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Cowboys

Play trailer 1:46 Poster for Cowboys 2021 1h 23m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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92% Tomatometer 63 Reviews 66% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Steve Zahn stars as Troy, a troubled but well-intentioned father who has recently separated from his wife Sally (Jillian Bell). Aghast at Sally's refusal to let their trans son Joe (Sasha Knight) live as his authentic self, Troy runs off with Joe into the Montana wilderness. Meanwhile, police detective (Ann Dowd) pursues them, but her resolve about the case is tested the more she learns about Joe's family. COWBOYS, a modern day Western from director Anna Kerrigan, is a tale of rescue, family betrayal and a father and son on the run.
Cowboys

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Cowboys explores emotionally charged themes with a steady hand, highlighting the humanity of its characters in a story of fraught family dynamics and gender identity.

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Critics Reviews

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Donald Clarke Irish Times 05/15/2021
3/5
Gets by on goodwill and a passion for compromised Americana. Only a lowdown dirty heel would cuss it out. Go to Full Review Mark Kermode Kermode & Mayo's Film Review 05/10/2021
Low-key in all the ways it needed to be. But I laughed, I cried and I really enjoyed it. Go to Full Review Wendy Ide Observer (UK) 05/09/2021
2/5
Comic actors Steve Zahn and Jillian Bell are uncharacteristically earnest in this achingly well-intentioned but thuddingly heavy-handed family drama. Go to Full Review William Stottor Loud and Clear Reviews 07/11/2024
3/5
Well-intentioned and heartfelt, Cowboys ultimately takes on too many genres and tones, which leaves it feeling slightly misdirected. Go to Full Review Sam Moore Vague Visages 06/05/2024
Joe’s backstory allows Cowboys to explore the difficulty of being young and trans, but never in a way that feels exploitative. Go to Full Review Michael Cuby them. 09/27/2022
Cowboys can be heartbreaking, but it also feels fitting for the times. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Gabe D @CornStarchByTheSpoonful Dec 6 This movie was so good. I’m a sucker for a good father/son relationship. I love the interactions between the characters and the relationship between Joe and his dad. Great trans rep with realistic character interactions. The way Joe acted when he first tried on boys clothes is something that resonated with me on a personal level. The tension in him and his mom’s relationship is so relatable and it shows how a transition isn't just some easy thing and encapsulates the hardships that comes with it. Overall a great movie and I highly recommend it. See more Alejandro E @Alex970 12/28/2023 Como filme independiente, aborda de manera correcta un tema sensible como lo es la confusión de género y la aceptación del mismo sin señalamientos morales. Es lo mejor que se podría decir a su favor. See more PridePosterStudios 09/20/2023 A queer cowboy film of the not-traumatic variety See more Ric O 05/04/2023 It has a lot of heart and delivers the right message but it tries too hard during the third act. See more Isla S 09/02/2022 I thought this was quite a well made, somewhat low key film about a serious theme, transitioning youngsters. The theme was handled sensitively, I felt. The cast do well and there's some thought provoking moments, definitely. Its a good film that I'd recommend, yes. See more Scott L @Scottylo 08/21/2022 Great scenery, so 2 stars for that. Unfortunately, great scenery does not a good movie, make. If you're looking for a cure for insomnia, look no further... See more Read all reviews
Cowboys

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Cast & Crew

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Anna Kerrigan

Director

Steve Zahn

Troy

Jillian Bell

Sally

Ann Dowd

Faith

Gary Farmer

Robert Spottedbird

Bob Stephenson

Sheriff George Jenkins

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Cowboys

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Movie Info

Synopsis Steve Zahn stars as Troy, a troubled but well-intentioned father who has recently separated from his wife Sally (Jillian Bell). Aghast at Sally's refusal to let their trans son Joe (Sasha Knight) live as his authentic self, Troy runs off with Joe into the Montana wilderness. Meanwhile, police detective (Ann Dowd) pursues them, but her resolve about the case is tested the more she learns about Joe's family. COWBOYS, a modern day Western from director Anna Kerrigan, is a tale of rescue, family betrayal and a father and son on the run.
Director
Anna Kerrigan
Producer
Gigi Graff, Anna Kerrigan, Chris Parker, Dylan Sellers
Screenwriter
Anna Kerrigan
Distributor
Samuel Goldwyn Films
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 12, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 12, 2021
Runtime
1h 23m