The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

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The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

R

Released Nov 8, 2018

2h 12m

Western

Comedy

Drama

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Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

235 Reviews

78%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

An anthology of six short films that take place in 19th-century post-Civil War era during the settling of the Old West.

Critics Consensus

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs avoids anthology pitfalls with a consistent collection tied together by the Coen brothers' signature blend of dark drama and black humor.

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Ben Sachs

Chicago Reader

As with the Coens' oeuvre on the whole, the various stories are unified by an impressive sense of craft and a lamentable sense of smugness.

Feb 24, 2020

Full Review

Roxana Hadadi

Pajiba

It's disappointing that the Coens don't even try to upend any classic Western clichés in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs - they apply some grim humor to various situations, but that's about it.

Feb 7, 2019

Full Review

Ryan Gilbey

New Statesman

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs feels like the Coen brothers' B-sides compilation... . That smugness to which the Coens are susceptible is in plentiful supply here.

Jan 26, 2019

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Calum Cooper

Source (Scotland)

A fun, playful homage to the Western genre that boasts laughs and excitement.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 14, 2024

Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

The stories that involve the least efflorescent Coen dialogue — the ones driven by stark silences or old coots talking to their mules — come off the best.

Rated: A-

Aug 24, 2022

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

From the opening credits to the final scroll the Coens lean into their creative freedom and show off an undeniable joy of filmmaking.

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 19, 2022

Full Review

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Tex T

I loved this movie the first time and I have lost count of the number of times I've seen it again. I got several extended family members and friends excited too. They all watched it and loved it!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/17/25

Full Review

Danny S

Lmao, I literally couldn't sit through much of it. The first two vinegrettes are worth the watch and the second last one. The others are very slow paced

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/02/25

Full Review

Felix G

One of the best movies of all time

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/28/24

Full Review

Kevin P

A very entertaining and unique series of vignettes about the American West. Some of the short stories are a bit boring and awkward, but I personally found most of them to be pretty engaging and interesting, with its mostly smooth balance of humor & drama that the Cohen Brothers are so good at delivering.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/22/24

Full Review

Tom F

The Coen Brothers show off all their tricks in this series of stories set in the mythical West.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/25/24

Full Review

Jasper M

The first two stories are amazing, the two in the middle felt a bit drawn out, the last two were amazing once again. Not their best work, but all in all very good and entertaining.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/16/24

Full Review

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Joel Coen

Director

Ethan Coen

Director

Tim Blake Nelson

Buster Scruggs (Segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs")

Willie Watson

The Kid (Segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs")

David Krumholtz

Frenchman in Saloon (Segment "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs")

James Franco

Cowboy (Segment "Near Algodones")

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The Ballad of Buster Scruggs: Trailer 2

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The Ballad of Buster Scruggs: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

An anthology of six short films that take place in 19th-century post-Civil War era during the settling of the Old West.

Director: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Producer: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, Megan Ellison, Sue Naegle
Screenwriter: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: Netflix, Annapurna Pictures
Rating: R (Some Strong Violence)
Genre: Western, Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 8, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 16, 2018
Runtime: 2h 12m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)