Hidalgo

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Hidalgo

PG-13

Released Mar 5, 2004

2h 15m

Adventure

Action

Drama

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Popcornmeter

46%

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164 Reviews

64%

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100,000+ Ratings

Rugged cowboy Frank Hopkins (Viggo Mortensen) is an expert horseman who performs in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. When affluent Sheik Riyadh (Omar Sharif), piqued by tales of Hopkins' talent, challenges Hopkins to prove himself in a treacherous long-distance horse race called the Ocean of Fire, Hopkins is forced to oblige. In the Middle East with his American mustang, he must race against thoroughbred horses ridden by the best riders in the world with his reputation -- and his life -- at stake.

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Critics Consensus

The scenery looks great, but this overstuffed horse story contains too much cheese.

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

This big-budget western bears a striking resemblance to the recent Tom Cruise vehicle The Last Samurai, though it's more fun and less pretentious.

Jun 29, 2022

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Antonia Quirke

London Evening Standard

Sharif grounds the silliness a little. When he looks across the desert with those eyes that have always hinted that hard weather is coming, everybody else rushing around the set looks overdressed for a costume party.

Dec 18, 2017

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Formulaic, overly simple, too violent for tweens.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 24, 2010

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Cory Woodroof

For the Win (USA Today)

While the film might be more fiction than fact, it’s still a great experience for those who love a good, adventurous horse-racing movie.

May 19, 2023

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Kaleem Aftab

The List

Although some of the colonial stylization is impressive, this Mortensen post-"Rings" vehicle is pure horse neck and camel meat.

Rated: 2/5

Apr 18, 2019

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Mark Steyn

The Spectator

The film itself can't seem to decide whether it's a Saturday morning serial for the kids, a new Indiana Jones, or something with a bit more dramatic heft

Feb 1, 2018

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Some Guy F

Love me a historical biography movie that has no real history and no real biography. As a pure piece of fiction it's okay, a bit boring. I'd probably give it a dead even rating if it wasn't marketing itself as a true story of a real person when it's just a made up story.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/09/25

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Valamo L

Took me a couple of rides to truly appreciate it. But now I love it! Viggo is fantastic in this film and the horses are beautiful!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/30/24

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Bethany B

Solid acting and a visually beautiful movie. Magnificent horses! Family friendly.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/04/24

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Carter C

From beautiful settings, to cinematography, to plot, to actors, this movie is an emotional and inspiring adventure, even if it’s not completely accurate or if it has incredibly slow pacing.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/17/24

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Christina A

I love the cinematography and the interpretation is decent even though it's not quite what really happened. But I like Viggo and Omar in this and as a movie it's entertaining despite whatever drawbacks it has.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/12/24

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Adrian B

The film was good fun to watch in spite of all imperfections.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/02/23

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Joe Johnston

Director

Viggo Mortensen

Frank T. Hopkins

Omar Sharif

The Sheik

Louise Lombard

Lady Anne Davenport

Said Taghmaoui

Prince Bin al Reeh

Peter Mensah

Jaffa

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Synopsis

Rugged cowboy Frank Hopkins (Viggo Mortensen) is an expert horseman who performs in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. When affluent Sheik Riyadh (Omar Sharif), piqued by tales of Hopkins' talent, challenges Hopkins to prove himself in a treacherous long-distance horse race called the Ocean of Fire, Hopkins is forced to oblige. In the Middle East with his American mustang, he must race against thoroughbred horses ridden by the best riders in the world with his reputation -- and his life -- at stake.

Director: Joe Johnston
Producer: Casey Silver
Screenwriter: John Fusco
Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures
Production Co: Dune Films, Touchstone Pictures, Casey Silver Productions, Hidalgo Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Some Mild Innuendo|Adventure Violence)
Genre: Adventure, Action, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 5, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $67.3M
Runtime: 2h 15m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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