Overview
A small town's fight for survival against corporate greed leads to unexpected alliances and a touch of magic.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- whimsical
- warm
- witty
- lazy sunday
- socially conscious movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film visually beautiful and full of appealing characters, but unevenly structured and uncertain in its blend of social realism and magical fable.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The philosophical Chicano angel and whimsical supernatural elements coexist with concrete water-rights politics and rural life.
Joe Mondragon's accidental valve break ignites resistance to Ladd Devine's resort scheme and its threat to crop irrigation.
The film populates Milagro with colorful farmers, officials, developers, and folk figures whose contrasting responses shape the town's story.
Milagro's Hispano farming community confronts a developer's attempt to transform its New Mexico landscape into a luxury resort.
Films like The Milagro Beanfield War, and why
Finian's Rainbow
shares magical realism, earthy ensemble comedy, and social commentary about threatened communities
The Last Picture Show
shares small-town political conflict, community solidarity, and warm satirical drama
Local Hero
shares whimsical regional storytelling, class tensions, and a community resisting entrenched power
The Hudsucker Proxy
shares environmental conflict, eccentric ensemble characters, and gentle anti-development satire
Movie Details
- Director
- Robert Redford
- Release Date
- 1988-03-18
- Runtime
- 117 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (101)
Cast
- Rubén Blades
- Richard Bradford
- Sonia Braga
- Julie Carmen
- James Gammon
- Melanie Griffith
- John Heard
- Carlos Riquelme
- Daniel Stern
- Chick Vennera
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 The Milagro Beanfield War about?
- A whimsical New Mexico water-rights revolt turns one farmer's broken valve into a community-wide stand against resort development.
- What is The Milagro Beanfield War like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Milagro Beanfield War as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Milagro Beanfield War violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Milagro Beanfield War as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Milagro Beanfield War?
- Critics broadly found the film visually beautiful and full of appealing characters, but unevenly structured and uncertain in its blend of social realism and magical fable.
- Which films are like The Milagro Beanfield War?
- Films with a similar feel include Finian's Rainbow, The Last Picture Show, Local Hero, and The Hudsucker Proxy.
- How long is The Milagro Beanfield War?
- The Milagro Beanfield War runs 117 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Milagro Beanfield War?
- In United States, The Milagro Beanfield War is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
