The Wild Bunch

Play trailer

2:53

The Wild Bunch

R

1969

2h 22m

Western

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

67 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

In this gritty Western classic, aging outlaw Pike Bishop (William Holden) prepares to retire after one final robbery. Joined by his gang, which includes Dutch Engstrom (Ernest Borgnine) and brothers Lyle (Warren Oates) and Tector Gorch (Ben Johnson), Bishop discovers the heist is a setup orchestrated in part by his old partner, Deke Thornton (Robert Ryan). As the remaining gang takes refuge in Mexican territory, Thornton trails them, resulting in fierce gunfights with plenty of casualties.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

The Wild Bunch is Sam Peckinpah's shocking, violent ballad to an old world and a dying genre.

Read Critics Reviews

Penelope Gilliatt

The New Yorker

Apart from Peckinpah's simple technical control and the cut of his script, which is a knife that never slips off the bone, there is an angry quality to his mind.

Jul 7, 2022

Full Review

Tom Milne

Sight & Sound

The film drives to its foregone conclusion with the sureness of an arrow.

Mar 18, 2020

Full Review

Judith Crist

New York Magazine/Vulture

If you must see The Wild Bunch, be sure to take along a barf bag.

Jan 1, 2020

Full Review

Jeff Beck

The Blu Spot

The Wild Bunch remains a beloved staple of the western genre, utilizing a gripping story, memorable characters, exciting action, and impeccable technical elements to deliver a thrilling adventure.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 30, 2025

Full Review

Bianca Garner

InSession Film

While I don’t exactly have the stomach for the violence, the sexism or the racism/xenophobia of The Wild Bunch, I do admire it for its artistic and technical aspects. There’s something oddly fascinating about the film...

Jul 31, 2024

Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

To say that The Wild Bunch is a violent masterpiece would not be an understatement.

Rated: 5/5

May 31, 2023

Full Review

Read all reviews

William R S

One of my all time favorite westerns. Cutting edge violence, editing, direction and acting. The movie that put Peckinpah on the map and made his movies "must see" events (for me, anyway.) Saw this when it was released in 1969 and it's still as potent a story now as it was then.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/14/24

Full Review

Ronnie M

Some scenes were a little long ......still, a pretty good movie

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/28/25

Full Review

Cecilia S

To say that The Wild Bunch is a violent masterpiece would not be an understatement.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/13/25

Full Review

Kafe R

Cutting edge for its time and still awesome today. Love the end section the best

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/13/25

Full Review

Fred T

They dont get much better than this. Sags a touch in the middle but the rest of it more than makes up for it. Required viewing.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/28/25

Full Review

Jack F

This is a violent and brutal movie, but tells the story in such a direct, no nonsense way that it stays with you for a long time. Sophie's Choice did not cover a pleasant theme, but it was so well done that it leaves an impression on you (or at least it did for me). The Wild Bunch is much the same. Some will be turned off by the violence, which there is plenty of, but it is displayed as almost an art form. Not all of life is sunshine and roses and The Wild Bunch deals with multiple dark themes in a simple, unrefined way that few other movies do. That's why it is called a Masterpiece.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/23/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Sam Peckinpah

Director

William Holden

Pike Bishop

Ernest Borgnine

Dutch Engstrom

Robert Ryan

Deke Thornton

Edmond O'Brien

Freddie Sykes

Warren Oates

Lyle Gorch

McCabe & Mrs. Miller

85%

86%

McCabe & Mrs. Miller

Watchlist

There Was a Crooked Man

82%

71%

There Was a Crooked Man

Watchlist

Death Rides a Horse

50%

73%

Death Rides a Horse

Watchlist

Lawman

73%

62%

Lawman

Watchlist

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

97%

97%

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

The Wild Bunch: Trailer 1

2:53

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

In this gritty Western classic, aging outlaw Pike Bishop (William Holden) prepares to retire after one final robbery. Joined by his gang, which includes Dutch Engstrom (Ernest Borgnine) and brothers Lyle (Warren Oates) and Tector Gorch (Ben Johnson), Bishop discovers the heist is a setup orchestrated in part by his old partner, Deke Thornton (Robert Ryan). As the remaining gang takes refuge in Mexican territory, Thornton trails them, resulting in fierce gunfights with plenty of casualties.

Director: Sam Peckinpah
Producer: Phil Feldman
Screenwriter: Walon Green, Roy N. Sickner, Sam Peckinpah
Distributor: Warner Home Vídeo
Production Co: Warner Brothers
Rating: R
Genre: Western
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 18, 1969, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Runtime: 2h 22m

Most Popular at Home Now