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The Magnificent Seven

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93% Tomatometer 80 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
A Mexican village is at the mercy of Calvera, the leader of a band of outlaws. The townspeople, too afraid to fight for themselves, hire seven American gunslingers to free them from the bandits' raids. The professional gunmen train the villagers to defend themselves, then plan a trap for the evil Calvera.
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The Magnificent Seven

The Magnificent Seven

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Critics Consensus

The Magnificent Seven transplants Seven Samurai into the Old West with a terrific cast of Hollywood stars -- and without losing any of the story's thematic richness.

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Critics Reviews

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Dorothy Masters New York Daily News Jan 15
3.5/4
The scenics are superb. Mexican ceremonials add panoply to the rustic setting, all wonderfully photographed. Go to Full Review
Elston Brooks Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com Jan 15
..."The Magnificent Seven" is one of the most rugged, most entertaining, he-men, gun-slinging westerns to come out of Hollywood in many a day. Go to Full Review
Mildred Stockard Houston Chronicle Jan 15
The picture is a modern odyssey through America and other places in the world. Go to Full Review
W. Ward Marsh Cleveland Plain Dealer Jan 15
...the major laurels still go to Sturges who has handled his situations and cast with a power and glory tending to create a major western movie. Go to Full Review
P.S. Harrison Harrison's Reports Jan 15
Excellent. A superb Western, well acted and crammed full of action, human interest, pathos, suspense, plus some romance and humor. Go to Full Review
Sandra Saunders Philadelphia Daily News Jan 15
"The Magnificent Seven"...is a rip snortin' western, alive with lusty action and pounding excitement. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Kevin P 6d A classic and highly influential Western that's very likable and entertaining. It's actually a remake of Seven Samurai. The titular seven are all very likable with distinct personalities, backstories, and skillets. The film's soundtrack is iconic and very uplifting. The Bandit leader Calvera is very memorable and charismatic. I appreciate that the villagers are less cartoonishly pathetic in this version compared to the villagers in Seven Samurai. I liked the slick Cajun leader of the hired guns Chris. It's cool to have a French-accented cowboy as the lead. It's fun to watch the cowboys teach the farmers how to shoot rifles. The final showdown is very exciting, as the cowboys and farmers defeat the bandits while losing 4 of their own in the process. It's a mildly bittersweet, but ultimately happy ending that's more uplifting than the original Seven Samurai. It's a solid remake that does its own thing while still understanding the core appeal of the original story. See more Matthew D @OceanSage Sep 30 A fun Western remake of Seven Samurai. The Magnificent Seven is entertaining and enduring as a classic western. It brings the desert small town setting life with vibrant characters and dynamic performances. It pales in comparison to its originator Seven Samurai (1954). However, most audiences will have a good time watching these old megastars battle it out with the greedy villain played wonderfully by Eli Wallach. Yul Brynner is very cool as the older contract hero for hire. Steve McQueen is very funny and cool as the loyal friend and marksman. Charles Bronson is a manly figure of empathy and strength. I liked him a lot in this early young role of Bronson's. I should certainly mention the youngest lead Horst Bucholz. Bucholz comes across like a thoughtful actor with fiery passion similar to the then deceased legend James Dean. Bucholz captures the intensity and ridiculous aspects to his character. He's a delight to watch. The main theme is as iconic as The Magnificent Seven's cast. I think much of the direction, cinematography, choreography, and plotting is clearly a worse verse of Seven Samurai. Even with the less than ideal parts, The Magnificent Seven rises up as a better film than it has any right to be honestly. See more Frans B @FransB Aug 21 This stands as a beacon in good old fashioned Western themed filmmaking. Those were the days when men were of steel and ships of wood hey? 😜 John Sturgis ushered in a new era with this movie. Great story, amazing ensemble of a cast who all excels in character. Great cinematography, amazing locations. Absolute benchmark of a movie See more Neb A. @nebalt Jul 10 My favorite movie of all time. Classic Western - good versus evil and helping the weak. Great character actors, unbelievable ensemble and some terrific lines. Calvera: Tell me why, why did you take the job in the first place? Vin: I once knew a man down in El Paso who took of all his clothes and jumped in a mess of cactus. I asked him the same thing, why? He said, it seemed to be a good idea at the time. And then the look to Chris. I first watched this movie as a young teen and have been smitten ever since. See more Ian B Jun 14 A landmark in Western cinema, The Magnificent Seven (1960) is not just a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai—it’s a bold reinterpretation that stands tall on its own saddle. Directed by John Sturges, this film transformed a Japanese masterpiece into an American myth, complete with cowboy grit, honor, and unforgettable characters. Set in a small Mexican village terrorized by the ruthless bandit Calvera (played with charismatic menace by Eli Wallach), the story follows seven gunmen-for-hire who band together to defend the defenseless. What unfolds is a compelling blend of action, morality, and camaraderie, where heroism isn’t about invincibility but about sacrifice and purpose. Yul Brynner leads the cast with stoic charisma as Chris Adams, the steely leader of the group. He’s flanked by an iconic ensemble including Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, James Coburn, Robert Vaughn, Brad Dexter, and Horst Buchholz—each of whom brings unique swagger and soul to their roles. Their chemistry is magnetic, and their characters are more than archetypes; they’re men shaped by hardship, each with a reason for answering the call to fight. Elmer Bernstein’s legendary score is nothing short of triumphant—a rousing, heroic composition that pulses with energy and is instantly recognizable. It’s no exaggeration to say that the music is a character in itself, elevating every gunfight, gallop, and showdown. What sets The Magnificent Seven apart is its balance of spectacle and sentiment. The action is sharp and exciting, but it’s the moral underpinning—the choice to fight not for money, but for what’s right—that gives the film its enduring power. It celebrates courage, loyalty, and redemption, wrapped in the dusty mythos of the American West. Over six decades later, The Magnificent Seven still rides tall in the saddle. It’s a film of striking visuals, unforgettable music, and timeless values. More than just a Western, it’s a tale of heroism that resonates across cultures and generations. See more Jack T Jun 9 This film is a must-see! The cast delivers brilliant performances, with each character showing a genuine passion for the cause they’re fighting for. The plot is compelling: seven professional gunmen defend a poor farming village in Mexico from a ruthless gang that’s been stealing what little the villagers have. What makes their mission powerful is that they do it out of moral principle, not just for money. That said, the script has a few issues. Some of the dialogue feels out of place for the film’s late 1800s setting. For example, when Charles Bronson’s character, Bernardo O’Reilly, says "eccentric like a billionaire," it's an anachronism—neither the term "billionaire" nor its modern associations with eccentricity would have been known or used that way at the time. Despite that, this version of The Magnificent Seven far surpasses the 2016 remake. It offers a deeper story, more realism, better stunts, and stronger performances. See more Read all reviews
The Magnificent Seven

