Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- rousing
- stylized
- romanticized
- action movie night
- western marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as a sanitized, anachronistic, poorly grounded revisionist western with energetic action but corny dialogue and weak historical atmosphere.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jesse James and the James-Younger Gang are presented through a sanitized, highly romanticized action-adventure lens.
The gang's criminal exploits and manhunt are staged with conventions of both the western and gangster movie.
Jesse James's fame and legend grow alongside the gang's vendetta and expanding manhunt.
A corrupt railroad baron captures local homestead deeds and drives the ranchers into collective resistance.
Films like American Outlaws, and why
Young Guns
revisionist Old West outlaw adventure with youthful ensemble energy and mythmaking action
The Long Riders
stylized Jesse James legend, outlaw camaraderie, and energetic western action
Tombstone
romanticized historical outlaw story combining western conventions with heightened action
The Quick and the Dead
young outlaws, revisionist history, and fast-paced western spectacle
Movie Details
- Director
- Les Mayfield
- Release Date
- 2001-08-17
- Runtime
- 94 min
- Rating
- 5.9 / 10 (299)
Cast
- Colin Farrell
- Scott Caan
- Ali Larter
- Gabriel Macht
- Gregory Smith
- Harris Yulin
- Kathy Bates
- Timothy Dalton
- Will McCormack
- Ronny Cox
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 American Outlaws about?
- A young Jesse James leads the James-Younger Gang in a high-energy Old West revolt against a railroad baron who steals frontier homesteads.
- What is American Outlaws like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of American Outlaws as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is American Outlaws violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in American Outlaws as moderate.
- What did critics think of American Outlaws?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as a sanitized, anachronistic, poorly grounded revisionist western with energetic action but corny dialogue and weak historical atmosphere.
- Which films are like American Outlaws?
- Films with a similar feel include Young Guns, The Long Riders, Tombstone, and The Quick and the Dead.
- How long is American Outlaws?
- American Outlaws runs 94 minutes.
- Where can I watch American Outlaws?
- In United States, American Outlaws is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
