Geronimo: An American Legend

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Geronimo: An American Legend

PG-13

1993

1h 55m

Drama

History

Western

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Popcornmeter

52%

Tomatometer

21 Reviews

52%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Following the expansion of the United States into the Southwest, the Apache Indians are forced onto a reservation to live out their lives as lowly corn farmers. While many resign themselves to this fate, several Apaches, including Geronimo (Wes Studi), refuse to go quietly. Hoping to quell a major rebellion, General Charles Crook (Gene Hackman) dispatches over 5,000 U.S. Cavalry soldiers, led by Lieutenant Charles Gatewood (Jason Patric), to hunt down Geronimo and his men.

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Critics Consensus

Geronimo: An American Legend fails to stir the soul, though its sweeping visuals and historical ambitions mark an intelligent change of pace for director Walter Hill.

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

01/01/2000

3.5/4

A film of great beauty and considerable intelligence.

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Mitchell Beaupre

Paste Magazine

09/29/2023

8/10

It’s impressive how Walter Hill’s Westerns consistently come from a place of critical revisionism towards the Hollywood standard of American exceptionalism.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

08/23/2021

2/4

A miscast Jason Patric tackles his role as a combination of a Brando impersonator and a guy who merely needs a nap.

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Brian D. Johnson

Maclean's Magazine

02/05/2020

Gerónimo attempts to combine the classical and the correct-with mixed results.

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Ed Travis

Cinapse

10/31/2018

It's Geronimo's rage against the inevitable which is the film's heartbeat and greatest strength.

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Malcolm Johnson

Hartford Courant

05/22/2018

Despite the film's visual and aural splendors, Geronimo fails to achieve its noble ambitions. Only a totally committed Western lover will be able to watch it without wanting, at times, to shout Geronimo and bail out.

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D H

@Gotham Feb 8

A grand epic that does what it can to try and be a grand epic. At it's core it is a solid movie, providing a snap shot into a time period into history. I really think the director should have had some balls with this movie and built it around Wes Studi, who is amazing as Geronimo.

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Mary S

@RT31692299 Oct 4

A stirring reminder of the American military past. Wes Studi played a magnificent Geronimo.

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Gary J.

@Bluegrass Aug 14

What is there not to love about this film? Star packed, amazing story, conflict at its finest, amazing cinematography. And has significant historical context. Just enjoyed this film from beginning to end. Even a very young Matt Damon delivers. Watch this movie.

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Farah R

@Farah Jun 7

Long, boring, and uneventful, this biopic fails to honor the memory of one of American history’s most prominent warriors. The point of the film gets muddled by unnecessary dialogue and dragging scenes that serve no purpose beyond looking cool.

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Daniel N

@RT24087858 03/10/2025

Very slow. Far too much standing around talking and not enough action.

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Dom

@RT63119453 07/17/2023

How is this a 50% on Rotten when Dances with Wolves is 85%? If anything. this is a more balanced representation of the Natives and the US Army than Dances with Wolves. Shows what society wants to learn instead at the end of the day. The movie's theme of no one winning at the end of a war is miles more Enlightening than another complaint of Matt Damon's acting. This is a pretty decent film. I thought both the Natives and the US Army were portrayed with great nuance. Damon's acting is a little unconvincing but is serviceable for the plot as a whole. The movie's a little slow at points though. The ending is a little contrived, but it is a good film overall.

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Walter Hill

Director

Wes Studi

Geronimo

Jason Patric

Lt. Charles Gatewood

Robert Duvall

Al Sieber

Gene Hackman

Brig. Gen. George Crook

Matt Damon

Lt. Britton Davis

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Synopsis

Following the expansion of the United States into the Southwest, the Apache Indians are forced onto a reservation to live out their lives as lowly corn farmers. While many resign themselves to this fate, several Apaches, including Geronimo (Wes Studi), refuse to go quietly. Hoping to quell a major rebellion, General Charles Crook (Gene Hackman) dispatches over 5,000 U.S. Cavalry soldiers, led by Lieutenant Charles Gatewood (Jason Patric), to hunt down Geronimo and his men.

Director: Walter Hill
Producer: Neil Canton, Walter Hill
Screenwriter: John Milius, Larry Gross
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, History, Western
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 10, 1993, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $18.4M
Runtime: 1h 55m
Sound Mix: Surround