The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Play trailer

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

R

2007

2h 40m

Western

History

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

174 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Infamous and unpredictable, Jesse James (Brad Pitt), nicknamed the fastest gun in the west, plans his next big heist while he launches pre-emptive strikes against those looking to collect the reward the law has placed on his head. Jesse's newest recruits, Robert (Casey Affleck) and Charley Ford (Sam Rockwell), grow increasingly jealous of the outlaw. When they sense an opportunity to kill Jesse, they gun him down, but their actions backfire when Jesse's fame is elevated to near mythical status.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

On the strength of its two lead performances Assassination is an expertly crafted period piece, and an insightful look at one of the enduring figures of American lore.

Read Critics Reviews

David Jenkins

Time Out

02/06/2018

3/5

Pitt, toying with his death-wish like some private joke, is eminently watchable in a role with little developmental arc; while Affleck, as his unwitting nemesis, takes his own mysterious integrity right to the grave.

Go to Full Review

Christopher Orr

The New Republic

09/18/2008

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is the story...of the moment in America when myth was murdered by mere celebrity and we were left, perhaps forever, with only the latter's meager consolations.

Go to Full Review

Alonso Duralde

MSNBC

05/01/2008

5/5

Jesse James is that rarest of birds -- an art film with mass appeal.

Go to Full Review

Gayle Sequeira

Film Companion

10/06/2022

The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford plays out like an elegy to a fallen idol whose worshipper has decided it's time to dismantle the pedestal.

Go to Full Review

James Croot

The Post NZ

09/28/2022

5/5

Not only one of the finest westerns ever made, even a decade-and-a-half on The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is a terrific example of the power of the art form itself.

Go to Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

11/24/2020

3/10

Perhaps the least western Western ever made - and that's not a good sort of singularity.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Alex M

@alexkidinmovieworld 1d

Brad Pitt's finest moment (and I loved him in seven and fight club). It took me a good day or so after watching this to truly absorb his portal as a truly uwelcoming antihero. The cinematography is up there with Roger Deakins best work and given his follow up work I don't think Andrew Dominik will do better again. This is a film which will leave a sour taste in your mouth purposely and the themes of Jesse James being the world's first social media star is only a little slice of the pie... You have to work at analysing this film and I understand why audiences didn't overly love it... Just remember though we need unwelcoming films like this to challenge the popcorn fodder

See more

Michael G.

@micgriffin12 Dec 24

Nice little history lesson. Longer than it needed to be. Pitt was a solid Jesse James.

See more

Kamran G.

@kforkam Dec 10

As lazy a script as its title.

See more

To F

@Frannko Nov 3

Me costo mucho terminar de verla. Es que fueron muy pocas las cosas que me atraparon. Es buena la historia pero como que le dan muchas vueltas al asunto. Solo el asesino y el asesinado son rescatables en cuanto a personajes.

See more

Milox B

@Milox Jul 15

Quand j'ai su que ce film aurait inspiré le jeu "Red Dead Redemption II", je suis directement aller voir. Je suis pas du tout déçu.

See more

James A

@Droz27 Jul 3

A must see western, one of the finest of the modern era. Brad Pitt kills as Jesse James, and Casey Affleck is an impressive surprise in a patient, subtle character piece that builds to a climax with gritty realism and honest storytelling.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Andrew Dominik

Director

Brad Pitt

Jesse James

Casey Affleck

Robert Ford

Sam Shepard

Frank James

Mary-Louise Parker

Zee James

Sam Rockwell

Charley Ford

September Dawn

17%

49%

September Dawn

Watchlist

Hostiles

71%

77%

Hostiles

Watchlist

3:10 to Yuma

89%

86%

3:10 to Yuma

Watchlist

Appaloosa

77%

55%

Appaloosa

Watchlist

Woman Walks Ahead

59%

62%

Woman Walks Ahead

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Woman Walks Ahead

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Rank Jeremy Renner’s 10 Best Movies

Scoot McNairy’s Five Favorite Films

Sundance 2010: RT’s 10 Most Anticipated Movies

View more photos

Synopsis

Infamous and unpredictable, Jesse James (Brad Pitt), nicknamed the fastest gun in the west, plans his next big heist while he launches pre-emptive strikes against those looking to collect the reward the law has placed on his head. Jesse's newest recruits, Robert (Casey Affleck) and Charley Ford (Sam Rockwell), grow increasingly jealous of the outlaw. When they sense an opportunity to kill Jesse, they gun him down, but their actions backfire when Jesse's fame is elevated to near mythical status.

Director: Andrew Dominik
Producer: Ridley Scott, Jules Daly, Brad Pitt, David Valdes, Dede Gardner
Screenwriter: Andrew Dominik
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Virtual Studios, Warner Bros., Scott Free Productions, Plan B Films, Jesse Films Inc.
Rating: R (Some Strong Violence|Brief Sexual References)
Genre: Western, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 21, 2007, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.9M
Runtime: 2h 40m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS

Most Popular at Home Now