Overview
A quirky rock band from Russia embarks on a wild journey across America in search of fame and fortune.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- deadpan
- whimsical
- witty
- lazy sunday
- road movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly celebrate the film as a highly original, effortlessly watchable road comedy distinguished by Aki Kaurismäki’s dry humor and eccentric musical imagery.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The band’s improbable American journey and carefully crafted jokes are delivered through Kaurismäki’s dry, restrained humor.
The fictional band and its manager cross America while pursuing a wedding performance in Mexico and encountering strangers along the route.
The Leningrad Cowboys are defined by highly original haircuts, pointed shoes, and an eccentric coordinated outfit.
The band leaves Finland seeking fame and fortune in America, turning career ambition and cultural displacement into comic material.
Films like Leningrad Cowboys Go America, and why
Mystery Train
deadpan absurdist humor, eccentric musicians, and a stylized road journey
The Blues Brothers
offbeat music-centered comedy, outsider characters, and dry observational tone
Down by Law
eccentric ensemble comedy, transnational travel, and whimsical outsider perspective
The Saddest Music in the World
minimalist deadpan comedy, oddball characters, and unconventional musical performance
Movie Details
- Director
- Aki Kaurismäki
- Release Date
- 1989-03-24
- Runtime
- 79 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (216)
Cast
- Matti Pellonpää
- Kari Väänänen
- Sakke Järvenpää
- Heikki Keskinen
- Pimme Korhonen
- Sakari Kuosmanen
- Puka Oinonen
- Silu Seppälä
- Mauri Sumén
- Mato Valtonen
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Criterion Channel
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Leningrad Cowboys Go America about?
- An eccentric Finnish rock band barrels across America in a deadpan quest for fame, fortune, and one last gig in Mexico.
- What is Leningrad Cowboys Go America like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Leningrad Cowboys Go America as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Leningrad Cowboys Go America violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Leningrad Cowboys Go America.
- What did critics think of Leningrad Cowboys Go America?
- Critics broadly celebrate the film as a highly original, effortlessly watchable road comedy distinguished by Aki Kaurismäki’s dry humor and eccentric musical imagery.
- Which films are like Leningrad Cowboys Go America?
- Films with a similar feel include Mystery Train, The Blues Brothers, Down by Law, and The Saddest Music in the World.
- How long is Leningrad Cowboys Go America?
- Leningrad Cowboys Go America runs 79 minutes.
- Where can I watch Leningrad Cowboys Go America?
- In United States, Leningrad Cowboys Go America streams on Criterion Channel.
