Sunset

R

Released Apr 29, 1988

1 hr. 47 min.

Comedy

Drama

List

21%

14 Reviews

Tomatometer

29%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Having retired from a life of gunfights and peacekeeping, the great Wyatt Earp (James Garner) has landed a job as adviser to a Western movie about himself. On the set of the silent picture, he gets to know Tom Mix (Bruce Willis), an actor who specializes in Westerns, who has been hired to portray Earp. Not long after making each others' acquaintance, they find out that Earp's ex-girlfriend's son is missing, and the man responsible may be studio chief Alfie Alperin (Malcolm McDowell).

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Steve D

It has no idea what it wants to be and butchers Earp.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/02/23

Full Review

antonis k

A very fun comedy western with great perfomances from Bruce Willis, James Garner and Malcolm McDowell, perhaps it doesn't fully capitalize on the premise it sets up? But it's a fun ride on the sunset. (7.5/10)

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

It's uneven, but at times a lot of fun. Good performances by James Garner and Bruce Willis.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I have thoroughly enjoyed this movie every time I have seen it!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Sunset, for all intents and purposes, was not a hit film when it was released. A lot of this was due to how uneven the tone of the film is and what it's actually trying to do. Before I ever saw the movie, I just thought it was a straight-up comedy film about moviemaking. But when I saw it for the first time, it left me with the distinct impression that it wanted to do a lot of different things, and not just comedy. However, the charm of Bruce Willis and James Garner, along with the beautiful photography and set designs, make this one a winner for me. Willis and Garner seem to have a little chemistry between them as well. So the film isn't a total failure to me. I think it has a lot to offer and is probably worth a re-examination by modern audiences. After all, they see uneven movies constantly now.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Bruce Willis plays Tom Mix, an early star actor of westerns, and James Garner plays Wyatt Earp, who is advising Mix in a movie about Wyatt Earp. They get involved in solving a real life Hollywood murder mystery. A great story about the merging and mixing of eras. Malcolm McDowell is the villain, and also with Muriel Hemingway.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

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Blake Edwards

Director

Bruce Willis

Tom Mix

James Garner

Wyatt Earp

Malcolm McDowell

Alfie Alperin

Mariel Hemingway

Cheryl King

Jennifer Edwards

Victoria Alperin

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Bob Thomas

Associated Press

Garner is a marvel to watch, his quiet authority dominating every scene. But Willis also shows his best big-screen form yet.

Jul 25, 2019

Full Review

Vincent Canby

New York Times

It's a plot that unravels on its own, without characters, without anything, not even a point of view. It's a zombie.

Rated: 1/5

May 20, 2003

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Half of the movie wants to be cheerful, and the other half seems morbid and disenchanted.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

A misfire.

Rated: 1.5/4

Jun 26, 2021

Full Review

Chuck O'Leary

FulvueDrive-in.com

One of the biggest flops of 1988, Blake Edwards' Sunset is highly uneven, but gorgeous period production values and the easy-going charm of Garner and Willis save it.

Rated: 6/10

Mar 4, 2006

Full Review

Carol Cling

Las Vegas Review-Journal

Garner's a great Earp (see "Hour of the Gun") but this witless movie trashes not one but two great Western legends.

Rated: 1/5

Aug 12, 2005

Full Review

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Synopsis

Having retired from a life of gunfights and peacekeeping, the great Wyatt Earp (James Garner) has landed a job as adviser to a Western movie about himself. On the set of the silent picture, he gets to know Tom Mix (Bruce Willis), an actor who specializes in Westerns, who has been hired to portray Earp. Not long after making each others' acquaintance, they find out that Earp's ex-girlfriend's son is missing, and the man responsible may be studio chief Alfie Alperin (Malcolm McDowell).

Director: Blake Edwards
Production Co: TriStar Pictures, Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinema
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 29, 1988, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.4M
Sound Mix: Stereo, Surround

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