
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
A little heavy-handed with the message, this film still holds onto the brutality of the revenge style established in Born Losers.
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
You feel guilty liking this manipulative pulp, but it somehow grabs and holds onto you.
Jon Niccum, Lawrence Journal-World
A film so fascinatingly liberal it almost seems to exist in a different universe.

Read all 7 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Brad W

No real point to it, but I would want my own Billy Jack as a bodygaurd
AJ V

This movie is good at giving you a picture of early seventies late sixties life, especially the youth and peace movements going on at the time. The story is good, too, but the movie is too long and sort of lingers at times. There are some really great scenes, though, especially the… More
This movie is good at giving you a picture of early seventies late sixties life, especially the youth and peace movements going on at the time. The story is good, too, but the movie is too long and sort of lingers at times. There are some really great scenes, though, especially the ones with Billy Jack saving the day. Overall, an okay movie.
Mister C

A Cult Classic Starring Tom Laughlin. The original that started it all. This was followed by two other sequels.
Bradley W

No real point to it, but I would want my own Billy Jack as a bodygaurd
Leo L

I remember this movie from childhood, this was among my mom's favorite. HEHEHE

Cast

Tom Laughlin
as Billy Jack
Delores Taylor
as Jean Roberts
Clark Howat
as Sheriff Cole

Bert Freed
as Stuart Posner
Julie Webb
as Barbara
Kenneth Tobey
as Deputy

See full cast

Billy Jack (1971)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Brad W

AJ V

Mister C

Bradley W

Leo L

Cast