Once Upon a Time in Mexico

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Once Upon a Time in Mexico

R

Released Sep 12, 2003

1h 41m

Action

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

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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Critics Consensus

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Robert Rodriguez

Director

Antonio Banderas

El Mariachi

Salma Hayek

Carolina

Johnny Depp

CIA Agent Sands

Mickey Rourke

Billy Chambers

Willem Dafoe

Barrillo

Machete

70%

63%

Machete

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Desperado

70%

79%

Desperado

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0%

36%

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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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