The Hero

Name: The Hero
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: June 9, 2017
Duration: 93 min
Rating: 61
Cast: Doug Cox, Frank Collison, Jackie Joyner, Katharine Ross, Krysten Ritter

2017

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 28 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 29 Ratings

See All

6.7

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6.7	Your Score
6.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 29 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

The Hero

Now Playing: The Hero

Movie Details & Credits

Lionsgate Home Entertainment | Release Date: June 9, 2017 | R

Starring: Doug Cox, Frank Collison, Jackie Joyner, Katharine Ross, Krysten Ritter, Laura Prepon, Max Gail, Nick Offerman, Patrika Darbo, Sam Elliott

Summary: Lee Hayden (Sam Elliott) is an aging Western icon with a golden voice, but his best performances are decades behind him. He spends his days reliving old glories and smoking too much weed with his former-co-star-turned-dealer, Jeremy (Nick Offerman), until a surprise cancer diagnosis brings his priorities into sharp focus. He soon strikes upLee Hayden (Sam Elliott) is an aging Western icon with a golden voice, but his best performances are decades behind him. He spends his days reliving old glories and smoking too much weed with his former-co-star-turned-dealer, Jeremy (Nick Offerman), until a surprise cancer diagnosis brings his priorities into sharp focus. He soon strikes up an exciting, contentious relationship with stand-up comic Charlotte (Laura Prepon), and he attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter, Lucy (Krysten Ritter), all while searching for one final role to cement his legacy.… Expand

Director: Brett Haley

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: R

Runtime: 93 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

The Film Stage Dan Mecca

Jan 28, 2017

The cancer-diagnosis plot device is certainly well-worn and can often be viciously maudlin, but Haley does well in utilizing it as a means to work on something a bit more nuanced. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Jun 14, 2017

In The Hero, as elsewhere, Haley really is dealing with the subject of heroism, but the kind of heroism not usually found in movies, the heroism of daily life. Read full review

Moira Macdonald

Jun 22, 2017

It plants its gaze on Lee — and on Elliott, who takes The Hero in his hands and makes something quietly moving from it. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Jun 5, 2017

Brett Haley’s film captures Elliott in all his majesty, his twinkle dimming as he casts his eyes out over the mountains beyond his house or the rocky beach down the hill. Read full review

Johanna Schneller

Jun 22, 2017

The best thing about the film is the bromance between Lee and his weed dealer, Jeremy (Nick Offerman), which deepens into loveliness in one memorable scene. Read full review

Mike D'Angelo

Jun 7, 2017

A film that generously gives Elliott one of the few lead roles of his lengthy career, but mostly asks him to embody clichés, without providing any sense of how he might improve upon them. Read full review

Robert Abele

Jan 28, 2017

It’s as if Haley viewed his star’s strengths — laconic wit, unforced masculinity, polite romanticism — as the only elements needed for a Sam Elliott showcase, rather than as the building blocks from which to mold an original character. Read full review

SEE ALL 28 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

tim73034

Jul 3, 2017

This is a great movie. Definitely a break from the action adventure popcorn movies, a break in a good way! The story is amazing and I was genuinely sad when the movie ended, I wanted more!

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

Lyn

Nov 28, 2017

I'm not sure any gunslinger Sam Elliott has played in the movies was any braver than Elliott himself was in playing this part. Also not sure how many people want to see a film about an older guy just diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. (Not a spoiler; we learn this right away.) It isn't aI'm not sure any gunslinger Sam Elliott has played in the movies was any braver than Elliott himself was in playing this part. Also not sure how many people want to see a film about an older guy just diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. (Not a spoiler; we learn this right away.) It isn't a depressing film, honest. But while Elliott and his character are early 70s, when you see him from behind -- white hair, scrawny frame, neck skin with tire tracks in it -- he could be 99. Elliott portrays an actor who naturally is quite privileged, despite not getting calls for movies anymore. Yet his late-in-life struggles and insights have a universal quality one can identify with (say, at middle age or later). There's a scene with Katharine Ross --his real wife, playing his ex-wife -- that is beautifully subtle. Not sure about the 30-something girlfriend who turns up, but she quotes Edna St. Vincent Millay so I'll give her a pass.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

moviemitch96

Jul 8, 2017

First thing's first: Sam Elliot gives us his career-best performance in this. He's all the reason you need to see this simple, yet often times touching film. Sure, it's got its fair share of dramatic cliches, and the whole "veteran actor playing a character coming to terms with his age"First thing's first: Sam Elliot gives us his career-best performance in this. He's all the reason you need to see this simple, yet often times touching film. Sure, it's got its fair share of dramatic cliches, and the whole "veteran actor playing a character coming to terms with his age" storyline has been visited a handful of times in many other films as well, but Elliot's charm and just the right touch of emotion from him alone is more than enough to overcome all of that to make this a great and well-worthwhile film overall!… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

CoKronakan

Mar 16, 2018

What I really liked about this movie, it's the fact that it wasn't the typical cliche story with a happy ending. It has a nice emotional feel to it and, it also depicts real life events, and more precisely the hard life of an old retired actor. The cast is great, and the director's style isWhat I really liked about this movie, it's the fact that it wasn't the typical cliche story with a happy ending. It has a nice emotional feel to it and, it also depicts real life events, and more precisely the hard life of an old retired actor. The cast is great, and the director's style is also a good change in the right direction. What was really a miss for me, it was the ending. Or rather not having a conclusion. It just seemed that they rushed the ending and there was no conclusion to the story. The matter of fact is that there was one but it was to vague and you had to look to hard to find it. Overall it's a pretty movie, mostly relaxing and an above average.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Sep 9, 2017

A simple story, maybe a little bit repetitive and cliche that is saved by the great acting commitment of its protagonist.
Not as good as I thought it would be, but it works enough to enjoy it this weekend.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

LeZee

Feb 4, 2018

The tale of an aging iconic actor!

This film is kind of honours Sam Elliott for his real life achievement. Anyway, he was phenomenal. The film was realistic, so most of the parts were slow moving. This is about an aging film actor, who has not worked on any projects recently. So desperateThe tale of an aging iconic actor!

This film is kind of honours Sam Elliott for his real life achievement. Anyway, he was phenomenal. The film was realistic, so most of the parts were slow moving. This is about an aging film actor, who has not worked on any projects recently. So desperate to get one, but sad news brings a speed breaker to his life. Now confused him, does not know how to approach the rest of the life. He starts with his family to fix the past mistake. The remaining tale focused on his other things.

It was Sam Elliott's major role in decades. This should be watched for him considering his real life as an actor. It will be a good film for those who have seen his old films, particularly westerns. The actor who did not just survived because of his iconic mustache and golden voice, but have given fine performances too. This was a too simple film. It do has emotions, but not appealing enough. I might slightly rated it low, but the film is good, at least for once watching.

6/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DOUGK

Jul 4, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Torture...We don't need waterboarding, we could just force prisoners to watch this movie over and over. Horribly boring, no characters are worth caring about, no development, no dialog of any wit or importance. Like to watch people smoke dope, drink, have banal conversation, go for it. Hollywood is at the bottom of human culture, loves to look at itself.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

SEE ALL 10 REVIEWS