Cool Hand Luke

PG

Released Nov 1, 1967

2 hr. 9 min.

Drama

List

100%

56 Reviews

Tomatometer

95%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

When petty criminal Luke Jackson (Paul Newman) is sentenced to two years in a Florida prison farm, he doesn't play by the rules of either the sadistic warden (Strother Martin) or the yard's resident heavy, Dragline (George Kennedy), who ends up admiring the new guy's unbreakable will. Luke's bravado, even in the face of repeated stints in the prison's dreaded solitary confinement cell, "the box," make him a rebel hero to his fellow convicts and a thorn in the side of the prison officers.

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Critics Consensus

Though hampered by Stuart Rosenberg's direction, Cool Hand Luke is held aloft by a stellar script and one of Paul Newman's most indelible performances.

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Azriel L

I grew up watching this movie and have loved it my whole life. Just watched it and still in love

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/10/24

Full Review

Alec C

One man manages to keep his "cool" amidst the brutal inhumanity of a harsh prison system! Luke Jackson earns the admiration of his fellow prisoners and the ire of the warden for his free-spirited and rebellious streak, which leads him to pull off some daring jailbreaks that only cement his legacy as a rebel on the run. With Paul Newman adding his charm and wit to the titular character, we find ourselves loving the character despite the fact that he's an outlaw!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/24

Full Review

Jake B

This movie should be on everyone's watch list. I believe it's one of the greatest prison movies of all time! Paul Newman is obviously fantastic as Luke, but I believe that the entire cast of this film "nailed" it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/28/24

Full Review

Jody S

A must see for any movie lover.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/19/24

Full Review

Jack V

Watching this movie is a very unique experience. The plot is painfully slow (and seemingly doesn't even exist for the first half of the movie). However, the atmosphere and the acting are so outstanding that they turn this into an amazing movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/02/24

Full Review

Natalie S

This movie has fantastic acting, but no plot. It is a depressing string of events that leave the viewer feeling like life has no meaning. This is a story of a sad, foolish man living a sad life that only gets worse as the film goes on. 0/10, do not recommend.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

11/20/23

Full Review

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Stuart Rosenberg

Director

Paul Newman

Luke

George Kennedy

Dragline

J.D. Cannon

Society Red

Lou Antonio

Koko

Robert Drivas

Loudmouth Steve

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John Mahoney

Hollywood Reporter

Well written by Pearce and Pierson and acted by a most talented ensemble of performers, Luke succeeds as both a highly humorous and deeply dramatic study of the immolation of human spirit in captivity and as an allegory.

Dec 15, 2020

Full Review

Jake Wilson

The Age (Australia)

The whole thing depends on Newman's blue eyes, easy grin, and ability to appear charismatic but never cocky.

Sep 27, 2018

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Stuart Rosenberg's direction is a horror, but the cast teems with so many familiar faces that this 1967 film can't help but entertain.

Apr 23, 2009

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

There’s more than a bit of Christ allegory in the imagery but it’s the character of the scruffy prisoners in the impoverished prison... that gives the film its juice.

May 6, 2023

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

In a career filled with iconic anti-heroes -- including what I deem the “4-H Club” from the 1960s (Hud, Harper, Hombre, and The Hustler) -- Lucas Jackson just might be the most popular of all the societal misfits played by Paul Newman.

Rated: 3.5/4

Apr 8, 2023

Full Review

Douglas Davidson

Elements of Madness

Between the thoughtfulness of the narrative and both Newman’s and Kennedy’s performances (for which the latter won an Oscar), one can see why the film is as beloved as it is 56 years later.

Apr 4, 2023

Full Review

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Synopsis

When petty criminal Luke Jackson (Paul Newman) is sentenced to two years in a Florida prison farm, he doesn't play by the rules of either the sadistic warden (Strother Martin) or the yard's resident heavy, Dragline (George Kennedy), who ends up admiring the new guy's unbreakable will. Luke's bravado, even in the face of repeated stints in the prison's dreaded solitary confinement cell, "the box," make him a rebel hero to his fellow convicts and a thorn in the side of the prison officers.

Director: Stuart Rosenberg
Screenwriter: Frank Pierson, Donn Pearce, Donn Pearce
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Home Vídeo
Production Co: Warner Brothers, Jalem Productions
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 1, 1967, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 19, 2016
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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