First Cow

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First Cow

PG-13

2020

2h 2m

Western

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

226 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Two travelers, on the run from a band of vengeful hunters in the 1820s Northwest, dream of striking it rich -- but their tenuous plan to make their fortune on the frontier comes to rely on the secret use of a landowner's prized dairy cow.

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Critics Consensus

First Cow finds director Kelly Reichardt revisiting territory and themes that will be familiar to fans of her previous work -- with typically rewarding results.

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Nick James

Sight & Sound

May 14

Reichardt gives us a deliciously laconic vision of the pioneer American melting pot with this playful, poignant fable of a couple of furtive cake-bakers in 1820s Oregon.

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Christina Newland

iNews.co.uk

09/23/2024

5/5

Filmed with a compassionate eye, this is the antithesis of the dusty classic western.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

07/29/2021

It is touching, tender, original, entrancing, definitely the best cow film of the year. Plus it's also a quietly masterful thriller where a clafoutis (blueberry) will have you on the edge of your seat.

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Christos Tsiolkas

The Saturday Paper

Aug 19

The complex possibilities in King-Lu and Cookie’s relationship are resisted. They’re both really nice boys but I would have been more interested in seeing a film about the men they could have been.

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Morgan Olson

Loud and Clear Reviews

01/08/2025

2.5/5

For all its idiosyncrasies in presentation and characterization, its narrative regresses into a standard fare that lacks momentum or significant character growth.

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Joonatan Itkonen

Region Free

07/11/2024

5/5

There’s a tenderness in how Reichardt depicts the trials and victories for the two hapless heroes. Neither of whom is made for such a hostile world. Their friendship isn’t agreed upon, just something always destined to happen.

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Michael G

03/16/2020

Technically, it was abysmally recorded, in darkness. Thematically, it was an interesting vignette of societal extremes played out through deceit.

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03/08/2020

I couldn't wait for it to end.

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Karthik Y.

@madkarthi May 30

It is a unique cinematic attempt that relies purely on strong performances instead of loud action.

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Greg T

@RT68084972 Sep 12

Listen, slow does not necessarily mean bad. I can handle slow movies. But I really don't know why this movie was made. I don't get the purpose of it. Is it just supposed to be about a friendship? I really don't think it went very deep about that. Is it supposed to be a critique of capitalism or something? Getting ahead requires a crime of some sort? Eh, spare me. You know from the beginning it ain't gonna end well, so it's just a draggy slog all the way through.

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Dave S

@RT68722908 08/03/2025

Director Kelly Reichardt has proven over the course of her career that she understands the fact that there is beauty in simplicity. In First Cow, set in early 19th-century Oregon, two seemingly disparate men (John Magaro, Orion Lee) steal milk from the only cow in the area in order to sweeten the rolls they sell in the local market, thus increasing their profits. It’s a simple story dealing with simple themes, shot in what appears to be natural light with subdued performances, lovely cinematography, patient editing and deliberate pacing. In an era where the American film landscape is filled with frantic remakes, sequels, and prequels, having more filmmakers like Kelly Reichardt would be refreshing.

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Zack D.

@zacharycolindrew 07/21/2025

Great script. Well acted. Nice period piece with a simple, but worthwhile plot.

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Kelly Reichardt

Director

John Magaro

Cookie Figowitz

Orion Lee

King Lu

Alia Shawkat

Woman With Dog

Toby Jones

Chief Factor

Lily Gladstone

Chief Factor's Wife

First Cow: Official Clip - Selling Like Hotcakes

1:55

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First Cow: Official Clip - I Want Milk

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First Cow: Official Clip - Caught Stealing

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First Cow: Official Clip - Hunting the Thieves

1:48

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First Cow: Official Clip - Meeting the Cow

1:54

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First Cow: Official Clip - Impressing Chief Factor

2:46

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First Cow: Official Clip - Resting Together

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First Cow: Official Clip - Chief Factor's Request

1:34

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First Cow: Official Clip - Stealing Milk

2:46

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First Cow: Official Clip - Selling Oily Cakes

1:51

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Synopsis

Two travelers, on the run from a band of vengeful hunters in the 1820s Northwest, dream of striking it rich -- but their tenuous plan to make their fortune on the frontier comes to rely on the secret use of a landowner's prized dairy cow.

Director: Kelly Reichardt
Producer: Neil Kopp, Vincent Savino, Anish Savjani
Screenwriter: Jonathan Raymond
Distributor: A24
Production Co: Film Science
Rating: PG-13 (Brief Strong Language)
Genre: Western, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 6, 2020, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 10, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA): $161.0K
Runtime: 2h 2m

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