Opening

87% Star Trek Into Darkness May 16
24% Erased May 17
91% Frances Ha May 17
44% The English Teacher May 17
42% Black Rock May 17
77% Pieta May 17
—— Populaire May 17
21% 33 Postcards May 17

Top Box Office

78% Iron Man 3 $72.5M
49% The Great Gatsby $50.1M
47% Pain & Gain $5.0M
37% Peeples $4.6M
77% 42 $4.6M
56% Oblivion $4.1M
69% The Croods $3.6M
98% Mud $2.5M
8% The Big Wedding $2.5M
60% Oz the Great and Powerful $1.1M

Coming Soon

—— The Hangover Part III May 23
78% Fast & Furious 6 May 24
—— Epic May 24
94% Before Midnight May 24

Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)

tomatometer

69

Average Rating: 6.3/10
Reviews Counted: 162
Fresh: 111 | Rotten: 51

Violent, pulpy, loopy fun, with Depp stealing the show.

69

Average Rating: 6.3/10
Critic Reviews: 35
Fresh: 24 | Rotten: 11

Violent, pulpy, loopy fun, with Depp stealing the show.

audience

66

liked it
Average Rating: 3.2/5
User Ratings: 261,939

My Rating

Movie Info

Director Robert Rodriguez returns to the characters of his breakthrough hits El Mariachi and Desperado in this grand scale south-of-the-border action-adventure saga. Sands (Johnny Depp) is a rogue CIA agent who is working in cahoots with Mexican officials who've caught wind of a plan by corrupt military leader General Marquez (Gerardo Vigil) and ruthless drug kingpin Barillo (Willem Dafoe) to assassinate Mexico's president (Pedro Armendáriz Jr.). Sands needs to recruit a gunman to take out

R,

Drama, Action & Adventure

Robert Rodriguez

Jan 20, 2004

$55.8M

Sony Pictures Releasing - Official Site External Icon

Watch It Now

Cast

ADVERTISEMENT

All Critics (175) | Top Critics (37) | Fresh (120) | Rotten (51) | DVD (45)

A movie with that many freaks and creeps should be a lot more exciting than this one actually is.

September 18, 2003 Full Review Source: Boston Globe | Comment (1)
Boston Globe
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A mess of a movie that nevertheless entertains because each individual piece stands high enough on its own merits that it's not necessary to look hard at the nonsensical linking material.

September 16, 2003 Full Review Source: ReelViews
ReelViews
Top Critic IconTop Critic

... this proves as the opposite of Cabin Fever, you can spill a lot of blood in a gratuitous, but very entertaining way.

September 15, 2003 Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper | Comment (1)
Ebert & Roeper
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Make no mistake, this movie is a mess. But, wow, what a mess!

September 13, 2003 Full Review Source: Salon.com
Salon.com
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Depp, a mere two months after his scene-stealing turn in Pirates of the Caribbean, once again is the best thing about a very silly movie.

September 12, 2003
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A whiz-bang kick in the pants.

September 12, 2003
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Still loaded with action and wonderful characters, but this is the least of the three pictures.

January 16, 2011 Full Review Source: IGN DVD
IGN DVD

Like an R-rated, violent Roadrunner cartoon.

December 26, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media

...a cartoonish action movie that entertains without garnering empathy for any of its characters, with the exception of Ruben Blades' Jorge.

June 13, 2009 Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com
ColeSmithey.com

Occasionally hits heights worthy of its Sergio Leone-inspired title ... but its manic invention exhausts more than enthralls.

January 21, 2005 Full Review Source: Portland Mercury

Regardless of the film's shortcomings, the DVD is essential because of what Rodriguez brings to the special features.

November 6, 2004 Full Review Source: Movie City News
Movie City News

To be fair, Rodriguez's wicked dialogue does elicit some laughs amongst the on-screen carnage.

October 14, 2004 Full Review

A splendid cast and spectacular orgies of carnage combine to produce a surprisingly creaky, labored, and boring movie.

September 23, 2004 Full Review Source: Style Weekly (Richmond, VA) | Comment (1)

Audience Reviews for Once Upon a Time in Mexico

With an all-star cast and dynamic visualization, Rodriguez's third installment of the "El Mariachi" trilogy surpasses those that followed. With a dazzling presentation, violent storytelling and surprising performance from Johnny Depp, the film is a joy for those who love Rodriguez's films and/or just plain enjoy action films. 4/5
December 22, 2012
Eugene Bernabe

Super Reviewer

Robert Rodriguez once again tries to out-pulp his long term collaborator Quentin Tarantino in yet another remake of El Mariachi. He makes no bones as to his intentions, the opening credit proclaiming it "A Robert Rodriguez flick" rather than "film", and the result is a slickly entertaining but rather vacuous affair. Desperado had just the right mix of drama, humour and action but this sequel is rather lacking in the dramatic momentum that involves the audience. I think the problem is that Banderas' character is easily the least interesting of the ensemble cast; he does little more than mope around and shoot stuff in increasingly over the top set pieces to the point where it starts to feel like a hispanic Jackie Chan movie without the jokes. Far more interesting is Johnny Depp's amoral and smart-mouthed CIA agent, complete with tourist's wardrobe, fake arm and collection of comedy moustaches; I couldn't help thinking that it would've been a much better film if HE were the central character. But as it is, it's a fun slice of popcorn entertainment, and with Depp, Banderas, Salma Hayek (who is otherwise wasted) and Eva Mendes in the mix, there's plenty of eye candy for both sexes.
November 26, 2006
garyX
xGary Xx

Super Reviewer

    1. Agent Sands: Are you a Mexi-CAN or a Mexi-CAN'T?
    – Submitted by JuanYamanda R (6 months ago)
    1. Agent Sands: Does 'it' have a name?
    2. Cucuy: They call him 'El', as in 'The'.
    3. Agent Sands: I know what it means... thank you.
    – Submitted by Nick S (12 months ago)
    1. Lorenzo: Practice shooting, not drinkin.
    – Submitted by Alfonso E. V (23 months ago)
    1. Agent Sands: Are you a MEXI-CAN or a MEXI-CAN'T?
    – Submitted by Alfonso E. V (23 months ago)

Discussion Forum

Topic Last Post Replies
Why? 11 hours ago 0

Latest News on Once Upon a Time in Mexico

May 8, 2007:
Banderas Denies "Sin City 2" Gig
Just because he's worked with Robert Rodriguez a half-dozen times already, that doesn't mean Antonio...

April 6, 2006:
Critical Consensus: Take Or Leave This "Lead,: An Odd "Number," "Benchwarmers"
This week at the movies, we explore the joys of dance ("Take the Lead"), mistaken identity...

Help | About | Jobs | Critics Submission | API | Licensing | Mobile