The Old Way
Saban Films | Release Date: January 6, 2023 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
43
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews
Positive:
4
Mixed:
7
Negative:
3
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
40
EmpireJordan KingJan 17, 2023
Though Cage and Armstrong’s father-daughter dynamic merits praise, The Old Way tries so hard to emulate Westerns past that it squanders a gilt-edged opportunity to do something new. Read full review
40
The TelegraphRobbie CollinJan 14, 2023
The Nicolas Cage aficionado carries two hopes into each of the 59-year-old actor’s new films. The first – not often met, truth be told – is that it will be good. And the second, failing that, is that it will be mad. Alas, this thin and lumpy western is neither. Read full review
60
Los Angeles TimesNoel MurrayJan 13, 2023
Ultimately, this is a movie with real personality, about a man coming to realize with no small amazement that he has an actual legacy to pass on — even if it’s a grim one. Read full review
25
ColliderRobert Brian TaylorJan 12, 2023
There's really nothing here that should interest anyone outside of Cage and Western completionists. The Old Way just feels too formulaic to leave any sort of impact. Read full review
40
The GuardianLeslie FelperinJan 10, 2023
A lot of True Grit-style grizzled-guy-smart-kid bonding that’s hackily written but reasonably watchable thanks to Cage and Armstrong’s screen chemistry. Read full review
75
ObserverRex ReedJan 9, 2023
The revenge narrative may be worn rope-thin by archives of forgotten shoot-’em-ups, but Mr. Cage and director Donowho pull enough sub-themes out of old Bud Boetticher movies to inject the kind of suspense and true grit that still works. Read full review
50
Screen RantPatrice WitherspoonJan 6, 2023
Donowho’s western tale follows a typical formula, but there are plenty of laughs and smiles to be had throughout this familiar story. Read full review
61
Paste MagazineAndrew CrumpJan 6, 2023
When Donowho brings The Old Way back to the well-trod ground of old Westerns, it’s just plain old. Read full review
50
RogerEbert.comPeter SobczynskiJan 6, 2023
The Western may not be entirely dead yet, but The Old Way is not exactly doing it any favors. Read full review
50
IndieWireDavid EhrlichJan 6, 2023
The first part of the problem is that Donowho’s competent but uncompelling oater doesn’t have enough fresh meat on its bones to fill out its Western cosplay. Read full review
63
Chicago Sun-TimesRichard RoeperJan 5, 2023
This is a revenge Western we’ve seen dozens of times before, and the villains aren’t nearly as intimidating and pitch-black evil as they need to be. The end result is a passably entertaining shoot-’em-up with very few surprises. Read full review
20
The New York TimesCalum MarshJan 5, 2023
While it’s true that a certain tepid aspect is common to most B westerns, those of the ’30s and ’40s were made with a baseline competence that The Old Way is woefully lacking. Read full review
67
Austin ChronicleRichard WhittakerJan 4, 2023
Yes, The Old Way is at first glimpse merely a classic revenger, but it's also vintage low-key Cage, with that acid little twist that makes it all the more fascinating. Read full review
38
Movie NationRoger MooreJan 4, 2023
That simple quest, packaged in a 95 minute movie, takes forever to play out thanks to one eye-rolling Pause for a Monologue after another. Read full review
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