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Bad Company

Bad Company

Western · Drama · 1972

After Drew Dixon, an upright young man, is sent west by his religious family to avoid being drafted into the Civil War, he drifts across the land with a loose confederation of young vagrants.

Movie details

Bad Company

“They're young, desperate, dangerous—a long way from home, but a short way from Hell.”

1972 Western · Drama 1h 33m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.4 / 10

Community rating

After Drew Dixon, an upright young man, is sent west by his religious family to avoid being drafted into the Civil War, he drifts across the land with a loose confederation of young vagrants.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Bad Company?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

The Missouri Breaks

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Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1

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Jubal

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The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Drama · 2007

Outlaw Jesse James is rumored to be the 'fastest gun in the West'. An eager recruit into James' notorious gang, Robert Ford eventually grows jealous of the famed outlaw and, when Robert and his brother sense an opportunity to kill James, their murderous action elevates their target to near mythical status.

Heaven's Gate

Heaven's Gate

Drama · 1980

Harvard graduate James Averill serves as the sheriff of prosperous Jackson County, Wyoming, standing at the center of a conflict between impoverished immigrants and affluent cattle farmers. Politically connected ranchers enlist mercenary Nathan Champion—who is also vying for the affections of local madam Ella Watson—to combat the immigrant uprising. As tensions escalate, both Averill and Champion start to question their decisions.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Western · 1969

As the west rapidly becomes civilized, a pair of outlaws in 1890s Wyoming find themselves pursued by a posse and decide to flee to South America in hopes of evading the law.

The Wild Bunch

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An aging group of outlaws look for one last big score as the "traditional" American West is disappearing around them.

True Grit

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Drama · 2010

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The Hired Hand

The Hired Hand

Western · 1971

Harry Collings returns home to his farm after drifting with his friend, Arch. His wife, who had given up on him, reluctantly allows him to stay, and soon believes that all will be well again. But then Harry has to make a difficult decision regarding his loyalties and priorities.

Butcher's Crossing

Butcher's Crossing

Adventure · 2023

In the 1870s, a young Harvard dropout seeks his destiny out West by tying his fate to a team of buffalo hunters led by a man named Miller. Together, they embark on a harrowing journey risking life and sanity.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Robert Benton

Written by

David Newman · Robert Benton

Jeff Bridges

Jeff Bridges

Jake Rumsey

Barry Brown

Barry Brown

Drew Dixon

David Huddleston

David Huddleston

Big Joe

Jerry Houser

Jerry Houser

Arthur Simms

Geoffrey Lewis

Geoffrey Lewis

Hobbs

Ed Lauter

Ed Lauter

Orin

John Savage

John Savage

Loney

Court is in session

Put Bad Company on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Adrenaline Seeker

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.