Coyote Ugly

PG-13

Released Aug 4, 2000

1 hr. 40 min.

Romance

Comedy

List

23%

103 Reviews

Tomatometer

71%

250,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Graced with a velvet voice, 21-year-old Violet Sanford heads to New York to pursue her dream of becoming a songwriter only to find her aspirations sidelined by the accolades and notoriety she receives at her "day" job as a barmaid at Coyote Ugly. The "Coyotes" as they are affectionately called tantalize customers and the media alike with their outrageous antics, making Coyote Ugly the watering hole for guys on the prowl.

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Critics Consensus

Coyote Ugly has an enthusiastically trashy energy and undeniable aesthetic appeal, but it's nowhere near enough to make up for the film's shallow, unimaginative story.

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Rob R

This movie is 24 years old and stands the test of time. It's a cute romance classic

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/08/24

Full Review

Dave S

It's clear pretty much from the start that Coyote Ugly will never be mistaken for cinematic art. To its benefit, it knows exactly what it is – a bit of rollicking fun for anyone who can overcome its considerable shortcomings. The acting teeters on embarrassing, the dialogue is awkward at best, the editing is seizure-inducing at times, and the plot (an aspiring songwriter moves to NYC and finds herself working in a bar that has no regard for by-laws or fire codes) is pretty much irrelevant. What makes it work is the presence of Piper Perabo, who lights up the screen whenever she's on it, a catchy soundtrack, and lots of scantily clad dancing barmaids, all of which manages to create an infectious energy. Coyote Ugly is a guilty pleasure movie if ever there was one.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/03/24

Full Review

Savannah G

This was reminiscent of early 2000's bad acting but quick one liners- it was acting that was barely even putting forth any effort and brief moments of entertainment. lacked any unpredictability.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/26/24

Full Review

Kendrah S

I will not stand for any Coyote Ugly slander

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/19/23

Full Review

Connor S

This movie shows 2000/2001 NY, frozen-in-time, as seemingly such a better place...

