First Cow

Play trailer

1:38

First Cow

PG-13

2020

2h 2m

Western

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

225 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Two travelers, on the run from a band of vengeful hunters in the 1820s Northwest, dream of striking it rich -- but their tenuous plan to make their fortune on the frontier comes to rely on the secret use of a landowner's prized dairy cow.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

First Cow finds director Kelly Reichardt revisiting territory and themes that will be familiar to fans of her previous work -- with typically rewarding results.

Read Critics Reviews

Nick James

Sight & Sound

May 14

Reichardt gives us a deliciously laconic vision of the pioneer American melting pot with this playful, poignant fable of a couple of furtive cake-bakers in 1820s Oregon.

Go to Full Review

Christina Newland

iNews.co.uk

09/23/2024

5/5

Filmed with a compassionate eye, this is the antithesis of the dusty classic western.

Go to Full Review

Deborah Ross

The Spectator

07/29/2021

It is touching, tender, original, entrancing, definitely the best cow film of the year. Plus it's also a quietly masterful thriller where a clafoutis (blueberry) will have you on the edge of your seat.

Go to Full Review

Morgan Olson

Loud and Clear Reviews

01/08/2025

2.5/5

For all its idiosyncrasies in presentation and characterization, its narrative regresses into a standard fare that lacks momentum or significant character growth.

Go to Full Review

Joonatan Itkonen

Region Free

07/11/2024

5/5

There’s a tenderness in how Reichardt depicts the trials and victories for the two hapless heroes. Neither of whom is made for such a hostile world. Their friendship isn’t agreed upon, just something always destined to happen.

Go to Full Review

Brendan Cassidy

InSession Film

07/09/2024

This has become a common staple for Reichardt, whose films are all about companionship seeking prosperity, but the friendship here between Otis/Cookie and King-Lu (John Magaro and Orion Lee respectively) may be her most endearing yet.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Michael G

03/16/2020

Technically, it was abysmally recorded, in darkness. Thematically, it was an interesting vignette of societal extremes played out through deceit.

See more

03/08/2020

I couldn't wait for it to end.

See more

Karthik Y.

@madkarthi May 30

It is a unique cinematic attempt that relies purely on strong performances instead of loud action.

See more

Greg T

@RT68084972 Sep 12

Listen, slow does not necessarily mean bad. I can handle slow movies. But I really don't know why this movie was made. I don't get the purpose of it. Is it just supposed to be about a friendship? I really don't think it went very deep about that. Is it supposed to be a critique of capitalism or something? Getting ahead requires a crime of some sort? Eh, spare me. You know from the beginning it ain't gonna end well, so it's just a draggy slog all the way through.

See more

Dave S

@RT68722908 08/03/2025

Director Kelly Reichardt has proven over the course of her career that she understands the fact that there is beauty in simplicity. In First Cow, set in early 19th-century Oregon, two seemingly disparate men (John Magaro, Orion Lee) steal milk from the only cow in the area in order to sweeten the rolls they sell in the local market, thus increasing their profits. It’s a simple story dealing with simple themes, shot in what appears to be natural light with subdued performances, lovely cinematography, patient editing and deliberate pacing. In an era where the American film landscape is filled with frantic remakes, sequels, and prequels, having more filmmakers like Kelly Reichardt would be refreshing.

See more

Zack D.

@zacharycolindrew 07/21/2025

Great script. Well acted. Nice period piece with a simple, but worthwhile plot.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Kelly Reichardt

Director

John Magaro

Cookie Figowitz

Orion Lee

King Lu

Alia Shawkat

Woman With Dog

Toby Jones

Chief Factor

Lily Gladstone

Chief Factor's Wife

First Cow: Official Clip - Selling Like Hotcakes

1:55

First Cow: Official Clip - I Want Milk

2:20

First Cow: Official Clip - Caught Stealing

1:44

First Cow: Official Clip - Hunting the Thieves

1:48

First Cow: Official Clip - Meeting the Cow

1:54

First Cow: Official Clip - Impressing Chief Factor

2:46

First Cow: Official Clip - Resting Together

1:53

First Cow: Official Clip - Chief Factor's Request

1:34

First Cow: Official Clip - Stealing Milk

2:46

First Cow: Official Clip - Selling Oily Cakes

1:51

View more videos

Cry Macho

57%

64%

Cry Macho

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Cry Macho

No Man's Land

40%

71%

No Man's Land

Watchlist

TRAILER

for No Man's Land

True Grit

95%

85%

True Grit

Watchlist

TRAILER

for True Grit

News of the World

88%

89%

News of the World

Watchlist

TRAILER

for News of the World

Bandolero!

20%

49%

Bandolero!

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

2021 Critics Choice Awards Nominations: The Full List

2021 Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominations Announced

Riz Ahmed Wins Best Actor, Nomadland takes top prize at Gotham Awards

First Cow: Trailer 1

1:38

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Two travelers, on the run from a band of vengeful hunters in the 1820s Northwest, dream of striking it rich -- but their tenuous plan to make their fortune on the frontier comes to rely on the secret use of a landowner's prized dairy cow.

Director: Kelly Reichardt
Producer: Neil Kopp, Vincent Savino, Anish Savjani
Screenwriter: Jonathan Raymond
Distributor: A24
Production Co: Film Science
Rating: PG-13 (Brief Strong Language)
Genre: Western, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 6, 2020, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 10, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA): $161.0K
Runtime: 2h 2m