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Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 6.3/10
Reviews Counted: 161
Fresh: 110 | Rotten: 51

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

Average Rating: 6.3/10
Critic Reviews: 33
Fresh: 22 | Rotten: 11

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

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

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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 Armend�riz Jr.). Sands needs to recruit a gunman to take out

R, 1 hr. 37 min.

Drama, Action & Adventure

Directed By: Robert Rodriguez

Written By: Robert Rodriguez

In Theaters: Sep 12, 2003 Wide

On DVD: Jan 20, 2004

Box Office:$55.8M

Sony Pictures Releasing

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)

Wesley Morris

Boston Globe

Top 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

| Comment

James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Top 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)

Richard Roeper

Ebert & Roeper

Top Critic

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

September 13, 2003 Full Review Source: Salon.com

| Comment

Andrew O'Hehir

Salon.com

Top 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 Comment

Michael O'Sullivan

Washington Post

Top Critic

A whiz-bang kick in the pants.

September 12, 2003 Comment

Ann Hornaday

Washington Post

Top 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

| Comment

R. L. Shaffer

IGN DVD

Like an R-rated, violent Roadrunner cartoon.

December 26, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

Nell Minow

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

| Comment

Cole Smithey

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

| Comment

Andrew Wright

Portland Mercury 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

| Comment

Douglas Pratt

Movie City News

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

October 14, 2004 Full Review | Comment

Steve Crum

Kansas City Kansan Source: Kansas City Kansan

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)

Thomas Peyser

Style Weekly (Richmond, VA) Source: Style Weekly (Richmond, VA)

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Once Upon a Time in Mexico

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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.

November 26, 2006

xGary Xx

Super Reviewer

The conclusion to Robert Rodriguez's mariachi trilogy is a pretty epic, and really badass way to bring things to a close. There are however, too many subplots and characters, most of which don't make sense or are not handled all that well. I don't think that's why people wanna see this, or why they should see it

June 9, 2006

Chris Weber

Super Reviewer

Once Upon a Time in Mexico Quotes

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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 (14 days ago)
1. Lorenzo: Practice shooting, not drinkin.
– Submitted by Alfonso E. V (11 months ago)
1. Agent Sands: Are you a MEXI-CAN or a MEXI-CAN'T?
– Submitted by Alfonso E. V (11 months ago)

Character	Quote
	Enter quote here...	Delete

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