The Sugarland Express

PG

1974

1 hr. 49 min.

Comedy

Drama

List

87%

52 Reviews

Tomatometer

66%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Married small-time crooks Lou-Jean (Goldie Hawn) and Clovis Poplin (William Atherton) lose their baby to the state of Texas and resolve to do whatever it takes to get him back. Lou-Jean gets Clovis out of jail, and the two steal their son from his foster home, in addition to taking a highway patrolman hostage. As a massive dragnet starts to pursue them across Texas, the couple become unlikely folk heroes and even start to bond with the captive policeman.

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Critics Consensus

Its plot may ape the countercultural road movies of its era, but Steven Spielberg's feature debut displays many of the crowd-pleasing elements he'd refine in subsequent films.

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Alec B

It may be derivative but the movie is so tightly controlled by Spielberg and so captivating from start to finish that it just doesn't matter.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/20/24

Full Review

Vargtimmen B

Spielberg suddenly opens up to me in the best traditions of American classic cinema in the spirit of John Wayne films. Brilliant work, unlike any of his films.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/14/23

Full Review

Georgan G

3 & 1/4 stars. I generally liked the movie which had little to do with the real life event. But still, I kept asking myself, who is dumber? The couple who thinks the cops will let them go after all the ruckus? Or the law who chases them endlessly?

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/25/23

Full Review

Crom W

Goldie Hawn was made for this kind of role, 5 stars to her. Movie 3 stars.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

Shioka O

I want to give stars for the cinematography by Vilmos Zsigmond. Some scenes from dust to night are symbolic and typical New Hollywood style. On the other hand, the story (loosely based on the real people) is kinda empty and characters are not strong as Bonnie&Clyde. There are too many car crash/fire footages than thrill, and actually comedic.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

12/01/22

Full Review

isla s

I enjoyed this film, mainly in terms of the way it showed a real media circus descend on the kidnapped police officer via the hostage takers on the road. There are some amusing moments and its also thought provoking. I felt the themes were handled well and I thought it was quite an entertaining film. Given its based on a true story, I found it a particularly intriguing watch. Goldie Hawn does particularly well in her role as the mother of the young child she fears will be permanently adopted. I thought it was interesting to see a film directed by Steven Spielberg thats as old as this (it was released in 1974). I would definitely recommend this film. Also, just before the credits we see text on screen that explains what happened after the events depicted in the film, which is nice to know.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Steven Spielberg

Director

Goldie Hawn

Lou Jean Poplin

William Atherton

Clovis Michael Poplin

Ben Johnson

Captain Harlin Tanner

Michael Sacks

Patrolman Maxwell Slide

Gregory Walcott

Patrolman Ernie Mashburn

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Rex Reed

New York Daily News

A highly winning entertainment.

Apr 20, 2021

Full Review

John Huddy

Miami Herald

A work of depth and dimension.

Apr 20, 2021

Full Review

Kevin Thomas

Los Angeles Times

It is astonishing to contemplate all that director Steven Spielberg and his writers Hal Barwood and Matthew Robbins, all of them in their theatrical feature debuts, have managed to accomplish.

Apr 20, 2021

Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

Made before Spielberg became a thousand-pound gorilla, "Sugarland" is pleasantly small and unassuming.

Rated: B+

Nov 29, 2022

Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

The Sugarland Express has become something of a cult classic mainly because of Steven Spielberg making it his first theatrical release.

Rated: 3.5/5

Nov 23, 2022

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Clearly, in Spielberg’s vision of cops and robbers, everyone is an average person, with reasonable motives and expectations and inclinations toward forgiveness, even when circumstances tend to demand more outrageous reactions.

Rated: 7/10

Sep 22, 2022

Full Review

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Synopsis

Married small-time crooks Lou-Jean (Goldie Hawn) and Clovis Poplin (William Atherton) lose their baby to the state of Texas and resolve to do whatever it takes to get him back. Lou-Jean gets Clovis out of jail, and the two steal their son from his foster home, in addition to taking a highway patrolman hostage. As a massive dragnet starts to pursue them across Texas, the couple become unlikely folk heroes and even start to bond with the captive policeman.

Director: Steven Spielberg
Screenwriter: Hal Barwood, Matthew Robbins
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Zanuck/Brown Productions
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2015

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