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Paris, Texas

Play trailer Poster for Paris, Texas R 1984 2h 25m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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95% Tomatometer 60 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
A disheveled man who wanders out of the desert, Travis Henderson (Harry Dean Stanton) seems to have no idea who he is. When a stranger manages to contact his brother, Walt (Dean Stockwell), Travis is awkwardly reunited with his sibling. Travis has been missing for years, and his presence unsettles Walt and his family, which also includes Travis's own son, Hunter (Hunter Carson). Soon Travis must confront his wife, Jane (Nastassja Kinski), and try to put his life back together.
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Paris, Texas

Paris, Texas

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Critics Consensus

A quiet yet deeply moving kind of Western, Paris, Texas captures a place and people like never before (or after).

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Critics Reviews

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Kevin Maher The Times (UK) Sep 14, 2023
The panoramic vistas from the cinematographer Robby Müller are as breathtaking as any John Ford western, while the naturalistic performances and deft narrative structure make this the strongest movie in the career of its director, Wim Wenders. Go to Full Review Peter Bradshaw Guardian Jul 27, 2022
5/5
... An eerie, sad story whose meaning disappears over the vast horizon as if on a highway heading away through the desert. Go to Full Review Joe Pollack St. Louis Post-Dispatch Oct 7, 2021
It's a striking, gripping film for most of its length, with Wenders and cinematographer Robby Muller showing a great love of and fascination for the land -- almost as if their European upbringings had made them slightly envious of the wide-open spaces. Go to Full Review Christos Tsiolkas The Saturday Paper Jul 23, 2026
A stunning evocation of the human need for connection. Go to Full Review Luke Buckmaster Flicks (AU, NZ, UK) Jun 24, 2026
Paris, Texas moves us not because it achieves some ideal state or paints an immaculate picture, but because it understands human frailty so brilliantly; its beauty lies in its wounds. Go to Full Review David Harris Spectrum Culture Feb 18, 2025
Sometimes, the best movies about America aren’t made by American directors. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Robert P @Superbad 2 days ago Paris Texas = a *4.5* star Movie See more David B @RT83874387 Sep 7, 2026 This is a contender for the worst film I’ve ever seen. It is incredibly long and boring. Could be cut by half and would probably still be boring but over quicker. See more Glen D @RT96738633 Aug 25, 2026 Beautiful film about humanity, relationships, frailty and love. See more Peggy B @RT47238264 Aug 16, 2026 Does not age well! Predatory abuse is not romantic. See more Iman R @irod78 Aug 16, 2026 Paris, Texas is a special film for many reasons but it is ultimately let down by an unbelievable, unconvincing story mostly due to Harry Dean Stanton being miscast, despite giving a very heartfelt performance. The age gap between Harry Dean Stanton who was 58 and Natassja kinski who 25 is just too far apart to believe they were young and madly in love as Sam Shepard intended in his story. The relationship started just 4 years prior so the man was still far from young at 54 and the lady was well, a teenager. It strikes me as a predatory situation but worst of all it's just so unbelievable and inconvenient that Harry Dean, try as he might just can not compensate with acting. I have trouble understanding how so many critics overlooked that huge problem with the film and so highly praised it. Unfortunately great cinematography, art design, an incredible score by Ry Cooder and a great, naturalistic performance from the boy just does save the movie for me. See more Bob L @RT67797082 Jul 12, 2026 I wholeheartedly agree with RoseT. Totally ridiculous story. He was a breatharian for four years. No one cared to look for him. She didn't recognize the voice of the old man that knocked her up, so the scriptwriter had to cover his ass by saying that all men sounded alike to her?!?! I also do not understand what anybody sees in this movie. See more Read all reviews
Paris, Texas

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Cast & Crew

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Wim Wenders

Director

Harry Dean Stanton

Travis

Nastassja Kinski

Jane

Dean Stockwell

Walt

Aurore Clément

Anne Henderson

Hunter Carson

Hunter

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Paris, Texas

Paris, Texas (1984) Paris, Texas (1984) Paris, Texas (1984) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A disheveled man who wanders out of the desert, Travis Henderson (Harry Dean Stanton) seems to have no idea who he is. When a stranger manages to contact his brother, Walt (Dean Stockwell), Travis is awkwardly reunited with his sibling. Travis has been missing for years, and his presence unsettles Walt and his family, which also includes Travis's own son, Hunter (Hunter Carson). Soon Travis must confront his wife, Jane (Nastassja Kinski), and try to put his life back together.
Director
Wim Wenders
Producer
Don Guest, Anatole Dauman
Screenwriter
L.M. Kit Carson, Sam Shepard
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
20th Century Fox
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 18, 1984, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 23, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$236.0K
Runtime
2h 25m
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