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Cool Hand Luke

1967 · Movie · PG · 127 min · ★ 7.7 · 96% critics

DramaCrime

Sent to a sweltering Florida prison farm for a minor crime, a stubborn inmate refuses to bend to the rules or the men enforcing them. His defiance sparks clashes with guards and fellow prisoners alike, turning everyday labor, punishments, and small contests into a test of will that inspires the camp and rattles authority.

Based on Cool Hand Luke

IMDb

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Details
Years
1967
Release date
1967-11-01
Language
English
Rated
PG
Runtime
127 min
Critic score
96/100
TMDB rating
7.7/10 (1,620 votes)
Box office
$16,218,161
Budget
$3,200,000
About

You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a classic, character-driven prison drama about defiance, grit, and camaraderie under pressure; Not for you if you dislike slow pacing, harsh punishments, or dated attitudes and scenes.

Pros: iconic rebellious spirit; strong lead performances; memorable set pieces | Cons: slow, uneven pacing; thin character motivation; dated sexual moments

Themes

  • prison
  • dying and death
  • florida
  • based on novel or book
  • escape
  • loss of loved one
  • rebel
  • harassment
  • imprisonment
  • barbed wire
  • death
  • prison farm
  • +1 more

Awards & recognition

  • Academy Award — Best Supporting Actor · 1968
  • Academy Award — Best Supporting Actor · 1968 · nominated
  • Academy Award — Best Actor · 1968 · nominated
  • Academy Award — Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay · 1968 · nominated
  • Academy Award — Best Original Score · 1968 · nominated

Cast & crew

Directed by Stuart Rosenberg