The Harder They Fall

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The Harder They Fall

R

Released Oct 22, 2021

2h 17m

Western

Drama

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Popcornmeter

88%

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199 Reviews

93%

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50+ Verified Ratings

When outlaw Nat Love (Jonathan Majors) discovers that his enemy Rufus Buck (Idris Elba) is being released from prison he rounds up his gang to track Rufus down and seek revenge. Those riding with him in this assured, righteously new school Western include his former love Stagecoach Mary (Zazie Beetz), his right and left hand men--hot-tempered Bill Pickett (Edi Gathegi) and fast drawing Jim Beckwourth (R.J. Cyler)--and a surprising adversary-turned-ally. Rufus Buck has his own fearsome crew, including "Treacherous" Trudy Smith (Regina King) and Cherokee Bill (LaKeith Stanfield), and they are not a group that knows how to lose.

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Critics Consensus

It isn't as bold and fearless as its characters, but The Harder They Fall fills its well-worn template with style, energy, and a fantastic cast.

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Audience Says

Great cast, great soundtrack, great-looking movie -- The Harder They Fall is a western that even viewers who aren't fans of the genre might have no choice but to love.

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Christina Newland

iNews.co.uk

In the unfortunately small stack of black Westerns in cinema history, The Harder They Fall might be overcooked, but, crucially, it’s a fun entry to the genre.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 19, 2024

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Sheri Flanders

Chicago Reader

Leave your saddlebags at the door and mount up for one hell of a ride.

Nov 12, 2021

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Jake Wilson

The Age (Australia)

Westerns were always fantasies, but The Harder They Fall is so abstract a fantasy it barely feels like a Western more a series of poses involving cowboy outfits, six-shooters and desert landscapes.

Rated: 2.5/5

Nov 11, 2021

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William Stottor

Loud and Clear Reviews

With The Harder They Fall, Jeymes Samuel gives a voice to those who existed but were rarely heard, and issues in a new and exciting era for the Western genre.

Rated: 4.5/5

Jul 18, 2024

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Calum Cooper

In Their Own League

If any word could describe “The Harder They Fall” it is dynamic. This is one of the most kinetically charged Westerns of the past decade, let alone this year.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 15, 2024

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Yasmine Kandil

Discussing Film

As compelling as this Western tale can be, at times it is overshadowed by a few technical mishaps.

Jul 15, 2024

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RW

Loved it, true western, can’t wait til # 2

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/04/21

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Larry E

Loved it! No spoilers here but i enjoyed it from start to finish! mustsee

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/03/21

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jesse s

Loved it. A lot deeper of a movie than most may see on the surface. Great movie all around! See it!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/01/21

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J

The soundtrack is great!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/01/21

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Vernall

This was the best western I have seen

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/01/21

Full Review

Movies In Mo

Im not a western fan, but seeing a mainly Black cast in a well-acted film was great. From the gruesome start to the satisfying end, theres not a lot to complain about. Even the soundtrack was on point. The Harder They Fall is a fictional 2-hour revenge story about a real outlaw gang, presumably in the 1895 Arkansas-Oklahoma area. The style of this movie is a solid mixture of western atmosphere with a modern swagger with a more likely face-to-face outcome. With outlaw Nat Love on a mission to kill all responsible for his torment, he prematurely thinks hes done before later discovering the one main outlaw responsible, Rufus Black, will be released from prison. From there, each lead outlaw, Love and Buck, assemble gangs to assist in their mission. The film is two hours long, but every scene, character, and word spoken was entertaining and relatable. Loves path of revenge was filled with so much excitement, his charisma alone could have carried this movie. The same could be said for nearly every character. Rufus Black was a cold, straight-to-the-point, business-minded outlaw looking to regain his empire. The rest were paired up with their counterpart – The fastest draws dueled it out, both women battled, and so on. As entertaining as The Harder They Fall is, I would be surprised if they didnt make a sequel. OUR RATING – A LOVE vs. BUCK 9

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/01/21

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Jeymes Samuel

Director

Jonathan Majors

Nat Love

Zazie Beetz

Stagecoach Mary

Delroy Lindo

Bass Reeves

LaKeith Stanfield

Cherokee Bill

Danielle Deadwyler

Cuffee

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The Harder They Fall: Trailer 1

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The Harder They Fall: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

When outlaw Nat Love (Jonathan Majors) discovers that his enemy Rufus Buck (Idris Elba) is being released from prison he rounds up his gang to track Rufus down and seek revenge. Those riding with him in this assured, righteously new school Western include his former love Stagecoach Mary (Zazie Beetz), his right and left hand men--hot-tempered Bill Pickett (Edi Gathegi) and fast drawing Jim Beckwourth (R.J. Cyler)--and a surprising adversary-turned-ally. Rufus Buck has his own fearsome crew, including "Treacherous" Trudy Smith (Regina King) and Cherokee Bill (LaKeith Stanfield), and they are not a group that knows how to lose.

Director: Jeymes Samuel
Producer: Lawrence Bender, Jay-Z, James Lassiter, Jeymes Samuel
Screenwriter: Jeymes Samuel, Boaz Yakin
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: Netflix, Overbrook Entertainment
Rating: R (Strong Violence and Language)
Genre: Western, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 22, 2021, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 3, 2021
Runtime: 2h 17m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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