Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- swaggering
- pulp
- irreverent
- action movie night
- double feature with desperado
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film violent, pulpy, visually energetic fun, while noting that its elaborate style and minimal plot can become tiresome and incoherent.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Robert Rodriguez emphasizes vibrant color schemes, flamboyant gun battles, explosions, closeups, and ironic reversals.
El Mariachi is presented as a mythic guitar-slinging hero moving through cartel violence and political corruption in Mexico.
El Mariachi follows Barrillo’s blood trail while Sands manipulates him within a cartel coup against the Mexican president.
Critics specifically noted the film’s great shots, vibrant color schemes, closeups, powerful artillery, car crashes, and fiery explosions.
Films like Once Upon a Time in Mexico, and why
Desperado
shared contemporary western setting, revenge narrative, stylized gunplay, and spaghetti western influences
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
shared pulpy western action, ironic reversals, charismatic outlaws, and heightened violence
Machete
shared cartel crime, revenge-driven protagonist, Mexican setting, and kinetic action style
From Dusk Till Dawn
shared flamboyant crime plotting, political corruption, explosive violence, and surreal pulp tone
Movie Details
- Director
- Robert Rodriguez
- Release Date
- 2003-09-11
- Runtime
- 102 min
- Rating
- 6.3 / 10 (2492)
Cast
- Antonio Banderas
- Johnny Depp
- Cheech Marin
- Salma Hayek Pinault
- Mickey Rourke
- Willem Dafoe
- Eva Mendes
- Danny Trejo
- Rubén Blades
- Enrique Iglesias
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- 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 Once Upon a Time in Mexico about?
- A mythic mariachi gunman wages a flamboyant revenge campaign through cartel conspiracies, CIA manipulation, and a presidential coup.
- What is Once Upon a Time in Mexico like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Once Upon a Time in Mexico as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Once Upon a Time in Mexico violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Once Upon a Time in Mexico as graphic.
- What did critics think of Once Upon a Time in Mexico?
- Critics broadly found the film violent, pulpy, visually energetic fun, while noting that its elaborate style and minimal plot can become tiresome and incoherent.
- Which films are like Once Upon a Time in Mexico?
- Films with a similar feel include Desperado, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Machete, and From Dusk Till Dawn.
- How long is Once Upon a Time in Mexico?
- Once Upon a Time in Mexico runs 102 minutes.
- Where can I watch Once Upon a Time in Mexico?
- In United States, Once Upon a Time in Mexico is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
