Open Range

"No place to run. No reason to hide."

U.S. Release Date

Aug 15, 2003

Rotten Tomatoes

🍅 79% (Certified Fresh)

Where to Watch

Prime Video, Apple TV

Official Synopsis

A former gunslinger is forced to take up arms again when he and his cattle-crew are threatened by a corrupt lawman and a tyrannical rancher in the 1880s West. It is a story of honor, vengeance, and the dying days of the free range.

Cast & Crew Information

Director: Kevin Costner
Cast: Robert Duvall, Kevin Costner, Annette Bening, Michael Gambon
Cinematography: J. Michael Muro
Music: Michael Kamen

Open Range is a modern Western that hearkens back to the classics of John Ford, a time when justice was taken, not given. Perhaps the cinematic antithesis of the 'lone gunman' scenario seen in High Noon, Open Range displays the strengths and benefits of loyalty in the face of tremendous adversity.

While it delivers plenty of gunfights and a classic showdown, what truly sets it apart from other Westerns is its immense heart. The camaraderie between Kevin Costner and Robert Duvall is both amusing and deeply moving, complemented by a touching romantic subplot with Annette Bening that will surely appeal to fans of the genre. Although Costner made his bones with the Western hits Silverado and Dances with Wolves, this underseen gem shows the fruits of his Western labor and serves as the true forebearer to his most recent work in the genre.

🎥 Official Theatrical Trailer

The Legacy Continues

The Connection to Modern Hits

This film is cut from the classic American Western mold that Dances with Wolves once deconstructed, making it especially appealing to fans of Tombstone, Wyatt Earp, or the more recent Horizon: An American Saga. For those currently obsessed with the grit of Yellowstone or 1883, Open Range is mandatory viewing.

🌵 Western Lore & Fun Facts

Robert Duvall filmed this and Secondhand Lions back-to-back in 2002.
The final shootout is famous for its realistic sound design, using actual black powder recordings rather than Hollywood sound effects.
Although Robert Duvall cites Lonesome Dove as his favorite performance, his portrayal of Boss Spearman here echoes that same quiet dignity.
Kevin Costner famously used $21 million of his own money to help finance the production's $22 million budget.