Lone Star | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

91% Tomatometer 141 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings

In the Texas border town of Frontera, Sheriff Sam Deeds (Chris Cooper) digs up the past when he finds an old skull in the desert. As he traces the murder of Sheriff Charlie Wade (Kris Kristofferson) 40 years earlier, Deeds' investigation points toward his late father, the much-loved Deputy Buddy Deeds. Ignoring warnings not to delve any deeper, Sam rekindles a romance with his high school sweetheart while bringing up old tensions in the town and exposing secrets long put to rest.

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Lone Star

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Critics Consensus

Smart and absorbing, Lone Star represents a career high point for writer-director John Sayles -- and '90s independent cinema in general.

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Critics Reviews

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Lone Star | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Peter Bradshaw Guardian one Star is a richly and densely achieved movie that gets a lot of storytelling done in two and a quarter hours; it is thoughtful and complex and grownup. Rated: 5/5 Aug 15, 2024 Full Review Lone Star | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Jake Cole Slant Magazine John Sayles’s Lone Star is among the most literary films ever made. Jan 24, 2024 Full Review Lone Star | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Robert Faires Austin Chronicle Sayles is able to touch on the humanity of each [character] and the details of the region -- the heat, the beautiful but often unforgiving landscape, and especially the pride of the residents -- are vivid and true. Rated: 4/5 Sep 6, 2023 Full Review Lone Star | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Michael J. Casey Boulder Weekly If you haven’t seen "Lone Star" before, you’ll be gob-smacked a movie this good isn’t talked about more. Rated: 5/5 Jan 25, 2024 Full Review Lone Star | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Juan Rodriguez Flores La Opinion The geographic space of Lone Star has a singular historical, psychological and emotional resonance within the intimate life of those who inhabit it. [Full review in Spanish] Sep 6, 2023 Full Review Lone Star | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Peter Keough Boston Phoenix Lone Star offers all the satisfaction of a deftly structured, deeply intelligent novel or a luminous canvas for the imagination -- not to mention a mirror for the subjective processes of memory and desire. Sep 6, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (445) audience reviews

G M Stacked with great actors delivering compelling performances, this film captivates through its rich storytelling. The flashbacks to the past are undoubtedly the best part, providing depth and a backstory that keeps you engaged. However, the present-day scenes feel a bit boring and tend to drag, lacking the excitement of the historical sequences. Overall, it’s a good film if you’re comfortable with a slow-paced drama, but those looking for an action-packed experience akin to “L.A. Confidential” might find it disappointing. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/07/24 Full Review John H Great story and movie. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/05/24 Full Review Glen M Masterpiecea great script turned in to a great film by wonderful actors and deft director Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/07/23 Full Review Kevin L Great John Sayles movie. Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Pena and Kris Kristofferson are all terrific. Would've liked to have seen more of McGonaughey's character rather than just the legend talk. But I get why Sayles went the route he did. Needed to build the legend to draw minds from thoughts of a cover-up. Bit soap opera-y/melodramatic at times for me, but this sort of drama often is. 3.7 stars Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/14/23 Full Review K W This is a make you think movie. It was entertaining. About the struggle among men for power but it was no Gladiator. Still, a couple of hours after it was over I realized that I wouldn't forget it. That's what I love about movies. Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 05/05/23 Full Review Steve D Well acted but predictable and with a ridiculous (and gross) end. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

John Sayles Director Chris Cooper Sheriff Sam Deeds Elizabeth Peña Pilar Cruz Joe Morton Colonel Delmore Payne Ron Canada Otis Payne Clifton James Mayor Hollis Pogue
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Synopsis In the Texas border town of Frontera, Sheriff Sam Deeds (Chris Cooper) digs up the past when he finds an old skull in the desert. As he traces the murder of Sheriff Charlie Wade (Kris Kristofferson) 40 years earlier, Deeds' investigation points toward his late father, the much-loved Deputy Buddy Deeds. Ignoring warnings not to delve any deeper, Sam rekindles a romance with his high school sweetheart while bringing up old tensions in the town and exposing secrets long put to rest.

Director
John Sayles

Producer
Maggie Renzi

Screenwriter
John Sayles

Distributor
Columbia Pictures

Production Co
Castle Rock Entertainment, Columbia Pictures Corporation

Rating
R

Genre
Drama

Original Language
English

Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 21, 1996, Original

Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 1, 2014

Box Office (Gross USA)
$13.1M

Runtime
2h 14m

Sound Mix
Surround
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