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/24/23

Full Review

Matthew D

Outrageously sexy ladies and sweet romance. Director David McNally's romantic music comedy-drama Coyote Ugly (2000) is such a searingly hot display of youthful energy. Coyote Ugly brought me back to the fashion, music, and style of early 2000's pictures and I honestly felt nostalgic for this era again. I genuinely found the romance drama cute and touching with a sweetness that feels sincere. A majority of Coyote Ugly's brief 100 minute run-time is certainly sexy actresses dancing to entice men at a New York bar, but they look like they're having a serious blast. It is all in good fun here and Coyote Ugly is easily a lovable movie that I could happily watch again. I can see why it's considered a cult classic these days. Writer Gina Wendkos delivers a playful script with a really cute romantic comedy at the heart of a chaotic series of bar nights where girls are stripping and dancing for tips and drinks. It may appear to be a sexist movie at first sight, but Gina Wendkos puts all the sympathy on the working class women making money, friends, and careers out of all this pleasure. Coyote Ugly obviously has the male gaze of staring at voluptuous actresses with fit abs and tight clothes, but it is really earnestly written. How can you not like these ladies? I cannot believe Coyote Ugly is a real bar and that this is vaguely a true story. Casting directors Bonnie Timmermann and Alison E. McBryde cast a dozen gorgeous actresses to sear their hotness across the silver screen for Coyote Ugly's ensemble cast. Piper Perabo is genuinely gorgeous and adorable as the New Jersey singing hopeful turned seductive bartender Violet Sanford. Piper Perabo has wonderful vocals for her mesmerizing singing scenes. Her fit and unreal body is obviously the focus of much of Coyote Ugly, but Perabo's dramatic acting skills ensure that Violet is endearing and charming in all of her scenes. I always felt sympathy for her job and music struggles due to Perabo's sweetheart performance as Violet. I remember Piper Perabo as a cute and popular starlet from the early 2000's, but Perabo should have been a superstar to this day. She is legitimately a stunning blonde bombshell with pretty singing abilities and endearing acting skills. Her beauty, charm, and talent were wasted in smaller movies later, but at least Piper Perabo got her star-making vehicle out of the cult classic picture Coyote Ugly. Adam Garcia is quite likable and handsome as the Australian love interest for Violet named Kevin O'Donnell. He is charming and playfully teases Violet in an endearing way. He's such an odd personality for a romantic comedy love interest, but he works well with the innocent and repressed Violet Sanford. Adam Garcia has really cute and playful romantic chemistry with Piper Perabo. Maria Bello is not only drop dead gorgeous in Coyote Ugly as the Coyote Ugly Saloon owner Lil, but she is as fun loving and flirty besides a tough manager. She acts as the movie's supportive guide for Violet as well as the villain holding her back for Lil's own monetary gain exploiting these girls. I like that she apologizes to Violet and they remain friends in a nice ending touch. I almost did not recognize Maria Bello as a breathtaking platinum blonde. I loved her as Lil. Izabella Miko is insanely hot as the sultry blonde Coyote bartender Cammie. She is so flirty and sexy in a fabulous comedic performance that had me roaring with laughter throughout Coyote Ugly. I could not believe how sexy she was as Cammie. Tyra Banks is obviously beautiful and vivacious as the Coyote bartender Zoe. She looked like she was having tons of fun. Bridget Moynahan is mean, judgmental, and temperamental Coyote bartender Rachel. She is very fit and pretty as Rachel and Bridget Moynahan looks like she's ready to fight any creepy men that get too handsy at a moment's notice. Melanie Lynskey is hysterical and lovable as Violet's best friend from New Jersey named Gloria. Her every appearance was a welcome one with her warm and naturally funny personality. She was incredibly beautiful in Coyote Ugly too. John Goodman is really caring and nurturing as Violet's considerate and conflicted father William James Sanford. He's just being a good protective dad in Coyote Ugly. LeAnn Rimes is lovely and sings heavenly in her cameo as herself. I could not take my eyes off of her here. John Fugelsang cameos as Richie the Booker, who mysteriously also deals in rare comic books for a lark. Melody Perkins is super cute as the new blonde Coyote girl near the end. Michael Bay even cameos as the Photographer trying to snap a picture of Piper Perabo. Cinematographer Amir Mokri's striking cinematography has chaotic panning shots around the seedy Coyote Ugly Saloon to show off all the sexy girls dancing in scantily clad outfits with a tasteful flair. I was surprised at how tender and tasteful the love making sequence felt. Editor William Goldenberg does excellent cutting that feels mature and delightful to only focus on the pleasure and partying rather than the near naked bodies. Normally, these sex comedies come across as sleazy and unpleasant, but Coyote Ugly looks outstanding and lets the ladies shine with their breathtaking beauty and charming personalities. Production designer Jon Hutman recreates the Coyote Ugly Saloon and dingy New York apartments with realism to give some verisimilitude towards Coyote Ugly's atmosphere. Gae S. Buckley's moody lighting and tasteful art direction has a stunning look for Coyote Ugly. It never felt sleazy, but fun loving and beautiful in appearance. Set decorator Rosemary Brandenburg places bottles of booze and tons of cute clothing as props all over Coyote Ugly. I liked all the band merchandise among the furnishings. Composer Trevor Horn creates tons of different songs for Coyote Ugly's score that accentuate the different styles that Piper Perabo's heroine is thinking of writing from folk, pop, to blends of hip hop. LeAnn Rimes' version of "Can't Fight the Moonlight" is as lovely as Piper's vocal version. The killer soundtrack is pure early 2000's classics that are so fun to hear again. "Can't Fight the Moonlight" is a super pretty song for Coyote Ugly's main theme. I genuinely think Piper Perabo had an incredible singing voice and should have been an even bigger starlet. Costume designers Marlene Stewart, John Casey, Sara Markowitz, and Valerie Manahan provide dozens of sultry outfits for all the Coyote girls. Coyote Ugly is a showcase for fashion from the year 2000 for sure. Makeup artists Darla Albright and Ela Barczewska make each girl glow with some of their finest looks for each actress. Hairstyling from Shari Perry and Voni Hinkle is actually amazing with that early 2000's bangs and straight down haircut that was so popular. I loved seeing this look again in Coyote Ugly. In conclusion, Coyote Ugly is 100 minutes fast minutes of partying, drinking, singing, and love making with a sweet romance and dramatic heart in its center. I loved this piece of 2000's movie history.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/25/23

Full Review

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David McNally

Director

Piper Perabo

Violet Sanford

Adam Garcia

Kevin O'Donnell

Maria Bello

Lil

John Goodman

Bill

Melanie Lynskey

Gloria

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Sight & Sound

Some sort of achievement in the ongoing oeuvre of Jerry Bruckheimer, Coyote Ugly is distastefully irresistible, a product that delivers more or less what it promises.

Jun 18, 2012

Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Sexist, shallow and silly. Teens+.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 22, 2010

Full Review

Susan Sharpe

Time Out

It could be argued that the constant stream of self-mocking touches makes for a less manipulative experience... though it's doubtful whether anyone familiar with producer Bruckheimer's record would consider him a misunderstood satirist.

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Brandon Collins

Medium Popcorn

The acting was terrible. Sometimes the actresses couldn't even act like they were friends...

Rated: 1/5

Apr 26, 2019

Full Review

Bob Grimm

Sacramento News & Review

Rated: 1/5

Aug 7, 2008

Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

The cast fleshes out the cliches exuberantly and with little irony, which is something of a relief.

Rated: B

Jul 30, 2007

Full Review

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Synopsis

Graced with a velvet voice, 21-year-old Violet Sanford heads to New York to pursue her dream of becoming a songwriter only to find her aspirations sidelined by the accolades and notoriety she receives at her "day" job as a barmaid at Coyote Ugly. The "Coyotes" as they are affectionately called tantalize customers and the media alike with their outrageous antics, making Coyote Ugly the watering hole for guys on the prowl.

Director: David McNally
Executive Producer: Mike Stenson, Scott Gardenhour
Screenwriter: Gina Wendkos
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures, Touchstone Pictures
Production Co: Touchstone Pictures, Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Rating: PG-13 (Sensuality)
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 4, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 23, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $60.8M
Sound Mix: Surround, DTS, Dolby Digital, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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