Savages

2012

Savages

Critics Consensus

It's undeniably messy, but Savages finds Oliver Stone returning to dark, fearlessly lurid form.

51%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 190

54%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 136,603
User image

Watch it now

Savages Photos

View All Photos (31)

Movie Info

Laguna Beach entrepreneurs Ben (Johnson), a peaceful and charitable Buddhist, and his closest friend Chon (Kitsch), a former Navy SEAL and ex-mercenary, run a lucrative, homegrown industry-raising some of the best marijuana ever developed. They also share a one-of-a-kind love with the extraordinary beauty Ophelia (Lively). Life is idyllic in their Southern California town...until the Mexican Baja Cartel decides to move in and demands that the trio partners with them. When the merciless head of the BC, Elena (Hayek), and her brutal enforcer, Lado (Del Toro), underestimate the unbreakable bond among these three friends, Ben and Chon-with the reluctant, slippery assistance of a dirty DEA agent (Travolta)-wage a seemingly unwinnable war against the cartel. -- (C) Universal
  • Rating:
    R (for strong brutal and grisly violence, some graphic sexuality, nudity, drug use and language throughout)
  • Genre:
    Drama, Mystery & Suspense
  • Directed By:
    Oliver Stone
  • Written By:
    Shane Salerno, Don Winslow, Oliver Stone
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Box Office:
    $47,300,000
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Universal Pictures

Cast

Taylor Kitsch
as Chon
Aaron Taylor-Johnson
as Ben
Blake Lively
as O
Salma Hayek
as Elena
Benicio Del Toro
as Lado
John Travolta
as Dennis
Emile Hirsch
as Spin
Uma Thurman
Shea Whigham
as Chad
Jana Banker
as Volleyball Girl
Candra Docherty
as Grow House Girl
Patrick Fourmy
as Marijuana Distributor
Demian Bichir
as Alex
Gary Stretch
as Badass Biker
Diego Cataño
as Esteban
Karishma Ahluwalia
as Chad's Girlfriend
Joaquín Cosio
as El Azul
Jonathan Carr
as Valet
Antonio Jaramillo
as Jaime
Jake McLaughlin
as Doc
Alexander Wraith
as Sam
Anthony Cutolo
as Billy
Kurt Collins
as Waiter
Amber Dixon Brenner
as Sophia/Cartel Girl
Leonard Roberts
as Hayes/O's Security
Joel David Moore
as Craig
Ali Wong
as Claire
Sala Baker
as Motorcycle Cop
Sandra Echeverría
as Magda
Tara Stone
as Mall Shopper
Matthew Saldivar
as Cartel Technician
Sean Stone
as Eric/Marijuana Grower
Wilfredo Lopez
as Strip Mall Cartel
Marco Morales
as Cartel Guy
Lucinda Serrano
as Myrna
Charlie Haugk
as DEA Agent
Sam Medina
as Passenger
Ben Bray
as Cartel Member
Gonzalo Menendez
as Hernando
Maya Merker
as Elena's Maid
Donnabelle Mortel
as TV News Reporter
Trevor Donovan
as Matt/Magda's Boyfriend
Leana Chavez
as Gloria/Mexican Girlfriend
Gillian Zinser
as Beach Girl
Florine Elena Deplazes
as Beach Girl
Kaj Mollenhauer
as Sarah/Dennis' Daughter #1
Alexandra "Lexi" Gold Jourden
as Hannah/Dennis' Daughter #2
Charles Ingram
as Cartel Sniper
Akima Castaneda
as Indian Castaneda
Denis Garcia
as Tribal Cop
Eddie Follis
as DEA Agent
Holly Follis
as DEA Agent
Mia Maestro
as Dolores
Schae Harrison
as Dennis' Wife
Stephen Dunham
View All

News & Interviews for Savages

Critics Consensus: The Amazing Spider-Man Is Certified Fresh
Total Recall: Oliver Stone’s Best Movies
View All

Critic Reviews for Savages

All Critics (190) | Top Critics (50) | Fresh (96) | Rotten (94)

  • The film would have been so much more interesting if the two men had been identical twins played by the same actor-like Jeremy Irons in David Cronenberg's Dead Ringers.

    Jun 17, 2013 | Full Review…

    David Thomson

    The New Republic
    Top Critic

  • The messy insouciance wears a little thin, and by the time we get to the absurdity of the extended ending, enough is definitely enough.

    Oct 18, 2012 | Rating: 2.5/5 | Full Review…

    Philippa Hawker

    The Age (Australia)
    Top Critic

  • Far too prolix and more than a little absurd.

    Sep 21, 2012 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Derek Malcolm

    London Evening Standard
    Top Critic

  • A disappointing dip in the shallow end. Forgettable.

    Sep 20, 2012 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Dan Stewart

    Little White Lies
    Top Critic

  • Savages plays up to Stone's worst tendencies: machismo, bombast and self-indulgence, and the factor that could conceivably have made this movie tolerable - humour - is off the menu.

    Sep 20, 2012 | Rating: 1/5 | Full Review…

    Peter Bradshaw

    Guardian
    Top Critic

  • It all smacks of trying too hard to mask the absence of strong material.

    Sep 18, 2012 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Tom Huddleston

    Time Out
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (190)

Audience Reviews for Savages

  • Oct 11, 2014
    Oliver Stone needs to get his mojo back. Very disappointing.
    Marcus W Super Reviewer
  • Oct 06, 2014
    Twisted and suspenseful with a wicked cast
    Shawn M Super Reviewer
  • Mar 25, 2014
    In "Savages," Ben(Aaron Johnson) and Chon(Taylor Kitsch) are living the life of kings with their successful marijuana business in Laguna Beach raking in the dough. That's not to mention having sex with the beautiful Ophelia(Blake Lively), just not all at once. And then Elena Sanchez(Salma Hayek) has to go and ruin it all by insisting on a forced merger. Dennis(John Travolta), a corrupt DEA agent, advises the guys to play ball. Which they do after planning on making a run for Indonesia. That turns out to be too late after Ophelia is kidnapped. Having few other options in making movies, it comes as no surprise that Oliver Stone wanted to scratch his pulp itch again. Sadly, with his film "Savages," he comes up with nothing original that has not already been used in better movies. That's not to mention the bits that reek of sexism and racism.(No stereotypes per se but it is hard to avoid when one ethnic group battles another.) Like any person named after a Shakespeare character, Ophelia comes off as simply a spoiled brat, making us wonder why Ben and Chon would risk everything for her. Plus, all of the commentary on topics that include the war on drugs, insurgencies, capitalism and reality television feel like they were just thrown in at random. And the ending is a case of having your pot brownies and eating them too, except ass backwards. But at least Benicio del Toro and Aaron Johnson can do little wrong, as their scene together is one of the sole highlights of this otherwise mediocrity.
    Walter M Super Reviewer
  • May 25, 2013
    Starts off with a somewhat interesting three-lead unbreakable character bond narrated by a drugged up O then slows down too often as the tension and brutal violence builds up.
    Max G Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

Savages Quotes

View All Quotes

News & Features