The Highwaymen
Performance & Direction: The Highwaymen Review
Last updated: January 27, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is The Highwaymen (2019) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 6.8/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Crime.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Crime is often anchored by its ensemble, and The Highwaymen features a noteworthy lineup led by Kevin Costner . Supported by the likes of Woody Harrelson and Kathy Bates , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of The Highwaymen (2019) is generally positive. With an audience rating of 6.8/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
Story & Plot Summary: The Highwaymen
Quick Plot Summary: The Highwaymen is a Crime, Drama, Thriller film that dives into the criminal underworld with a grounded sense of realism and complex morality. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Story Breakdown
The film presents its narrative with careful attention to pacing and character development. In 1934, Frank Hamer and Manny Gault, two former Texas Rangers, are commissioned to put an end to the wave of vicious crimes perpetrated by Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, a notorious duo of infamous robbers and cold-blooded killers who nevertheless are worshiped by the public. The story unfolds naturally, allowing viewers to become invested in the outcome while maintaining engagement throughout.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: The film establishes its world and central conflict efficiently in the opening act.
- Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. The arc is present but occasionally predictable.
- Climax & Resolution: The climax brings together the narrative threads, providing resolution while staying true to the established tone.
Ending Explained: The Highwaymen
Ending Breakdown: The Highwaymen concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to crime resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the crime themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of The Highwaymen reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
The Highwaymen Real vs. Reel: Is it Based on a True Story?
The Highwaymen incorporates elements from real criminal cases. As a crime, drama, thriller film, it navigates the space between factual accuracy and narrative engagement.
Historical Context
The film takes creative liberties to enhance dramatic impact. Core events maintain connection to source material while adapting for theatrical presentation.
Creative interpretation shapes the final narrative, focusing on emotional truth over strict chronology.
Accuracy Assessment: The Highwaymen adapts its source material for dramatic purposes. The film prioritizes thematic resonance over documentary precision.
Who Should Watch The Highwaymen?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Crime films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want solid genre entertainment
Box Office Collection: The Highwaymen
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $49.0M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
The Highwaymen Budget
The estimated production budget for The Highwaymen is $49.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: The Highwaymen
All Cast & Crew →
Where to Watch The Highwaymen Online?
Streaming Hub📺 Stream on
NetflixThe Highwaymen Parents Guide & Age Rating
2019 AdvisoryWondering about The Highwaymen age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of The Highwaymen is 133 minutes (2h 13m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.8/10, and global performance metrics, The Highwaymen is classified as a HIT. It remains an essential part of the 2019 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Highwaymen worth watching?
The Highwaymen is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Crime movies. It has a verified rating of 6.8/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.
Where can I find The Highwaymen parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for The Highwaymen identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of The Highwaymen?
The total duration of The Highwaymen is 133 minutes, which is approximately 2h 13m long.
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How The Highwaymen Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for The Highwaymen
Expectations: To see a period piece centered around the take down of Bonnie and Clyde and all the events that led up to it. What happened: Exactly that. This movie isn't for everyone, but if you are hoping to see a good period piece with realistic action and events. You'll love this film.
***Tracking down Bonnie & Clyde*** Based on the real story, two renowned retired Texas Rangers (Kevin Costner & Woody Harrelson) are commissioned to track down and execute Bonnie & Clyde in 1934 after other authorities have failed. “The Highwaymen” (1983) is a great counterbalance to the 1967 movie with Beatty & Dunaway, which painted the thugs more sympathetically, as well as the excellent “Bonnie & Clyde: The True Story” (1992). The filmmakers shoot for realism rather than the thrills of, say, James Bond or Batman. And by "realism" I don't mean exact historical accuracy; movies never are for many reasons. For instance, Frank Hamer never approached Bonnie & Clyde from the front of their vehicle. Hamer & co. just blew them to smithereens as soon as it was determined it was the rogue couple. The picture is a reverent period piece about life in the Great Depression and the pursuit & execution of the infamous duo by a couple of aged, but experienced men. The film has the confidence to take its time, unlike say "Aquaman,” which anxiously jumped to a wild action scene just when a dramatic part was getting interesting. If "The Highwaymen" is sometimes slow & boring it's because the actual pursuit was also slow and often boring. This is not a flick for people with ADHD who demand an explosion every 5-7 minutes. It's for people who favor period pieces like "The Whole Wide World," "Cross Creek," "Of Mice and Men," “The Cider House Rules,” "The Green Mile" and "Water for Elephants." The movie runs 2 hours, 12 minutes. GRADE: B+/A-
Every time I'm about to give up on Netflix in frustration over horrible remakes and bad stand up specials, they come around a release a flick like this. It has a low budget, but it has a low budget that is very well and very very well disguised in a way that can best be described as pro-talent. It looks good, it looks like the 30s. It's also expertly acted and skillfully walks the line between funny and deadly serious as you get to watch the two old Texas Rangers walk through a world that has drastically changed. In other words, it's an absolute pleasure to watch.
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
