Open Range
A principled band of freegrazing cowboys confronts a Montana cattle baron whose violent grip threatens their livelihood, loyalty, and hard-won freedom.
Overview
A tale of honor and courage in the untamed West, where freedom is worth fighting for.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- stoic
- romantic
- muscular
- western double feature
- weekend movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded it as a sturdy, beautifully made modern Western whose classic storytelling, expansive action, and chemistry between Kevin Costner and Robert Duvall outweigh its imperfections.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Boss Spearman and Charley Waite freegraze cattle across the prairie while Denton Baxter and Sheriff Poole attempt to control the territory.
The climactic gunfight is filmed in giant wide shots and emphasizes the sudden, fast, physically consequential nature of shooting.
Boss, Charley, Mose, and Button travel and work together, with their friendship forged through a steadfast code of honor.
Harmonville is governed through fear and violence by the sheriff and rancher Denton Baxter.
Films like Open Range, and why
Dances with Wolves
shared modern western setting, codes of honor, expansive landscapes, and morally grounded frontier drama
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
shared revisionist western tradition, friendship among outsiders, and escalating conflict with powerful local interests
Unforgiven
shared revenge western structure, frontier lawlessness, terse masculine camaraderie, and climactic gun violence
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
shared classic western roots, cattle-country setting, communal loyalty, and showdown-driven storytelling
Movie Details
- Director
- Kevin Costner
- Release Date
- 2003-08-11
- Runtime
- 139 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (1267)
Cast
- Kevin Costner
- Robert Duvall
- Annette Bening
- Michael Gambon
- Michael Jeter
- Diego Luna
- James Russo
- Abraham Benrubi
- Kim Coates
- Dean McDermott
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- YouTube TV
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Open Range about?
- A principled band of freegrazing cowboys confronts a Montana cattle baron whose violent grip threatens their livelihood, loyalty, and hard-won freedom.
- What is Open Range like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Open Range as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Open Range violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Open Range as graphic.
- What did critics think of Open Range?
- Critics broadly regarded it as a sturdy, beautifully made modern Western whose classic storytelling, expansive action, and chemistry between Kevin Costner and Robert Duvall outweigh its imperfections.
- Which films are like Open Range?
- Films with a similar feel include Dances with Wolves, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Unforgiven, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.
- How long is Open Range?
- Open Range runs 139 minutes.
- Where can I watch Open Range?
- In United States, Open Range streams on YouTube TV.
