Dan Ades, Danny Goldman, Dorothy Neumann

An eccentric gunfighter for hire must protect a cattle baron's herd from a rustler and his gang.

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62% liked it

2,953 ratings

Critics

83% liked it

18 critics

PG, 2 hrs. 6 min.

Directed by: Arthur Penn

Release Date: January 1, 1976

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DVD Release Date: November 8, 2005

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Stats: 146 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (146)


  • November 28, 2007
    Has its moments, but otherwise a rather lackluster western. Only diehard Brando/Nicholson fans need apply.
  • May 30, 2007
    Jane Braxton: Are you an outlaw?

    Tom Logan: I'm a jackpot farmer with one milk cow and a hundred-square-foot patch of vegetables.

    Jane: Then how come you have so many guns?

    Tom: Because I'm a sportsman.

    Jane: Why do you have a sawed-off shotgun?

    Tom: Beca

    ...( read more)use I'm a sawed-off sportsman.

    And speaking of Marlon Brando, I was just thinking about what I'd said with regard to On the Waterfront not being Brando's greatest movie, and I was thinking about The Missouri Breaks, and I flip the channel to Turner and lookie here: The Missouri Breaks is showing. I call it fate.

    The supremely gifted Brando plays the "eccentric" gunslinger frightfully well here. Reading cue cards because he didn't want to memorize lines anymore . . . Whatevahs. I don't know if he was on a chocolate and lasagne high when he was making this movie, or if he was just plain off his rocker, but he climbs to the heights of bizarre-dom in this plum role. And I definitely mean this in a good sense. The word "lurid" comes to mind, for some reason. Yeah, lurid, that's a great adjective, I think, and, well, he is so darn real as this psychotic killer, that he literally scares the chitterlins' outta me every time I watch this. The scene where he . . . executes Harry Dean Stanton is maximally spine chilling.

    Flixsters, I caution you in all seriousness, please make note to beware if anyone ever tries the old "round this time of year, Indian summer, you can see the star of Bethlehem" routine on you. Be prepared.

    Brando's own death scene, at the hands of Jack Nicholson, after expressing a fairly odd affection for his horse, that opening of the eyes to experience death, is un-freakin'-forgettable. Nicholson and Brando, eyeball to eyeball. Never ever to happen again in cinematic history. An amazing historical moment.

    Geez! Just the accents coming and going, Marlon Brando, you are extremely creepy. Creeeeepy . . .

    You know what woke yah up? You just had your throat cut.

  • March 16, 2006
    No pity is given to anyone when you realize that this film was forgotten soon after being made - but no worries ,it's stil an "Alright" western.
  • October 30, 2009
    I was really suprised how good this movie was.Brando was great as the villain
  • September 24, 2009
    Too long to give a damn.
  • June 14, 2009
    Marlon Brando is GREAT in this movie. Of course, Jack Nicholson ain't exactly a slouch. :)
  • April 11, 2009
    so-so western....felt like I was up the Missouri without a paddle.
  • November 13, 2008
    This is such a peculiar movie... it should have been great, considering the dynamic and powerful combination of actors under the direction of Arthur Penn. But it's a distant, sometimes tedious picture that I only enjoyed for the colorful, creative performances from Brando and Nic...( read more)holson. As a huge fan of both actors, I liked watching the movie. I would assume that most viewers would not.
  • August 23, 2008
    1.- Brando and Nicholson are in it.
    2.- There isn't much action in this western (actually eastern) but it has some good dialogue to keep you entertained.
    3.- Though the movie was misunderstood, I actually think the script and direction is very good.
  • July 7, 2008
    Brando being strange again--i think he wants someone to call him on it.

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The Missouri Breaks Trivia


  • In the Missouri Breaks who plays an eccentric regulator out to stop horse rustlers?   Answer »
  • The Missouri Breaks (1976) Jack Nicholson was in this movie but what is his characters name??  Answer »

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