Overview
A rancher faces the ultimate test of leadership and courage as he trains a group of boys to drive cattle.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- earnest
- adventurous
- tense
- classic western night
- frontier adventure marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praise John Wayne's paternal performance, the original cattle-drive premise, and John Williams's score, while finding the film's equation of manhood with violence morally troubling.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Wil Andersen instructs a group of schoolboys in cattle driving, discipline, and frontier survival.
The boys' transition into adult responsibility is repeatedly connected to armed danger and vengeance.
The central plot follows Andersen, Nightlinger, and the boys transporting a herd to market while rustlers pursue them.
The cattle drive unfolds across broad Montana terrain and emphasizes the scale of the herd and journey.
Films like The Cowboys, and why
True Grit
shared western setting, mentorship of young men, cattle-drive adventure, and morally charged violence
Red River
shared cattle-drive structure, frontier hardship, paternal leadership, and escalating conflict with outlaws
The Last Picture Show
shared coming-of-age western, group bonding under danger, and themes of masculine initiation
The Wild Bunch
shared rugged western atmosphere, ensemble journey, and tension between mentorship and violent vengeance
Movie Details
- Director
- Mark Rydell
- Release Date
- 1972-01-13
- Runtime
- 134 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (277)
Cast
- John Wayne
- Roscoe Lee Browne
- Bruce Dern
- Colleen Dewhurst
- Alfred Barker Jr.
- Nicolas Beauvy
- Steve Benedict
- Robert Carradine
- Norman Howell
- Stephen R. Hudis
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Howdy Amazon Channel
- 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 Cowboys about?
- A stern rancher turns a group of schoolboys into cattle drivers as ruthless rustlers shadow their dangerous journey to market.
- What is The Cowboys like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Cowboys as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Cowboys violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Cowboys as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Cowboys?
- Critics broadly praise John Wayne's paternal performance, the original cattle-drive premise, and John Williams's score, while finding the film's equation of manhood with violence morally troubling.
- Which films are like The Cowboys?
- Films with a similar feel include True Grit, Red River, The Last Picture Show, and The Wild Bunch.
- How long is The Cowboys?
- The Cowboys runs 134 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Cowboys?
- In United States, The Cowboys streams on Howdy Amazon Channel.
