A spaceship arrives in 1873 Arizona to take over the Earth, starting with the Wild West region. All that stands in their way: a posse of cowboys and natives.A spaceship arrives in 1873 Arizona to take over the Earth, starting with the Wild West region. All that stands in their way: a posse of cowboys and natives.A spaceship arrives in 1873 Arizona to take over the Earth, starting with the Wild West region. All that stands in their way: a posse of cowboys and natives.
- Awards
- 1 win & 17 nominations
Matthew Taylor
- Luke Claiborne
- (as Matt Taylor)
Ana de la Reguera
- Maria
- (as Ana De La Reguera)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhen the sheriff pulls Jake Lonergan's (Daniel Craig) wanted poster off the wall, the poster underneath is of director Jon Favreau.
- GoofsWhen Jake and the newly-formed posse run into Jake's old gang, he punches one of the members in the mouth, breaking one of his front teeth. Later in the movie this gang member has all his teeth.
- Quotes
Jake Lonergan: I've been shot.
Meacham: Only two kinds of men get shot: criminals and victims. Which one are you?
Jake Lonergan: I don't know.
Meacham: You got a name, friend?
Jake Lonergan: I don't know that either.
Meacham: Just what do you know?
Jake Lonergan: English.
- Alternate versionsAn extended version is available on home video running ~17 minutes longer.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Hour: Episode #7.104 (2011)
- SoundtracksApache War Dance
Written and Performed by The Mescalero Apache Tribe
Featured review
Looks good, superb cast but painfully predictable.
Its 1873; New Mexico Territory; an Outlaw and a Cattle Rancher must put aside their differences to stop Alien invaders hellbent on experimenting on humans and stripping the land of its gold.
There's something kooky about the title Cowboys and Aliens, B-movie-ish, yet, exciting, enticing and genius. However, even with the star talents including Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford, with the striking Olivia Wilde and excellent Sam Rockwell Cowboys and Aliens still falls short of expectations. The script is bland, every effort has gone into developing the two main leads but at a cost of the rest of the characters, the basic story and plot.
The special and practical effects are well integrated and executed but while fantastic they are nothing that hasn't been seen before, reminiscent of District 9, Independence Day to name a few. Considering director's Jon Favreau fun and exciting Iron-man outings this offering is less satisfying. It's not the mishmash of classic genres that's the problem, it's the lazy, predicable story telling.
The films opening is strong and intriguing, building up to the tension of Ford's character Colonel Woodrow Dolarhyde meeting with Craig's Jake; its Jones meets Bond, perfect. Both are excellent giving weight to the proceedings. Horses are flipped, guns and gauntlets go wild, aliens leap and stomp on cowboys. But after the first few alien attacks the film wavers onto familiar territory. Although it has a fabulous cast beneath its hat and sweeping, breathtaking Western landscapes under it's belt - it buckles under it's own weight.
Even with its somewhat serious tone it's not brave enough to explore or commit to its own themes leaving it underdeveloped. But it also omits much needed fun leaving the whole film unseasoned and as empty as the plains of Arizona. Debatably, flop Wild Wild West (1999) infused the sci-fi and Western genre more successfully.
Cowboys and Aliens is entertaining, it looks good, has a superb cast but it's painfully predictable and just not that great.
There's something kooky about the title Cowboys and Aliens, B-movie-ish, yet, exciting, enticing and genius. However, even with the star talents including Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford, with the striking Olivia Wilde and excellent Sam Rockwell Cowboys and Aliens still falls short of expectations. The script is bland, every effort has gone into developing the two main leads but at a cost of the rest of the characters, the basic story and plot.
The special and practical effects are well integrated and executed but while fantastic they are nothing that hasn't been seen before, reminiscent of District 9, Independence Day to name a few. Considering director's Jon Favreau fun and exciting Iron-man outings this offering is less satisfying. It's not the mishmash of classic genres that's the problem, it's the lazy, predicable story telling.
The films opening is strong and intriguing, building up to the tension of Ford's character Colonel Woodrow Dolarhyde meeting with Craig's Jake; its Jones meets Bond, perfect. Both are excellent giving weight to the proceedings. Horses are flipped, guns and gauntlets go wild, aliens leap and stomp on cowboys. But after the first few alien attacks the film wavers onto familiar territory. Although it has a fabulous cast beneath its hat and sweeping, breathtaking Western landscapes under it's belt - it buckles under it's own weight.
Even with its somewhat serious tone it's not brave enough to explore or commit to its own themes leaving it underdeveloped. But it also omits much needed fun leaving the whole film unseasoned and as empty as the plains of Arizona. Debatably, flop Wild Wild West (1999) infused the sci-fi and Western genre more successfully.
Cowboys and Aliens is entertaining, it looks good, has a superb cast but it's painfully predictable and just not that great.
Helpful•9453
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Languages
- Also known as
- Cao Bồi & Người Ngoài Hành Tinh
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $163,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $100,240,551
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $36,431,290
- Jul 31, 2011
- Gross worldwide
- $174,822,325
- Runtime1 hour 59 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content