Rio Lobo
A battle-tested Union colonel and former Confederate allies confront treachery and gunmen in a corrupt frontier town.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- gritty
- wry
- cynical
- classic western marathon
- john wayne night
What critics said
Critics generally see it as an enjoyable but routine and less memorable Howard Hawks and John Wayne western, with a cynical perspective on the Rio Bravo formula.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Union officer Cord McNally joins former Confederate captain Pierre Cordona after the war to pursue traitors.
McNally and his allies enter Rio Lobo, a desert town controlled by the betrayer's murderous cut-throats.
Hawks's final film reunites him with Wayne and echoes the structure and themes of Rio Bravo and El Dorado.
McNally seeks the Union informants who sold gold-shipment intelligence and caused the death of a trusted comrade.
Films like Rio Lobo, and why
Rio Bravo
shared classical western form, armed lawmen defending a besieged town, and camaraderie-driven action
El Dorado
shared howard hawks and john wayne collaboration, mature western heroes, and community-centered gunfights
The Outlaw Josey Wales
shared post-civil-war western setting, revenge-driven investigation, and cynical treatment of betrayal
Movie Details
- Director
- Howard Hawks
- Release Date
- 1970-04-01
- Runtime
- 116 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (298)
Cast
- John Wayne
- Jorge Rivero
- Jennifer O'Neill
- Jack Elam
- Christopher Mitchum
- Victor French
- Susana Dosamantes
- Sherry Lansing
- David Huddleston
- Mike Henry
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus
- 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 Rio Lobo about?
- A battle-tested Union colonel and former Confederate allies confront treachery and gunmen in a corrupt frontier town.
- What is Rio Lobo like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Rio Lobo as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Rio Lobo violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Rio Lobo as moderate.
- What did critics think of Rio Lobo?
- Critics generally see it as an enjoyable but routine and less memorable Howard Hawks and John Wayne western, with a cynical perspective on the Rio Bravo formula.
- Which films are like Rio Lobo?
- Films with a similar feel include Rio Bravo, El Dorado, and The Outlaw Josey Wales.
- How long is Rio Lobo?
- Rio Lobo runs 116 minutes.
- Where can I watch Rio Lobo?
- In United States, Rio Lobo streams on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus.
