Cocaine Cowboys

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Cocaine Cowboys

R

2006

1h 56m

Documentary

Crime

Drama

History

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Popcornmeter

71%

Tomatometer

51 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Filmmaker Billy Corben recalls Miami drug wars of the 1970s and '80s, when Colombian drug lords turned the relatively quiet Florida city into a breeding ground for violence and excess. Corben interviews so-called "survivors" of the era, including dealers, smugglers and hit men.

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Critics Consensus

As frenetic, thrilling, and lacking in subtletly as its drug of focus...and just as likely to prompt some hard questions after it's gone.

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Matt Bochenski

Little White Lies

Ropey graphics and sub-Scarface synth music simply add to the feeling that you're getting a low budget experience.

Feb 6, 2018

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Andrew Pulver

Guardian

A documentary examining the Miami drug wars of the early 1980s in exhaustive - and occasionally nauseating - detail.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 6, 2018

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Derek Malcolm

London Evening Standard

Grisly crime scene snaps accompany the story, which makes Miami Vice look like a tea party and Florida like hell on earth.

Rated: 2/5

Nov 23, 2007

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Dan Jackson

Thrillist

That show of restraint might be what separates Corben from so many of the oversized characters he chronicles.

Aug 11, 2021

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Documentarian Billy Corben's revealing film exposes the methods and players in South Florida's drug trade that literally built the city of Miami that we know today with billions of dollars in blood cash.

Rated: A

Apr 24, 2009

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Tricia Olszewski

Washington City Paper

With a nearly two-hour running time that includes its share of blowhards, repetition, and cheesy attempts to heighten drama, Cocaine Cowboys brings to mind an unfortunate comparison: Miami Vice. The movie.

Mar 6, 2008

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alan g

Just an attempt to bring back cocaine use into the mainstream again. Probably financed by a cocaine cartel. Avoid. Do not support by watching.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/15/24

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Audience Member

I didn't know this stuff. If Billy Corben hadn't put this documentary out who would have? Therefore in me estimation this is 5 stars, regardless of how slick a production it is or how remorseful or cocky the criminals are. They are likely sociopaths, what do viewers expect, people usually don't change. Thumbs up to this, I really enjoyed watching it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

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Audience Member

Billy Corben's debut documentary is frenetic, wild, entertaining, and overstuffed with side stories, anecdotes, and lurid details. Rough around the edges, but fun. There's so much ground to cover it would make a great true crime TV series…. (which is now happening).

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

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Audience Member

One of the most poorly made documentaries I've ever seen.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

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Audience Member

Its a very interesting and shocking documentary by the talented Billy Corben. It tells the story via first person interviews of the main players of the Cocaine Wars in Miami during the 1980's. The only negative is the run time (2h34m).

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

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delysid d

I felt that this documentary was pretty boring. they sold drugs, made money, got caught. who cares

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

07/08/17

Full Review

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Billy Corben

Director

Kelly Hughes

Actor

Alfred Spellman

Actor

Jenna Reeves

Actor

Billy Corben

Actor

Bruno Del Granado

Executive Producer

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Synopsis

Filmmaker Billy Corben recalls Miami drug wars of the 1970s and '80s, when Colombian drug lords turned the relatively quiet Florida city into a breeding ground for violence and excess. Corben interviews so-called "survivors" of the era, including dealers, smugglers and hit men.

Director: Billy Corben
Producer: Billy Corben, Alfred Spellman
Distributor: Magnolia Films
Production Co: Rakontur
Rating: R (Pervasive Drug Content|Language|Gruesome Violent Images)
Genre: Documentary, Crime, Drama, History
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 27, 2006, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 8, 2015
Runtime: 1h 56m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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