The Professionals

Play trailer

The Professionals

PG-13

Released Nov 2, 1966

1h 57m

Western

Action

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

19 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Four soldiers of fortune are hired by a wealthy rancher to rescue his beautiful young wife who has been kidnapped by a villainous Mexican bandit. When they finally find her, after fighting their way across deserts and mountains, they discover she is not being held against her will. This causes friction within the band as to whether they should honor their agreement.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Variety Staff

Variety

Exciting explosive sequences, good overall pacing and acting overcome a sometimes thin script.

Apr 8, 2008

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Underrated all-star western.

Apr 8, 2008

Full Review

Time Out

It was comprehensively eclipsed by Peckinpah's ostensibly similar The Wild Bunch.

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Ian Kane

Epoch Times

Minor complaints aside, “The Professionals” is a solid, south-of-the-border adventure yarn set during the waning days of the Mexican Revolution.

Rated: 3.5/5

May 1, 2024

Full Review

Robert Roten

Laramie Movie Scope

I don't know if this film fits into what some film historians call the 'Golden Age of Hollywood Westerns,' but it certainly belongs in the top tier of the Western genre. It is expertly written, directed and acted by top Hollywood talent.

Rated: B+

Sep 24, 2022

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

An exciting mix of twists and turns and adventuresome panache.

Rated: 8/10

Aug 27, 2020

Full Review

Read all reviews

Blu B

All Time Classic. It's a ragtag group of badasses who are hired to save the girl and get paid. The acting is really good with Lancaster & Marvin stealing the show. Some get more screentime than ohters. I wish Ryan & Strode would'vev gotten a lot more time. But everything else is first rate. It's got action, thrills, adventure, great characters and a fun witty script. It takes its time building up and setting the breakout but once it does it never lets up on the action and thrills. Great ending too. Everyone should give this a try once. It's a fun time.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/16/24

Full Review

Farah R

The Professionals might not be as compelling as other westerns in that time, but it makes up for what it lacks in good writing with decent twits and performances.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/02/24

Full Review

CodyZamboni

This Western about mercenaries finding their moral code, is surprising, exciting, and well performed. Movie features tons of pumped up action involving dynamite, bow and arrows, machine guns, and Claudia Cardinale's heaving bosom. The four big stars are great, but the filmmakers somehow don't give Robert Ryan much to do. And the last half hour turns into The Burt Lancaster Show.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/02/23

Full Review

Diogo S

WOW. What a big , beautiful Surprise. The score is Terrific!!! The plot is fantastic and the performances amazing. By the way, what a GORGEOUS woman!!!!!!!! Western ESPETACULAR ótima história, atuações fantásticas, tiroteios intensos... INCRIVEL. Deserves more Recognition, that is for sure!!!!!! A truly GREAT Western... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! UNDERRATED MASTERPIECE

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/01/22

Full Review

Audience Member

This classic Western was really good. Lee Marvin, Burt Lancaster, Woody Strode, Jack Palance, Robert Ryan, Claudia Cardinale, Ralph Bellamy, and the rest of the cast did a fantastic job in this movie. The plot of the movie was entertaining and dramatic. It's about doing a job for money, but then deciding on whether to do the right thing or not. If you haven't seen this classic movie yet, check it out sometime. It's worth watching.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

Full Review

william d

Lee Marvin. Burt Lancaster. Woody Strode. Jack Palance. And balancing out all that testosterone is the lovely Claudia Cardinale. What more could you want? Well, a better story for one, but this one is still worth watching.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Richard Brooks

Director

Lee Marvin

Henry "Rico" Fardan

Burt Lancaster

Bill Dolworth

Claudia Cardinale

Mrs. Maria Grant

Robert Ryan

Hans Ehrengard

Woody Strode

Jake Sharp

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Major Dundee

97%

67%

Major Dundee

Watchlist

Hang 'Em High

92%

73%

Hang 'Em High

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Hang 'Em High

Once Upon a Time in the West

96%

94%

Once Upon a Time in the West

Watchlist

Monte Walsh

89%

64%

Monte Walsh

Watchlist

Little Big Man

91%

87%

Little Big Man

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Four soldiers of fortune are hired by a wealthy rancher to rescue his beautiful young wife who has been kidnapped by a villainous Mexican bandit. When they finally find her, after fighting their way across deserts and mountains, they discover she is not being held against her will. This causes friction within the band as to whether they should honor their agreement.

Director: Richard Brooks
Screenwriter: Richard Brooks, Frank O'Rourke
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia, TriStar Pictures
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Western, Action, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 2, 1966, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Runtime: 1h 57m

Most Popular at Home Now