Cool Hand Luke

Play trailer

Cool Hand Luke

PG

1967

2h 9m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

56 Reviews

95%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

When petty criminal Luke Jackson (Paul Newman) is sentenced to two years in a Florida prison farm, he doesn't play by the rules of either the sadistic warden (Strother Martin) or the yard's resident heavy, Dragline (George Kennedy), who ends up admiring the new guy's unbreakable will. Luke's bravado, even in the face of repeated stints in the prison's dreaded solitary confinement cell, "the box," make him a rebel hero to his fellow convicts and a thorn in the side of the prison officers.

Critics Consensus

Though hampered by Stuart Rosenberg's direction, Cool Hand Luke is held aloft by a stellar script and one of Paul Newman's most indelible performances.

Read Critics Reviews

John Mahoney

The Hollywood Reporter

12/15/2020

Well written by Pearce and Pierson and acted by a most talented ensemble of performers, Luke succeeds as both a highly humorous and deeply dramatic study of the immolation of human spirit in captivity and as an allegory.

Go to Full Review

Jake Wilson

The Age (Australia)

09/27/2018

The whole thing depends on Newman's blue eyes, easy grin, and ability to appear charismatic but never cocky.

Go to Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

04/23/2009

Stuart Rosenberg's direction is a horror, but the cast teems with so many familiar faces that this 1967 film can't help but entertain.

Go to Full Review

Bianca Garner

Filmotomy

10/10/2024

Cool Hand Luke has one of cinema’s best character introductions and film openings.

Go to Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

05/06/2023

There’s more than a bit of Christ allegory in the imagery but it’s the character of the scruffy prisoners in the impoverished prison... that gives the film its juice.

Go to Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

04/08/2023

3.5/4

In a career filled with iconic anti-heroes -- including what I deem the “4-H Club” from the 1960s (Hud, Harper, Hombre, and The Hustler) -- Lucas Jackson just might be the most popular of all the societal misfits played by Paul Newman.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

chad

04/07/2025

This as good a movie you can hope to see, until One Flew comes along and does it better.

See more

thiago S

@Thiagostone 2d

Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são mais ou menos, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom

See more

Max M.

@Househuntermax Jun 24

Yeah I know, classic American movie. But I don’t know, something just wasn’t there for me. I appreciate the counter culture aspect and its significance of its time, but I was just kind of bored.

See more

Joaquin U

@Joaquin1 May 2

Very entertaining. Powerful cast, with Paul Newman at the top of his craft. Great script. Adequate direction, though some bits don’t make much sense. These criminals are so decent they put today’s to shame. A film with many iconic moments, still relevant in pop culture.

See more

Jeremy P.

@Jezza_Linko Feb 17

awesome movie from Paul Newman on the run from the feds

See more

Luke M.

@LukeCoolHand Jan 31

A towering achievement in the prison drama genre, Cool Hand Luke is anchored by Paul Newman’s career-defining charisma. While the film delivers on the grit—boasting a brutal boxing match and the most legendary egg-eating contest in cinema history—it’s the quiet moments of defiance that stick with you. It’s a soulful, beautifully shot exploration of the human spirit’s refusal to be broken. Failure to communicate? Hardly. This film speaks volumes.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Stuart Rosenberg

Director

Paul Newman

Luke

George Kennedy

Dragline

J.D. Cannon

Society Red

Lou Antonio

Koko

Robert Drivas

Loudmouth Steve

East of Eden

86%

90%

East of Eden

Watchlist

All the President's Men

95%

92%

All the President's Men

Watchlist

Chariots of Fire

84%

80%

Chariots of Fire

Watchlist

A Streetcar Named Desire

97%

89%

A Streetcar Named Desire

Watchlist

The Learning Tree

76%

83%

The Learning Tree

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Armie Hammer’s Five Favorite Films

Jeff Nichols’ Five Favorite Films

Paul Newman Dies at 83

View more photos

Synopsis

When petty criminal Luke Jackson (Paul Newman) is sentenced to two years in a Florida prison farm, he doesn't play by the rules of either the sadistic warden (Strother Martin) or the yard's resident heavy, Dragline (George Kennedy), who ends up admiring the new guy's unbreakable will. Luke's bravado, even in the face of repeated stints in the prison's dreaded solitary confinement cell, "the box," make him a rebel hero to his fellow convicts and a thorn in the side of the prison officers.

Director: Stuart Rosenberg
Producer: Gordon Carroll
Screenwriter: Frank Pierson, Donn Pearce, Donn Pearce
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Home Vídeo
Production Co: Warner Brothers, Jalem Productions
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 1, 1967, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 19, 2016
Runtime: 2h 9m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)