Dead Man

R

Released May 10, 1995

2 hr. 14 min.

Western

List

70%

53 Reviews

Tomatometer

88%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Circumstances transform a mild-mannered accountant (Johnny Depp) into a notorious Old West gunslinger.

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Critics Consensus

While decidedly not for all tastes, Dead Man marks an alluring change of pace for writer-director Jim Jarmusch that demonstrates an assured command of challenging material.

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Vito P

The strange adventure of William unfolds in a very interesting, atypical, and imaginative western, both at its beginning and ending. However, the central part becomes too heavy and obsessive.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/13/23

Full Review

cameron c

One of Jim Jarmusch's best. Everything about this movie comes perfectly together, from Farmer's and Depp's performances, through the dreamy camera work, to Young's fantastic score.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/16/23

Full Review

Red T

An All Time Classic. The acting is excellent across the board. The villains are very good, and Deep gives a phenomenal performance and has great chemistry with Nobody. The cinematography is phenomenal with a chilling, isolated atmosphere and great camerawork. The black and white looks excellent and doesn't feel out of place at all. The music is THE best part, what an incredible soundtrack that's so distinct and catchy. This is edited very well and paced beautifully as a moderate slow burn. The only issue really is the villains may have been given a bit too much screen time despite how good they are as most don't even come into the main story in the end. It very well could've just been Cole hunting him. However that doesn't really detract because the scenes are just as good as Deep's. This is very distinct especially coming out in 95' post Unforgiven . The closest I can compare this too is a cross between a Spaghetti Western & Jeremiah Johnson in black and white. Everyone should give this a shot once. It will definitely leave an impression.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/13/23

Full Review

Dave S

Critics have lost their collective minds. One of the best films from the 1990s.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/25/23

Full Review

Timur B

One of the most loved movies. Probably, one of the best Depp's roles. Gibby is hilarious.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Logan M

A unique western that hardly denies the myths of the American frontier's great heroes-instead showing a bizarre but philosophical story of danger and death.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/12/23

Full Review

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Jim Jarmusch

Director

Johnny Depp

William "Bill" Blake

Gary Farmer

Nobody

Lance Henriksen

Cole Wilson

Michael Wincott

Conway Twill

Mili Avital

Thel Russell

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James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Even if it accomplishes little else, Dead Man will almost certainly inspire thought and discussion.

Rated: 2.5/4

Nov 9, 2018

Full Review

Desson Thomson

Washington Post

Both Blake's journey and composer Neil Young's spare, electric guitar score seem endlessly circular; and people are always asking Blake for tobacco.

Nov 9, 2018

Full Review

Rita Kempley

Washington Post

The landscape outside and the passengers inside become wilder and woollier with every weary mile.

Nov 9, 2018

Full Review

Richard Glatzer

The Advocate

Jarmusch's movie maintains its East Village cool at any cost -- and ends up thuddingly hollow.

Apr 19, 2022

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Part revisionist Western, part social commentary, and part hallucinatory dream.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 29, 2021

Full Review

Scout Tafoya

The Spool

Not even the horror Westerns of the '70s and '80s approached the eeriness of Jarmusch's boldly elemental Western landscape.

Jan 18, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

Circumstances transform a mild-mannered accountant (Johnny Depp) into a notorious Old West gunslinger.

Director: Jim Jarmusch
Screenwriter: Jim Jarmusch
Distributor: Miramax Home Entertainment [us], Miramax Films
Production Co: Miramax Films
Rating: R
Genre: Western
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 10, 1995, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 2, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $1.1M
Sound Mix: Stereo

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