Overview
A tale of moral decay and familial conflict set against the rugged backdrop of Texas ranch life.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- brooding
- bitter
- morally bleak
- classic cinema night
- western double feature
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a powerful, well-acted revisionist western drama distinguished by its stark cinematography and Paul Newman's magnetic performance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Hud's ranch world rejects the traditional heroic cowboy ideal, presenting ruthlessness and exploitation as winning strategies.
Hud's charm and confidence initially attract Lon, but his drinking, womanizing, cheating, and disregard for consequences reveal a destructive character.
Lon begins by admiring Hud's rebellious lifestyle and gradually recognizes the damage caused by Hud's amorality.
James Wong Howe's black-and-white cinematography gives the Texas ranch and surrounding plains a severe, stark visual presence.
Films like Hud, and why
The Wild Bunch
morally conflicted western drama centered on corrosive masculinity, family tension, and an ethically compromised antihero
The Misfits
revisionist western atmosphere, generational conflict, and a damaged male protagonist whose charisma masks moral decay
The Last Picture Show
somber neo-western drama about family loyalty, moral codes, and an outsider challenging a traditional order
The Left Handed Gun
psychological western focused on paternal authority, rebellious youth, and the consequences of ruthless individualism
Movie Details
- Director
- Martin Ritt
- Release Date
- 1963-05-24
- Runtime
- 112 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (374)
Cast
- Paul Newman
- Melvyn Douglas
- Patricia Neal
- Brandon De Wilde
- Whit Bissell
- Crahan Denton
- John Ashley
- Val Avery
- George Petrie
- Curt Conway
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- 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 Hud about?
- A charismatic Texas rancher’s ruthless appetite for pleasure turns a family’s generational conflict into a bleak reckoning with moral responsibility.
- What is Hud like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Hud as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Hud violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Hud as mild.
- What did critics think of Hud?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a powerful, well-acted revisionist western drama distinguished by its stark cinematography and Paul Newman's magnetic performance.
- Which films are like Hud?
- Films with a similar feel include The Wild Bunch, The Misfits, The Last Picture Show, and The Left Handed Gun.
- How long is Hud?
- Hud runs 112 minutes.
- Where can I watch Hud?
- In United States, Hud is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
