Cowboys & Aliens

Cowboys & Aliens (2011)

  • 44% of critics liked it
    (229 reviews)

  • 46% of users liked it
    (86,524 ratings)

1875. New Mexico Territory. A stranger (Craig) with no memory of his past stumbles into the hard desert town of Absolution. What he discovers is that the people of Absolution don't welcome strangers, and nobody makes a move on its streets unless ordered to do so by the iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde… More

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PG-13, 1 hr. 59 min.
Directed By
Jon Favreau
Written By
Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Damon Lindelof
Genres
Western, Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy
In Theaters
Jul 29, 2011 Wide
On DVD
Dec 6, 2011
Universal Pictures

Critic Reviews

  • Anthony Lane, New Yorker

    Takes itself much too seriously, with acts of brutality outnumbering the gags.

  • David Edelstein, New York Magazine

    Cowboys & Aliens is an agreeable time-killer, but I'll bet a couple of clever kids could make a livelier movie with a Woody puppet and a Predator doll.

  • Christopher Orr, The Atlantic

    [A] phenomenally successful two-man war against narrative clarity and continuity.

  • Laremy Legel, Film.com

    A film that entertains, even if it doesn't live up to the full-on madness potential the title portended.

  • Tom Long, Detroit News

    It's just big silly fun, the kind you're supposed to have at a summer movie with a ridiculous title.

Read all 23 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • John M


    Daniel Craig was great. Ford had his moments. But this movie could have been so so so much better!

  • Anthony L


    When I first heard about this film I immediately thought of my childhood and to those school lunch-break conversations I had with my mates, 'Who would win in a fight between Optimus Prime and He-man'?. If I'm being completely honest, we're still having those… More

  • Josh M


    I expected action/special effects popcorn munching fun, but Cowboys and Aliens is one of the most disappointing let downs in recent memory. With all the right elements and $$ to make a terrific piece of entertainment, Director Jon Favreau and the whole Spielberg led team blows almost… More

  • jay n


    The germ of a good idea is present in this film but the execution of that thought is totally mishandled. Murky and dull with characters you know nothing about and care for even less it is easy to see why this tanked worldwide. When did Hollywood forget that to engage the audience you… More

  • Tim S


    I must admit that when I first heard about Cowboys & Aliens and saw bits of the trailer and TV spots, I was scratching my head. I didn't know what to make of it being that it had such a blatant and cheesy title. Fortunately, the film itself turns out to be much better than… More

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

Cast

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