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Cool Hand Luke

Play trailer Poster for Cool Hand Luke PG 1967 2h 9m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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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.
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Cool Hand Luke

Cool Hand Luke

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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.

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Critics Reviews

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John Mahoney The Hollywood Reporter Dec 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) Sep 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 Apr 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 Oct 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 May 6, 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 Apr 8, 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

Audience Reviews

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chad Apr 7, 2025 This as good a movie you can hope to see, until One Flew comes along and does it better. See more Robert P @Superbad 3 days ago Cool Hand Luke = a *5* star movie! See more Horror fan 4 @Horrorfan4life Jul 6, 2026 One of the greatest movies of All-time. Paul Newman George Kennedy and Harry Dean Stanton lead a great cast in this prison chain gang film. Luke gets sent to prison for cutting the heads off of parking meters. The highlights of the movie includes a boxing match,50 eggs and many attempts of escaping. I absolutely love this movie and is my favorite Paul Newman Movie. Tim Treakle See more Max M. @Househuntermax Jun 24, 2026 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, 2026 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, 2026 awesome movie from Paul Newman on the run from the feds See more Read all reviews
Cool Hand Luke

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Cast & Crew

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Stuart Rosenberg

Director

Paul Newman

Luke

George Kennedy

Dragline

J.D. Cannon

Society Red

Lou Antonio

Koko

Robert Drivas

Loudmouth Steve

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Cool Hand Luke

Cool Hand Luke (1967) Cool Hand Luke (1967) View more photos

Movie Info

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)
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