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Trailer

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

2018Movie2 h 12 minR

ComedyWestern
79
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.2Letterboxd3.6/5Metacritic797.4Rotten Tomatoes90%78%

A relentlessly bleak, melancholic western movie about history, with standout direction and performances.

Good for date night · friends night · thought-provoking

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · you want to half-watch while scrolling

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Not for warmth, uplift or comfort.

Movies with

Story

Stories live forever. People don't.

Vignettes weaving together the stories of six individuals in the old West at the end of the Civil War. Following the tales of a sharp-shooting songster, a wannabe bank robber, two weary traveling performers, a lone gold prospector, a woman traveling the West to an uncertain future, and a motley crew of strangers undertaking a carriage ride.

Feels like

  • Anthology Western
  • Darkly Humorous
  • Existentialist
  • Coen Brothers Style
  • Bleak & Philosophical
  • Sharp Dialogue
  • Character-Driven Vignettes
  • Unique Narrative Structure
  • Neo-Western

Cast

24 of 47

Crew

Directed by
Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Written by
Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Produced by
Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, Megan Ellison
Music by
Carter Burwell

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

November 9, 2018 · 2 h 12 min · R

Released
November 9, 2018
Runtime
2 h 12 min
Age rating
R
Content
Violence, Strong Language, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Western, Comedy
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
131 countries

Tropes

One-Man Army, Sickly Green Glow, Pride +9

  • One-Man Army
  • Sickly Green Glow
  • Pride
  • Pet the Dog
  • Graceful Loser
  • Minimalist Cast
  • Once More, with Clarity
  • Chekhov's Gun
  • Call-Back
  • Have a Gay Old Time
  • Nothing Is Scarier
  • Anthology Film

12 of 148 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream The Ballad of Buster Scruggs?"

Questions about The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Ballad of Buster Scruggs?

Netflix

In the United States, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs streams on Netflix. It also streams in 130 other countries.

Is The Ballad of Buster Scruggs worth watching?

79
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 79 (IMDb 7.2, Letterboxd 3.6 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 90%, and Metacritic 79). Critics rate it higher (85 out of 100) than audiences (74).

Will The Ballad of Buster Scruggs make me laugh?

Funny

Yes: the humor is mostly dark humor (9 of 10) and sharp wit (8 of 10).

Will I feel good after watching The Ballad of Buster Scruggs?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for bleakness and 8 for melancholy, against 1 for hopefulness.

What tropes does The Ballad of Buster Scruggs use?

One-Man ArmySickly Green GlowPridePet the DogGraceful LoserMinimalist CastOnce More, with ClarityChekhov's GunCall-BackHave a Gay Old TimeNothing Is ScarierAnthology Filmand 136 more

TV Tropes lists 148 tropes for it, including One-Man Army, Sickly Green Glow, and Pride.