The Missouri Breaks

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The Missouri Breaks

PG

Released May 19, 1976

2h 5m

Western

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

77%

Tomatometer

26 Reviews

59%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

When vigilante land baron David Braxton (John McLiam) hangs one of the best friends of cattle rustler Tom Logan (Jack Nicholson), Logan's gang decides to get even by purchasing a small farm next to Braxton's ranch. From there the rustlers begin stealing horses, using the farm as a front for their operation. Determined to stop the thefts at any cost, Braxton retains the services of eccentric sharpshooter Robert E. Lee Clayton (Marlon Brando), who begins ruthlessly taking down Logan's gang.

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Tom Milne

Sight & Sound

Thomas McGuane's brilliant script operates on a sort of sliding time scale, reaching back to the early pioneer days or forward to the present to illustrate the implications of this proposition.

Mar 17, 2020

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Nick Pinkerton

Village Voice

A Western-as-capitalist-critique piece shanghaied by Marlon Brando's eccentric bounty hunter trying on brogues, mumus, and buckskin Nudie suits.

Nov 12, 2008

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Variety

As a film achievement it's corned beef and ham hash.

Jun 24, 2008

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Steve Warren

The Barb (Atlanta)

Marlon Brando's incredibly hammy performance is enough to negate all the picture's positive aspects.

May 6, 2023

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Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

The fact of the matter is, Brando's campy performance continues to enliven otherwise tepid material. As his foil, Nicholson is also enigmatic.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 29, 2020

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Dale Pollock

Santa Cruz Sentinel

he Missouri Breaks is a unique film that is not necessarily a great film.

Jun 16, 2020

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grain j

Great actors, but slow and boring

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

09/16/25

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Jorge A

Having read the not very enthusiastic reviews you find here, I was ready for a disappointment, of course. But fortunately I was wrong. Sure, Brando’s role is a bit eccentric but not out of place for a character that seems to hate society and to love hurting humans and animals alike. He is really something here. Nicholson is superb too, as a tough but sensitive horse thief, and all those great secondary roles feel real and hard to forget. The Arthur Penn’s direction is subtle and the action flows in a relaxing way until it doesn’t. Just remarkable. Great bittersweet western that deserves a bigger audience.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/27/25

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nick s

The movie had some good points and improved as it went along. I didn't warm to the comedic moments, accompanied at times with an almost goofy score. Curiously that tone stopped after a while. Brando's performance was a little too heavy handed for me. I wasn't sure if his Irish accent was meant to be put on by the character, because it was completely dropped for some scenes, or if the actor was getting lazy. Either way I found his character distracting and almost slipping into a Brando "look at me I'm crazy" stereotype. The rest of the cast did well. Nicholson great.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/29/24

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Narciso R

Horrible movie, still some of it worth watching. But ultimately not worth it. Love Brando, and Nicholson, but not movie. NRJ.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

07/28/24

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KB B

This was such an amazing movie with it all; drama, action, comedy and a superb storyline. Jack Nicholson was excellent as usual but Marlon Brando stole every scene he was in. It's definitely worth the watch. 4.5 stars

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/06/23

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David R

Listen. I have no idea how some people including critics have given this classic with an avant- grade touch western middling reviews but I promise you that if you like Nicholson and Brando at their best in a wonderfully complex bloody movie with a great script you will have to really search to find better. It's that good.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/24/23

Full Review

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Arthur Penn

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Synopsis

When vigilante land baron David Braxton (John McLiam) hangs one of the best friends of cattle rustler Tom Logan (Jack Nicholson), Logan's gang decides to get even by purchasing a small farm next to Braxton's ranch. From there the rustlers begin stealing horses, using the farm as a front for their operation. Determined to stop the thefts at any cost, Braxton retains the services of eccentric sharpshooter Robert E. Lee Clayton (Marlon Brando), who begins ruthlessly taking down Logan's gang.

Director: Arthur Penn
Producer: Elliott Kastner, Robert M. Sherman
Screenwriter: Thomas McGuane
Production Co: Devon/Persky-Bright
Rating: PG
Genre: Western, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 19, 1976, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Runtime: 2h 5m

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