Desperado

Play trailer

2:02

Desperado

R

Released Aug 25, 1995

1h 43m

Action

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

70%

Tomatometer

54 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Mariachi (Antonio Banderas) plunges headfirst into the dark border underworld when he follows a trail of blood to the last of the infamous Mexican drug lords, Bucho (Joaquim de Almeida), for an action-packed, bullet-riddled showdown. With the help of his best friend (Steve Buscemi) and a beautiful bookstore owner (Salma Hayek), the Mariachi tracks Bucho, takes on his army of desperados, and leaves a trail of blood of his own.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Desperado contains almost too much action and too little story to sustain interest, but Antonio Banderas proves a charismatic lead in Robert Rodriguez's inventive extravaganza.

Read Critics Reviews

Juan M. Mendez

New York Daily News

[A] satisfying banquet of pulp filmmaking.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 18, 2021

Full Review

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Rodriguez's second feature may be a rambling, derivative exercise in gratuitous violence, but its determination to proceed as if the word 'restraint' never existed makes for gleeful entertainment.

Jan 26, 2006

Full Review

Janet Maslin

New York Times

Mr. Rodriguez may be good enough to make a film about anything, but Desperado would collapse if its characters had to do anything but play with guns.

Rated: 2.5/5

May 20, 2003

Full Review

Emilie Black

Cinema Crazed

The story here gains from a higher budget and more experience on Rodriguez’ part. The writing and direction have evolved and are better than the first film while maintaining the spirit of El Mariachi.

Sep 14, 2024

Full Review

Todd James

Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Alberta)

Rodriguez does a good job of mixing violence and humor... All the blood, though, can't masquerade the lack of a real story, and it's up to Banderas to turn on the charm -- and he does just that.

Rated: 3/5

Mar 29, 2024

Full Review

Brian Costello

Common Sense Media

So much of the humor and style comes from over-the-top exaggeration in the violence, characters, and conflicts.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 9, 2023

Full Review

Read all reviews

Chief B

Evident that Rodriguez is a big fan of Sergio Leone. With a twist of his own.. Great classic!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/25/25

Full Review

Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 43 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated R for Strong Bloody Violence, Language and Strong Sex Scene!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $24,900,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/01/25

Full Review

Kolton M

Just for the bar scene alone!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/30/25

Full Review

Shioka O

Entertaining all the way. Maybe not the greatest but classic. Easy watch & many laughs.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/29/25

Full Review

thiago s

Filme bacana, o roteiro é bacaninha, as cenas de tiro foram bacanas, o elenco não ajudou tanto, mas o protagonista principal el mariachi é bom.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/25

Full Review

Artem M

It's an absolute classic! Masculinity, jokes, beautiful Antonio, enjoyable music.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/05/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Robert Rodriguez

Director

Antonio Banderas

El Mariachi

Salma Hayek

Carolina

Joaquim de Almeida

Bucho

Cheech Marin

Short Bartender

Steve Buscemi

Buscemi

Desperado: Official Clip - Is That Going On Right Now?

2:05

Desperado: Official Clip - We Can Improvise

1:53

Desperado: Official Clip - Guitar Army

2:09

Desperado: Official Clip - Throwing Knives

2:09

Desperado: Official Clip - Two Brothers, One Woman

2:13

Desperado: Official Clip - Serenade to an Ambush

2:10

Desperado: Official Clip - Let's Play

1:50

Desperado: Official Clip - Rooftop Escape

2:05

View more videos

El Mariachi

91%

76%

El Mariachi

Watchlist

Maximum Risk

34%

35%

Maximum Risk

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Maximum Risk

Nowhere to Run

36%

33%

Nowhere to Run

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Nowhere to Run

Gladiator

31%

69%

Gladiator

Watchlist

Once Upon a Time in Mexico

66%

64%

Once Upon a Time in Mexico

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Desperado: Trailer 1

2:02

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Mariachi (Antonio Banderas) plunges headfirst into the dark border underworld when he follows a trail of blood to the last of the infamous Mexican drug lords, Bucho (Joaquim de Almeida), for an action-packed, bullet-riddled showdown. With the help of his best friend (Steve Buscemi) and a beautiful bookstore owner (Salma Hayek), the Mariachi tracks Bucho, takes on his army of desperados, and leaves a trail of blood of his own.

Director: Robert Rodriguez
Producer: Robert Rodriguez, Bill Borden
Screenwriter: Robert Rodriguez
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: R (Strong Bloody Violence|Language|Strong Sex Scene)
Genre: Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 25, 1995, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $24.9M
Runtime: 1h 43m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, SDDS, Surround, Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Most Popular at Home Now