'

The Way of the Gun

Play trailer

The Way of the Gun

R

Released Sep 8, 2000

1h 59m

Crime

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

46%

Tomatometer

134 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

They make no excuses. They don't ask forgiveness. Their story is without compromise, brutal and simple. For contemporary desperados Parker and associate Longbaugh, crime means survival at any cost. Their impromptu plan to kidnap surrogate mother Robin, just weeks from delivering the son of Hale and Francesca Chidduck, seems to be a fast way to cash in on a fat ransom and head for the border. But their haste does indeed make waste.

Watch on Peacock

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Christopher McQuarrie may exhibit a way behind the camera in the stylish The Way of the Gun, but his script falters with dull characterization and a plot so needlessly twisty that most viewers will be ready to tune out before the final reveal.

Read Critics Reviews

Stephen Hunter

Washington Post

It's good fun for bad boys.

Jun 18, 2019

Full Review

Desson Thomson

Washington Post

Writer-director Christopher McQuarrie, who wrote The Usual Suspects, has made a film that I admire more than I love, whose ending makes me recoil emotionally, even as I recommend the thing.

Jun 18, 2019

Full Review

Joe Morgenstern

Wall Street Journal

The Way of the Gun is doomy trash, a blood-soaked saga of remorseless killers and natural-born blatherers. I'm sure I've seen worse movies, but nothing so steadfastly unpleasant comes to mind.

Jun 17, 2019

Full Review

Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

Its criminal story has a start that keeps me interested until half an hour in, but then its path loses its degree of effect between violent shootouts, weak characters and a boring plot, in general, about hellish pregnancies. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 6/10

Dec 2, 2023

Full Review

Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

We can still smirk at the flashy mechanics of "The Usual Suspects" and justly so. But "The Way of the Gun" leaves us a little more stone-faced and somber, contemplating all we've denied ourselves because we feel somehow incapable or unworthy.

Rated: 4.5/5

Oct 8, 2020

Full Review

Alan Jones

Radio Times

Outrageous, unrelenting and blood-soaked.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 25, 2019

Full Review

Read all reviews

Jelisije J

An underrated gem of an action film that is held together by a unique ensemble of memorable characters that once it was over that I was genially saddened that it ended.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/11/25

Full Review

Laszlo C

It's a fun ride. Some twists and funny lines, great action choreography

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/14/25

Full Review

Terri N

I asked for an underrated movie and I got this… I think it belongs where I found it.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

11/29/24

Full Review

Angle of D

One of the best under rated films ever , absolutely brilliant can watch this over and over again . Why can’t you buy it on iTunes ?

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/27/24

Full Review

Gabriel G

One of my favorite movies, a screenplay with no fat . A movie that you can watch over and over again and still catch something new .

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/22/24

Full Review

Christopher W

This is one of the most underrated films of my lifetime. If you don't pay attention you will miss half of this movie. Characters placed in the background of a shot are as important as those in the forefront. There are no redeemable characters here either, except maybe one; maybe there is one hero after all, can you figure out who? Can you figure out why? The plot is complex, the relationships too, if a little convinient, are riddled with the same complexity. There is no excusing anyones actions and there is very little redemtion. But there is a depth of film making here rarely seen. Mcquarrie refuses to hold the hand of the audience, he hides whole conversations in unexplored actions and shared looks between the characters. Leaving the audience to have to think. And this is why I love this film. It is satisfying in a way few others are and remains in my all time top 5 films. If you have an eye for detail and a mind attracted to puzzles, the human relationships buried within this masterpiece are worth unearthing and unravelling, and though you might not get the ending you were hoping for, you should arrive at one even better.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/09/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Christopher McQuarrie

Director

Ryan Phillippe

Parker

Benicio del Toro

Longbaugh

James Caan

Sarno

Juliette Lewis

Robin

Taye Diggs

Jeffers

The Way of the Gun: Official Clip - I'm Joe Sarno

3:34

The Way of the Gun: Official Clip - Bullets and Broken Glass

2:52

The Way of the Gun: Official Clip - Pregnant Pause

2:32

The Way of the Gun: Official Clip - Sperm Donors

1:47

The Way of the Gun: Official Clip - Stopped by Sarno

2:59

The Way of the Gun: Official Clip - Raving Bitch Knock-Out

2:06

The Way of the Gun: Official Clip - Second Thoughts

2:51

The Way of the Gun: Official Clip - Shootout at the Whorehouse

3:09

The Way of the Gun: Official Clip - Longshot for Mr. Longbaugh

2:52

View more videos

The Limey

92%

78%

The Limey

Watchlist

Reindeer Games

25%

28%

Reindeer Games

Watchlist

City of Ghosts

48%

46%

City of Ghosts

Watchlist

The Yards

64%

51%

The Yards

Watchlist

Best Laid Plans

43%

39%

Best Laid Plans

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

They make no excuses. They don't ask forgiveness. Their story is without compromise, brutal and simple. For contemporary desperados Parker and associate Longbaugh, crime means survival at any cost. Their impromptu plan to kidnap surrogate mother Robin, just weeks from delivering the son of Hale and Francesca Chidduck, seems to be a fast way to cash in on a fat ransom and head for the border. But their haste does indeed make waste.

Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Producer: Kenneth Kokin
Screenwriter: Christopher McQuarrie
Distributor: Artisan Entertainment
Production Co: Artisan Entertainment
Rating: R (Sexuality|Language|Violence)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 8, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $6.0M
Runtime: 1h 59m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Most Popular at Home Now