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The Magnificent Seven

The Magnificent Seven: Official Clip - I Want Him Buried The Magnificent Seven: Official Clip - I Want Him Buried 2:16 The Magnificent Seven: Official Clip - Killing Calvera The Magnificent Seven: Official Clip - Killing Calvera 2:12 The Magnificent Seven: Official Clip - Village Shootout The Magnificent Seven: Official Clip - Village Shootout 2:11 The Magnificent Seven: Official Clip - Gunfighter Arithmetic The Magnificent Seven: Official Clip - Gunfighter Arithmetic 2:10 The Magnificent Seven: Official Clip - Surrendering to Calvera The Magnificent Seven: Official Clip - Surrendering to Calvera 2:21 The Magnificent Seven: Official Clip - Squeeze the Trigger The Magnificent Seven: Official Clip - Squeeze the Trigger 0:51 The Magnificent Seven: Official Clip - Testing Chico The Magnificent Seven: Official Clip - Testing Chico 1:34 The Magnificent Seven: Official Clip - Standoff at the Cemetery The Magnificent Seven: Official Clip - Standoff at the Cemetery 2:13 The Magnificent Seven: Official Clip - Confronting Calvera The Magnificent Seven: Official Clip - Confronting Calvera 2:12 The Magnificent Seven: Official Clip - Fastest Knife in Town The Magnificent Seven: Official Clip - Fastest Knife in Town 2:28 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis A Mexican village is at the mercy of Calvera, the leader of a band of outlaws. The townspeople, too afraid to fight for themselves, hire seven American gunslingers to free them from the bandits' raids. The professional gunmen train the villagers to defend themselves, then plan a trap for the evil Calvera.
Director
John Sturges
Producer
John Sturges
Screenwriter
William Roberts
Distributor
United Artists
Production Co
United Artists
Genre
Western
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 23, 1960, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 3, 2012
Runtime
2h 6m
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