Villa Rides
A Texas gunrunner joins Pancho Villa's revolutionary army, where greed, loyalty, rivalry, and spectacular violence collide across Mexico.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- rugged
- bombastic
- melodramatic
- classic western marathon
- historical action night
What critics said
Critics broadly viewed the film as colorful, energetic western entertainment that turns the Mexican Revolution into sprawling, historically thin action spectacle.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The Mexican Revolution and Pancho Villa provide the framework, while critics describe the result as a sprawling western rather than serious history.
Lee Arnold is drawn into the revolution through greed as a Texas pilot and gunrunner, then remains alongside Villa's patriotic forces.
The film uses sharp color and rugged Spanish locations to simulate revolutionary Mexico amid recurring pistol, rifle, cavalry, and warfare sequences.
Arnold is tormented by Villa's lieutenant Fierro, while Villa confronts possible betrayal and political naiveté within his leadership circle.
Films like Villa Rides, and why
The Wild Bunch
shared Mexican Revolution setting, western action, historical figures, and revisionist adventure tone
Viva Zapata!
shared revolutionary Mexico setting, gunfighter ensemble, political conflict, and rugged western spectacle
The Professionals
shared historical western form, revolution-era violence, charismatic outlaw protagonist, and broad action storytelling
And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself
shared Pancho Villa subject, Mexican Revolution backdrop, and biographical western adventure
Movie Details
- Director
- Buzz Kulik
- Release Date
- 1968-05-29
- Runtime
- 121 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (68)
Cast
- Yul Brynner
- Robert Mitchum
- Maria Grazia Buccella
- Charles Bronson
- Herbert Lom
- Robert Viharo
- Frank Wolff
- Alexander Knox
- Robert Carricart
- Andrés Monreal
Where to watch in United States
- 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 Villa Rides about?
- A Texas gunrunner joins Pancho Villa's revolutionary army, where greed, loyalty, rivalry, and spectacular violence collide across Mexico.
- What is Villa Rides like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Villa Rides as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Villa Rides violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Villa Rides as graphic.
- What did critics think of Villa Rides?
- Critics broadly viewed the film as colorful, energetic western entertainment that turns the Mexican Revolution into sprawling, historically thin action spectacle.
- Which films are like Villa Rides?
- Films with a similar feel include The Wild Bunch, Viva Zapata!, The Professionals, and And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself.
- How long is Villa Rides?
- Villa Rides runs 121 minutes.
- Where can I watch Villa Rides?
- In United States, Villa Rides is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
