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Pale Rider

Play trailer Poster for Pale Rider R Released Jun 28, 1985 1h 55m Western Play Trailer Watchlist
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94% Tomatometer 31 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
When property owner Coy LaHood (Richard Dysart) starts using a band of hooligans to terrorize a group of small-town gold miners into giving up their territory, an enigmatic man named "Preacher" (Clint Eastwood) arrives in town. Preacher fends off the attacks, and then goes directly to LaHood to negotiate. When the miners, led by Hull Barret (Michael Moriarty), refuse the terms, LaHood sends in Marshall Stockburn (John Russell) to take down Preacher and the others.
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Pale Rider

Pale Rider

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Critics Consensus

Nearly a decade after The Outlaw Josey Wales, Clint Eastwood returns as a director to the genre that made his name with this elegant, spiritual Western that riffs on the classic Shane.

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Critics Reviews

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Dave Kehr Chicago Reader Though the metaphysical overtones of the screenplay are sometimes awkwardly handled and Eastwood's direction of actors (other than himself) is occasionally uncertain, this was one of the better American films of 1985. May 27, 2011 Full Review Richard Corliss TIME Magazine Pale Rider does nothing to disprove the wisdom that this genre is best left to the revival houses. A double feature of Shane and Eastwood's High Plains Drifter will do just fine, thanks. Oct 26, 2008 Full Review Variety Staff Variety It's all been seen before, but Eastwood serves it up with authority, fine craftsmanship and a frequent sense of fun. Oct 26, 2008 Full Review Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal The very model of a polished, competent Western — one that showed Clint Eastwood could still scratch the itch so that, with "Unforgiven" seven years later, he could dig deep into the scab. Rated: 3.5/5 Jun 26, 2025 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Bless Clint Eastwood for climbing back into the saddle during a period when most others preferred to climb into a spaceship. Rated: 3/4 May 6, 2025 Full Review Penny Holme Starburst The main feeling of the film is of a tongue-in-cheek parody of the spaghetti sagas. Jul 8, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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David W Shane 2 but with a tougher central Clint, light spiritualism and a touch of sexual friction. And hell followed with him... God I miss Clint in his acting pomp. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/09/25 Full Review Gareth v Clearly drawing it's inspiration from Shane, Pale Rider doesn’t reinvent the Western, but it deepens it - adding shades of myth and moral reckoning. It's a quiet, powerful film that lingers long after the dust settles. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/06/25 Full Review Audience Member It was ok for a one time watch. Clint Beastwood role was basically the same like his other movies. Red dead redemption 2 got the same vibe going on in the game as well... Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 07/23/25 Full Review Colin M. A remake of Shane. Maybe not quite as good as Shane but it’s still definitely worth watching. If you’ve ever seen Shane, look at the differences between the plots it’s interesting. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/04/25 Full Review Stephen C Success in 1 hour and 55 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!! Starring Clint Eastwood as Preacher!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/20/25 Full Review Keith M One of Clint's worst in my opinion. Bad script and bad acting throughout. And enough with the "ghost" angle, which he used in High Plains Drifter, with much better results. (And it's a much better movie) Rated 2 out of 5 stars 07/02/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Pale Rider

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Cast & Crew

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Clint Eastwood

Director

Clint Eastwood

Preacher

Michael Moriarty

Hull Barret

Carrie Snodgress

Sarah Wheeler

Chris Penn

Josh LaHood

Richard Dysart

Coy LaHood

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Pale Rider

Pale Rider (1985) Pale Rider (1985) Pale Rider (1985) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis When property owner Coy LaHood (Richard Dysart) starts using a band of hooligans to terrorize a group of small-town gold miners into giving up their territory, an enigmatic man named "Preacher" (Clint Eastwood) arrives in town. Preacher fends off the attacks, and then goes directly to LaHood to negotiate. When the miners, led by Hull Barret (Michael Moriarty), refuse the terms, LaHood sends in Marshall Stockburn (John Russell) to take down Preacher and the others.
Director
Clint Eastwood
Producer
Clint Eastwood
Screenwriter
Michael Butler, Dennis Shryack
Distributor
Warner Bros., Warner Home Vídeo
Production Co
The Malpaso Company
Rating
R
Genre
Western
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 28, 1985, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 15, 2008
Runtime
1h 55m
Sound Mix
Dolby, Surround
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