Meek's Cutoff

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Meek's Cutoff

PG

2011

1h 41m

Western

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Popcornmeter

86%

Tomatometer

136 Reviews

53%

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5,000+ Ratings

During the 1840s, six settlers and their guide are caught in a dangerous situation: They are lost, food and water are running out, and the surrounding desert threatens to claim them all. Meanwhile, their guide, Stephen Meek (Bruce Greenwood), refuses to acknowledge that they may be several weeks off-course. When a Native American (Rod Rondeaux) is captured, Emily Tetherow (Michelle Williams), one of the settlers, shields him from Meek's wrath, and he offers to lead the group to water in return.

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Critics Consensus

Moving at a contemplative speed unseen in most westerns, Meek's Cutoff is an effective, intense journey of terror and survival in the untamed frontier.

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Jim Schembri

The Age (Australia)

Michelle Williams is now the only Dawson's Creek cast member with a chat-worthy film career.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jun 16, 2011

Full Review

Ben Sachs

Chicago Reader

Imagine a collaboration between John Ford and Wallace Stevens and you might get a sense of what Kelly Reichardt pulls off here: a sincere re-creation of the pioneer experience, brought to life through careful, often unexpected detail.

May 27, 2011

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Bill Goodykoontz

Arizona Republic

Greatly enhanced by the performances of Michelle Williams and Bruce Greenwood, director Kelly Reichardt's film quietly becomes engrossing - it almost sneaks up on you.

Rated: 4/5

May 26, 2011

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Kathy Fennessy

Seattle Film Blog

Kelly Reichardt's meditative take on the genre, written by Jon Raymond, feels more enigmatic than most--with the possible exception of Jim Jarmusch's Dead Man--even if the period details look right.

Rated: 4/4

May 4, 2025

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David Griffiths

Subculture Entertainment

Meek’s Cutoff shows that are still some creative films that can surface from the U.S. and only proves the fact that Kelly Reichardt is one of the most important filmmakers of our generation.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 29, 2024

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Sarah Vincent

Sarah G Vincent Views

Reichardt is less interested in recreation than exploring how gender, race and relationships influence power dynamics in a vacuum, a wasteland, where survival should be the only goal. The events in the film feel more like a reimagining of untold history

Jun 9, 2024

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Gray R

Some aspects of life in the past are not the least bit fascinating and can be imagined without the aid of such realism in cinema. The only thing I got out of it was that the people of the past were also at the mercy of smooth talkers who take advantage of those whose first inclination is to trust. I bought a used car from a man like Meek when I was young and too trusting.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

09/11/25

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Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 41 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $977,600.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated PG for Smoking, Brief Language and Some Mild Violent Content!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/20/25

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Ken B

Don't waste your time on this slow moving movie. The ending was terrible!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/08/25

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richard m

I thInk the poor audience reviews were from people who were unfamiliar with the historical event. I had heard of this Donner party type ordeal, and except of trapped in the snow, they were trapped in the desert...and of course, no cannibalism...One of the lesser known facts about the Donner Party.? At least a couple of the survivors got down to the gold fields and opened restaurants?!..kinda creepy

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/08/24

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Sam S

What a pretentious, boring POS. Sat through it waiting for the payoff at the end, and OMG zilch. No resolution. Note to myself: Never, ever sit through another movie by Kelly Reichardt.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

12/04/24

Full Review

NANCY N

Without question one of the top 5 worst movies I have ever watched. Horrible. Tedious. Without any redeeming qualities. Like it was made by a 9th grade theater arts class.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

09/17/24

Full Review

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Kelly Reichardt

Director

Michelle Williams

Emily Tetherow

Bruce Greenwood

Stephen Meek

Will Patton

Solomon Tetherow

Zoe Kazan

Millie Gately

Paul Dano

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Synopsis

During the 1840s, six settlers and their guide are caught in a dangerous situation: They are lost, food and water are running out, and the surrounding desert threatens to claim them all. Meanwhile, their guide, Stephen Meek (Bruce Greenwood), refuses to acknowledge that they may be several weeks off-course. When a Native American (Rod Rondeaux) is captured, Emily Tetherow (Michelle Williams), one of the settlers, shields him from Meek's wrath, and he offers to lead the group to water in return.

Director: Kelly Reichardt
Producer: Neil Kopp, Anish Savjani, Elizabeth Cuthrell, David Urrutia
Screenwriter: Jonathan Raymond
Distributor: Oscilloscope Pictures
Production Co: Film Science, Harmon Productions
Rating: PG (Smoking|Brief Language|Some Mild Violent Content)
Genre: Western
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 8, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 24, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $977.6K
Runtime: 1h 41m

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