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Once Upon a Time in Mexico

Play trailer Poster for Once Upon a Time in Mexico R Released Sep 12, 2003 1h 41m Action Play Trailer Watchlist
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66% Tomatometer 168 Reviews 64% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Return of the mythic guitar-slinging hero, El Mariachi (Antonio Banderas), in the final installment of the Mariachi/Desperado trilogy. The saga continues as El Mariachi makes his way across a rugged landscape on the blood trail of Barrillo (Willem Dafoe), a cartel kingpin with one last score to settle who is planning a coup d'etat against the president of Mexico. Enlisted by Sands (Johnny Depp), a corrupt CIA agent, El Mariachi demands retribution.
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Once Upon a Time in Mexico

Once Upon a Time in Mexico

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Critics Consensus

Violent, pulpy, loopy fun, with Depp stealing the show.

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Critics Reviews

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Neil Norman London Evening Standard A succession of set pieces, however vivid and colourful will not alone make a coherent movie. And this is far from coherent. Colourful, but nuts. Jan 11, 2018 Full Review Nell Minow Common Sense Media Like an R-rated, violent Roadrunner cartoon. Rated: 4/5 Dec 26, 2010 Full Review Marrit Ingman Austin Chronicle Rated: 4/5 Oct 1, 2003 Full Review Emilie Black Cinema Crazed The story has good beats and good ideas, but some of it gets lost in there being too many characters and too much going on all at once. The direction works, the writing mostly works, but there is too much here... Sep 14, 2024 Full Review Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault Couldn’t be more lightweight, but heaviness was never the point or the promise of these movies. Rated: B Sep 19, 2022 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Robert Rodriguez's Mexico trilogy comes to a close with this disastrously underwhelming installment... Rated: 1/4 May 9, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ujjwal H Hmm Good, But not like El Mariachi & Desperado. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/19/24 Full Review Gloria P Poor final act of the trilogy with too much action that leads to no action. It feels more like an American overdone action movie than a pulpy “Mexico vibe “ one like Desperado felt . I wish I hadn’t watch it :( It’s a pity, especially as I enjoyed other Rodriguez works. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 07/04/24 Full Review Walt S This movie is a bad imitation of a Tarrentino film. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 04/19/24 Full Review Kovas K DonnyMiestollErniqueriglesias Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/08/24 Full Review Daniel M It wasn't as good as Despersdo but it had its moments. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/15/23 Full Review Audience Member Robert Rodriguez brings his final chapter of the El Mariachi trilogy Reuniting Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Cheech Marin, and Danny Trejo Newcomers include Johnny Depp, Eva Mendez, Willem Dafoe, and Mickey Rourke Barillo is a drug cartel kingpin and Mariachi makes his way through the trail of blood he leaves behind He's hired to kill the President of Mexico but alas he is betrayed with a target in his back and his girlfriend, Carolina Sands is the main man assigned to track him down working for the CIA but he might end up playing both sides I didn't care for the original movie but I had a lot of fun watching Desperado This one has very good action scenes, an exotic locale, great character actors Yet the editing is very confusing in spots with a narrative that's kinda spotty But it still retains its violent, pulpy sense of fun It's more about Johnny Depp stealing the show, the rest of the cast is more like guest appearances It lacks some coherency but for fans of this character they'll get enough enjoyment Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/12/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Once Upon a Time in Mexico

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Cast & Crew

Machete 70% 63% Machete Watchlist Desperado 70% 79% Desperado Watchlist TRAILER for Desperado Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever 0% 20% Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever Watchlist The Punisher 29% 63% The Punisher Watchlist Desert Heat 0% 36% Desert Heat Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis Return of the mythic guitar-slinging hero, El Mariachi (Antonio Banderas), in the final installment of the Mariachi/Desperado trilogy. The saga continues as El Mariachi makes his way across a rugged landscape on the blood trail of Barrillo (Willem Dafoe), a cartel kingpin with one last score to settle who is planning a coup d'etat against the president of Mexico. Enlisted by Sands (Johnny Depp), a corrupt CIA agent, El Mariachi demands retribution.
Director
Robert Rodriguez
Producer
Robert Rodriguez, Elizabeth Avellan, Carlos Gallardo
Screenwriter
Robert Rodriguez
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Troublemaker Studios
Rating
R (Strong Language|Language)
Genre
Action
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 12, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$55.8M
Runtime
1h 41m
Sound Mix
Surround
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