Badlands

PG

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1h 35m

Crime

Drama

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97%

59 Reviews

Tomatometer

90%

25,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Inspired by real-life killers Charles Starkweather and Caril-Ann Fugate, this tale of crime and love begins in a dead-end town. Teenage girl Holly (Sissy Spacek) angers her father (Warren Oates) when she begins dating an older and rebellious boy (Martin Sheen). After a conflict between Holly and her father erupts in murder, the young lovers are forced to flee. In the ensuing crime spree, they journey through the Midwest to the Badlands of Montana, eluding authorities along the way.

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Critics Consensus

Terrence Malick's debut is a masterful slice of American cinema, rife with the visual poetry and measured performances that would characterize his work.

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Dani G

Kind of silly and illogical at times, and more knowing it is a T. Mallick film.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

08/17/23

Full Review

TheFilmReviewer 1

Providing one of the most beautiful cinematographic experiences of the 1970s, Badlands is a film that clearly established Terrence Malick as a writer/director with complete command of his craft.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/02/23

Full Review

martin f

Despite the story about a murdering flee, the movie is all about the two main characters and their unique way to see life. Holly is a very submissive girl that slowly learns to put things in question, and Kit is a happy trigger who barely puts any value in other human beings' life. Their lifestyle, or at least the way they wish to live free, is of course incompatible with our society, it is them against the world. These characters are already entertaining and curious by the way they are written, but they are also perfectly played by Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek. Both actors found their way to play uncommon personalities while never making them unrealistic. The deep America surroundings are beautiful to look at, as the direction puts a lot of emphasis on very large plain, on how empty the landscape can be. The pace can be weird for some, as the first act goes very quickly and then things slow down, but nothing too bad.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

red t

An All Time Classic character study about how someone can fall in love with a sociopath. The cinematography is a marvel to behold always feeling desolate, gritty, and isolated but filled with character. The Acting is Phenomenal with Sissy & Sheen having excellent chemistry. The Pacing is perfect as it is a brisk non bloated very straight plot but filled with substance. The editing and soundtrack is very well done as well. The film explores how a sociopath can be made, the mindset of of a sociopath, and how one can be manipulated to fall in love with a twisted person. Truly a All Time Classic.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Michael N

I beleive its A very good movie violent But nicely done . Sissy was very Good Not to mention the idleness of sheen .

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/16/22

Full Review

Audience Member

A young martin sheen stars in this slightly odd road movie with sissy spacek. A good film that Tarantino would have made in the 70s

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

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Terrence Malick

Director

Martin Sheen

Kit Carruthers

Sissy Spacek

Holly Sargis

Warren Oates

Holly's Father (Mr. Sargis)

Ramon Bieri

Cato

Alan Vint

Deputy

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Badlands: Trailer 1

2:56

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Steve Erickson

Slate

If a portion of American cinema is going to remain devoted to violence, it could learn a lot by revisiting Malick's thoughtfulness.

Feb 21, 2018

Full Review

Joshua Rothkopf

Time Out

In the fall of 1973, one could see signposts of cinema's future in Mean Streets and The Exorcist, yet with this youthful pair of proto-indie dreamers, Malick was paving a whole new road. It turned out to be the path most traveled.

Rated: 5/5

May 7, 2013

Full Review

Tina Hassannia

Slant Magazine

It's a testament to Bruce Greenwood's acting that Adan never becomes entirely as insufferable as the words that come out of his mouth.

Rated: 4/4

May 5, 2013

Full Review

Erica Peplin

Vague Visages

Some movies are so good that when they’re over, you almost expect the whole film industry to shut down.

Dec 5, 2023

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

It’s a well written tale of two lost souls dancing between idyllic naiveté and sociopathic violence. I couldn’t take my eyes off of it.

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 19, 2022

Full Review

Sarah Brinks

Battleship Pretension

I didn't completely dislike the film. I was mostly just bored by it, which is often my criticism of Malick's films.

Apr 1, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

Inspired by real-life killers Charles Starkweather and Caril-Ann Fugate, this tale of crime and love begins in a dead-end town. Teenage girl Holly (Sissy Spacek) angers her father (Warren Oates) when she begins dating an older and rebellious boy (Martin Sheen). After a conflict between Holly and her father erupts in murder, the young lovers are forced to flee. In the ensuing crime spree, they journey through the Midwest to the Badlands of Montana, eluding authorities along the way.

Director: Terrence Malick
Producer: Edward R. Pressman
Screenwriter: Terrence Malick
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Badlands Company, Pressman-Williams
Rating: PG
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 15, 1973, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 30, 2014
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm

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