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The Cowboys

1972·Movie
2h 14min·PG
70
GoodGoodWatch score

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The Cowboys fingerprint

Strong craft, striking style, no humor.

Energy

Tense

  • Tension7
  • Adrenaline6
  • Spectacle6

Heart

Cathartic

Much of it is about growing up and family.

  • Coming of Age9
  • Catharsis7
  • Family Dynamics7

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay3
  • Situational Comedy2
  • Physical Comedy2

World

Growing up, history, and family

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Rewatchability7
  • Dialogue Centrality6

Craft

Standout performances

  • Acting8
  • Direction7
  • Narrative Structure7

Style

Standout score

  • Music Composition8
  • Cinematography7
  • Editing7

Who it's for

AdultsFamily Movie NightFriends NightIntergenerationalPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensComfort WatchPure Escapism

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

All they wanted was their chance to be men... and he gave it to them.

When his cattlemen abandon him for the gold fields, rancher Wil Andersen is forced to take on a collection of young boys as his cowboys in order to get his herd to market in time to avoid financial disaster. The boys learn to do a man's job under Andersen's tutelage, however, neither he nor the boys know that a gang of cattle thieves is stalking them.
Classic WesternComing of AgeMentorship & GrowthGritty Rite of PassageJohn Williams ScoreJohn WayneLoss of InnocenceRugged Frontier

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The Cowboys

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Cowboys legally?

You can watch it free with ads on Fawesome. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is The Cowboys worth watching?

70
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 70/100 (IMDb 7.4, Rotten Tomatoes 75%, and Metacritic 52). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Cowboys rated?

PGViolenceStrong language

It's rated PG in the United States. Content advisories: violence and strong language.

How long is The Cowboys?

2 h 14 min

The Cowboys runs 2 h 14 min.

Is The Cowboys based on a true story?

No. It's adapted from a novel.

Do critics and audiences agree on The Cowboys?

Critics64
Audiences79

Not quite. Audiences rate The Cowboys higher (79) than critics (64). It's more of a crowd-pleaser than a critics' pick.

Was The Cowboys a box office hit?

Budget$6 million
Box office$8 million

Roughly broke even. It cost about $6 million to make and earned $8 million worldwide, 1.3 times its budget.

What language is The Cowboys in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch The Cowboys?

74AOARATAUAZBEBFBGBOBYBZCACHCL+60

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Cowboys in 74 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does The Cowboys use?

Bad "Bad Acting"Coming of Age StoryMentor Occupational HazardTeam MomStutter StopWould Hurt a ChildBadass BoastImprobable AgeInnocent BigotOnly One NameBittersweet EndingMiss Kittyand 14 more

TV Tropes lists 26 storytelling tropes for The Cowboys, including Bad "Bad Acting", Coming of Age Story, Mentor Occupational Hazard.