GoodWatchSign up

Cartel Land

2015·Movie
1h 41min·R
IMDb7.3Metacritic767.7Rotten Tomatoes90%82%

Where to watch

PrimefuboTVThe RokuKanopyFandango at Home Free

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

Cartel Land fingerprint

High energy, strong craft, light on feelings.

Energy

Brutally violent and thrilling

Fast from start to finish.

  • Violence9
  • Adrenaline8
  • Tension8

Heart

Moving and cathartic

  • Pathos7
  • Catharsis7
  • Melancholy6

Humor

Some dark humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Dark Humor5
  • Satire & Parody4
  • Wit & Wordplay2

World

Everyday modern life, crime, and society

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • World Immersion8
  • Dialogue Centrality6
  • Rewatchability6

Craft

Solid, not remarkable

Layered plot that rewards full attention.

  • Intrigue8
  • Complexity8
  • Direction7

Style

Standout cinematography

  • Cinematography8
  • Editing7
  • Sound Centrality7

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightSolo WatchThought-Provoking

Skip it if

You need an uplifting moodYou want to half-watch while scrollingGraphic violence bothers youYou want something quiet and calm

Find more like it

Suspense moviesEducational movies

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

About

In the Mexican state of Michoacán, Dr. Jose Mireles, a small-town physician known as "El Doctor," shepherds a citizen uprising against the Knights Templar, the violent drug cartel that has wreaked havoc on the region for years. Meanwhile, in Arizona's Altar Valley—a narrow, 52-mile-long desert corridor known as Cocaine Alley—Tim "Nailer" Foley, an American veteran, heads a small paramilitary group called Arizona Border Recon, whose goal is to halt Mexico’s drug wars from seeping across our border.
Mexican Drug WarVigilante JusticeBorder ConflictDocumentarySocial CommentaryCrime and CorruptionParamilitary GroupsCitizen UprisingBleak Reality

Crew

Directed by:
Matthew Heineman
Produced by:
Kathryn Bigelow, Matthew Heineman, Tom Yellin
Composed by:
Ryan Collison, Leslie Bloome, Sean Garnhart

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Loading video…

Questions about Cartel Land

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Cartel Land legally?

PrimefuboTVThe RokuKanopyFandango at Home FreePlexTubi TV

Cartel Land is included with a subscription to Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, and Amazon Prime Video with Ads in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Fandango at Home Free, and Plex. 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 Cartel Land worth watching?

79
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 79/100 (IMDb 7.3, Rotten Tomatoes 90%, and Metacritic 76). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Cartel Land rated?

RViolenceStrong languageDrug use

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: violence, strong language, and drug use.

How long is Cartel Land?

1 h 41 min

Cartel Land runs 1 h 41 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Cartel Land?

Critics83
Audiences77

Yes. Critics average 83 and audiences 77 out of 100, so both groups see Cartel Land much the same way.

What language is Cartel Land in?

EnglishSpanish

It was made in English, with some Spanish. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch Cartel Land?

68AEARATAUBEBGBOBRBYBZCACHCLCO+54

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Cartel Land in 68 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Cartel Land use?

Downer EndingThe Dead Have NamesDecapitation PresentationBlack-and-Gray MoralityJitter CamVigilante ExecutionHe Who Fights MonstersThe CartelBookendsThe RevealGood Cop/Bad CopCold-Blooded Tortureand 6 more

TV Tropes lists 18 storytelling tropes for Cartel Land, including Downer Ending, The Dead Have Names, Decapitation Presentation.