Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Glacial
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- earnest
- rhetorical
- confrontational
- political cinema marathon
- cult film night
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as a flat, overly talkative, technically weak, and derivative political drama that leaned too heavily on Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Billy Jack is deliberately selected as a controllable senator but begins investigating the shady deals surrounding the nuclear power industry.
The governor and senators seek a compliant figure to protect their dealings after a senator seals an investigation.
Critical reception identifies the film as heavily dependent on the plot and dialogue of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
Billy Jack’s nomination is intended to attract young voters, but his response to political wrongdoing is direct investigation and resistance.
Films like Billy Jack Goes to Washington, and why
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Shared political drama, idealistic outsider protagonist, and confrontation with institutional corruption.
The Candidate
Shared oppositional political filmmaking, reformist themes, and distrust of entrenched power.
All the King's Men
Shared populist political drama centered on a principled figure challenging corrupt institutions.
The Parallax View
Shared political intrigue, government corruption, and investigative suspense within American institutions.
Movie Details
- Director
- Tom Laughlin
- Release Date
- 1977-04-16
- Runtime
- 155 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (13)
Cast
- Tom Laughlin
- Delores Taylor
- E.G. Marshall
- Teresa Kelly
- Sam Wanamaker
- Richard Gautier
- Kathy Cronkite
- Peter Donat
- Pat O'Brien
- Ollie O'Toole
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 Billy Jack Goes to Washington about?
- A jailed counterculture hero is installed as a compliant senator, then turns his new office against the political machinery that recruited him.
- What is Billy Jack Goes to Washington like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Billy Jack Goes to Washington as glacial, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Billy Jack Goes to Washington violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Billy Jack Goes to Washington as mild.
- What did critics think of Billy Jack Goes to Washington?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as a flat, overly talkative, technically weak, and derivative political drama that leaned too heavily on Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
- Which films are like Billy Jack Goes to Washington?
- Films with a similar feel include Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, The Candidate, All the King's Men, and The Parallax View.
- How long is Billy Jack Goes to Washington?
- Billy Jack Goes to Washington runs 155 minutes.
- Where can I watch Billy Jack Goes to Washington?
- In United States, Billy Jack Goes to Washington is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
