The Hero
A fading Western star navigates a possible comeback, a new romance, and the private terror of terminal illness.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Slow
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- melancholic
- wistful
- intimate
- reflective evening
- quiet weekend
What critics said
Critics generally found the film effective as an understated vehicle for Sam Elliott, while considering its story familiar and occasionally clichéd.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Lee Hayden is a formerly celebrated Western actor reduced to commercial voice-overs while seeking one final meaningful role.
Lee privately faces pancreatic cancer while considering a comeback and deciding whether to tell his estranged family.
Sam Elliott’s iconic Western-associated screen presence directly resonates with Lee’s identity as a veteran Western actor.
Lee’s relationship with comedian Charlotte Dylan inadvertently jump-starts his public profile and renewed career prospects.
Films like The Hero, and why
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
shared aging performer protagonist, melancholic self-reckoning, understated drama, and themes of mortality and family reconciliation
The Last Word
shared late-career artistic crisis, intimate character focus, dry humor, and emotionally grounded mortality themes
The Old Man & the Gun
shared aging male protagonist, wistful tone, romantic complication, and reflective examination of regret and second chances
Movie Details
- Director
- Brett Haley
- Release Date
- 2017-06-09
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (267)
Cast
- Sam Elliott
- Laura Prepon
- Nick Offerman
- Krysten Ritter
- Katharine Ross
- Doug Cox
- Max Gail
- Jackie Joyner
- Patrika Darbo
- Ali Wong
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- 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 The Hero about?
- A fading Western star navigates a possible comeback, a new romance, and the private terror of terminal illness.
- What is The Hero like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Hero as slow, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Hero violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Hero.
- What did critics think of The Hero?
- Critics generally found the film effective as an understated vehicle for Sam Elliott, while considering its story familiar and occasionally clichéd.
- Which films are like The Hero?
- Films with a similar feel include Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), The Last Word, and The Old Man & the Gun.
- How long is The Hero?
- The Hero runs 97 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Hero?
- In United States, The Hero streams on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
