The Wild Bunch (1969)

2025-06-16

Today, Matt and Todd take aim at a film that needs no introduction... but we're giving it one anyway.The Wild Bunch (1969) is a brutal, operatic action-western from the legendary Sam Peckinpah, featuring a powerhouse cast led by William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Jaime Sánchez, Warren Oates, Ben Johnson, and Robert Ryan.The Old West is dying, and Pike Bishop (Holden), a hardened outlaw, rallies his gang for one last big score: robbing a railway gold shipment. When the plan goes south, they're ...

Today, Matt and Todd take aim at a film that needs no introduction... but we're giving it one anyway.

The Wild Bunch (1969) is a brutal, operatic action-western from the legendary Sam Peckinpah, featuring a powerhouse cast led by William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Jaime Sánchez, Warren Oates, Ben Johnson, and Robert Ryan.

The Old West is dying, and Pike Bishop (Holden), a hardened outlaw, rallies his gang for one last big score: robbing a railway gold shipment. When the plan goes south, they're relentlessly pursued by former comrade-turned-bounty hunter Deke Thornton (Ryan). What follows is a violent, visceral masterpiece that grapples with fading codes of honor among men with a bent understanding of it.

If you’ve never seen this film, it earns our highest and easiest recommendation. Whether you’re a long-time fan of “horse operas” or just discovering the grit and grandeur of classic Westerns, The Wild Bunch is essential viewing. We think it would appeal to any action fan of all ages.

Matt reviews and ranks more movies including newer ones at ⁠Letterboxd⁠

You can find out what he's following on Bluesky @MovieMattSirois.bsky.social

Check out favorites of what we follow, at: ⁠⁠⁠Once Upon a Geek⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Fade Out Podcast⁠⁠ As Marcus he reviews all sorts of films but unlike here, they often they range from bad, worse, or terrible at the ⁠⁠⁠⁠MovieAsylum of the Weird, Bad and Wonderful⁠.

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