Hell or High Water

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1:33

Hell or High Water

R

2016

1h 37m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Western

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

287 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Toby is a divorced father who's trying to make a better life for his son. His brother Tanner is an ex-convict with a short temper and a loose trigger finger. Together, they plan a series of heists against the bank that's about to foreclose on their family ranch. Standing in their way is Marcus, a Texas Ranger who's only weeks away from retirement. As the siblings plot their final robbery, they must also prepare for a showdown with a crafty lawman who's not ready to ride off into the sunset.

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Critics Consensus

Hell or High Water offers a solidly crafted, well-acted Western heist thriller that eschews mindless gunplay in favor of confident pacing and full-bodied characters.

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Eric Kohn

IndieWire

Dec 31, 2016

B+

Just as it taps into a dying corner of American society, Hell or High Water resurrects the power of western mayhem done right.

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Donald Clarke

Irish Times

Dec 28, 2016

4/5

We will never get another Howard Hawks or Raoul Walsh, but, every now and then, we see a film that pays homage to their spirit.

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John Wenzel

Denver Post

Dec 14, 2016

3/4

This neo-Western works splendidly as a self-contained tale of loyalty, loss and redemption, with polished turns from a smoldering Chris Pine and spunky Ben Foster.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

May 14, 2026

4/5

…Taylor Sheridan’s writing gives Hell or High Water an extra dimension, one with a socio-economic edge…with Jake Roberts as his editor, David Mackenzie handles the action scenes with economy and proficiency…

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Oct 17, 2024

3/5

Director David Mackenzie's new film is inspired in ambition but lax in execution. Its edge is the inability to decide whether to bark or bite.

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JD Duran

InSession Film

Aug 19, 2024

A

Mackenzie is a forced to be reckoned with and I, for one, cannot wait to see where his career goes after seeing this film.

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Juris O

@Juris100 1 day ago

Another film that idealizes crime - if you really need to, then you can.

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Hughe J

@Hughe Sep 9, 2026

Hell or High Water was released in theatres in 2016 and stars Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine, Ben Foster and a number of other character actors. It's set in Texas and follows Pine and Foster as brothers trying to save their family home from foreclosure by robbing banks. Their mother had taken out a reverse mortgage on the home and after her passing the family found out they were going to lose the property. To make matters worse oil was just discovered there making the home even more valuable. After the brothers start their bank robbing spree Texas Rangers (Bridges) are sent in to investigate the crimes and apprehend the offenders. Pine, Foster, and Bridges are all excellent in their roles and sell their characters from start to finish. The cinematography is also beautiful, the world feels lived in and real, the rest of the cast is also quite good and even the action scenes are very well done. Everything about this movie was entertaining and I can't recommend it highly enough.

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Nathan L

@NathanL Sep 6, 2026

Very good! Compelling story, stellar acting, and just a solid vibe of a movie.

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Hector V

@HectorR Aug 30, 2026

Great movie, great end. Loved it

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Jacob B

@RT48293763 Aug 27, 2026

Sort of a poor man’s "No Country For Old Men". Well made and featuring a strong performance from Chris PIne and, as always, a great turn from Jeff Bridges.

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Josh G

@Parsifal83 Jul 31, 2026

A masterful modern Western that proves the genre still has plenty to say. Every major character is treated with empathy, making it impossible not to understand, and at times even root for, the outlaws while never losing sight of the harm they inflict. Smart, gripping, and deeply humane.

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David Mackenzie

Director

Jeff Bridges

Sheriff Marcus Hamilton

Chris Pine

Toby

Ben Foster

Tanner

Gil Birmingham

Alberto Parker

Marin Ireland

Debbie

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Synopsis

Toby is a divorced father who's trying to make a better life for his son. His brother Tanner is an ex-convict with a short temper and a loose trigger finger. Together, they plan a series of heists against the bank that's about to foreclose on their family ranch. Standing in their way is Marcus, a Texas Ranger who's only weeks away from retirement. As the siblings plot their final robbery, they must also prepare for a showdown with a crafty lawman who's not ready to ride off into the sunset.

Director: David Mackenzie
Producer: Sidney Kimmel, Peter Berg, Carla Hacken, Julie Yorn
Screenwriter: Taylor Sheridan
Distributor: CBS Films, Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Madison Wells, CBS Films, Odd Lot Entertainment, Film 44, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment, LBI Entertainment
Rating: R (Language Throughout|Brief Sexuality|Some Strong Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller, Western, Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 19, 2016, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 8, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $27.0M
Runtime: 1h 37m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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