Urban Cowboy | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

70% Tomatometer 23 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings

After moving to Pasadena, Texas, country boy Bud Davis (John Travolta) starts hanging around a bar called Gilley's, where he falls in love with Sissy (Debra Winger), a cowgirl who believes the sexes are equal. They eventually marry, but their relationship is turbulent due to Bud's traditional view of gender roles. Jealousy over his rival, Wes (Scott Glenn), leads to their separation, but Bud attempts to win Sissy back by triumphing at Gilley's mechanical bull-riding competition.

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Urban Cowboy

Critics Reviews

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Urban Cowboy | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Jay Scott Globe and Mail At no time is Urban Cowboy especially well-directed. Aug 12, 2022 Full Review Urban Cowboy | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Bob Thomas Associated Press As in Saturday Night Fever and Grease, [Travolta] plays a blustery, not-too-bright, young man with an electric personality that is fascinating to watch. Mar 4, 2019 Full Review Urban Cowboy | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Bruce McCabe Boston Globe Glenn's Wes is the only intriguing one. He's the only real cowboy in a film that's in no way capable of handling him. Apr 27, 2018 Full Review Urban Cowboy | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Douglas Davidson Elements of Madness In short, the fact that all three central characters are fallible is unique as it makes the characters less archetypes and more human. Rated: 3.5/5 Jul 3, 2020 Full Review Urban Cowboy | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Travolta is fine, but Winger and Glenn are the ones who truly add fire to the film. Rated: 3/4 Jun 14, 2020 Full Review Urban Cowboy | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Frank J. Avella Edge Media Network Just how his camera lingers on Travolta gives new meaning to the notion of the gay gaze... Rated: B- Jun 10, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Carmine J I saw the movie for the first time yesterday 9/29/24 and I really enjoyed it. It’s really quite humorous at times. They are in crazy love with each other even during the worst of times. I honestly didnt know howmthenmovie would end. The riveting soumdtrack was awesome. I do remember working in a music store when the movie came out and everyone bought it. Now i know why. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/30/24 Full Review Shannon F One of all time favorite movies. I know it word for word. The soundtrack is pretty good as well. I have watched it often in the last 20 years. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/05/24 Full Review Jennifer H This movie would never be considered a nominee for Best Picture from the Academy. However it has such a feel good inspiration with a really great tribute to the 80's- When the cowboy look was in fashion and as always John Travolta ruled our hearts and the dance floor. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/27/23 Full Review Rachael B The overall plot felt predictable, characters were shallow, but the dancing and mechanical bull stunts stole the shoe exactly as they were intended to. Much of the middle of the movie felt dragged out and unnecessary. Rated 2.5/5 Stars • Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 09/08/23 Full Review Blobbo X Lived down to Blobbo expectations. Way too long, too. Rated 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 06/09/23 Full Review Audience Member still remembered as one of John Travolta's earliest comebacks Bud Davis played by Travolta is an urban cowboy raised in the countryside but works in the big city of Houston in the oil industry he goes to a bar called Gilley's Club complete with a bull riding attraction and meets a woman named Sissy played by Debra Winger instantly they have an attraction towards one another but when she decides to take an interest in the bull riding Bud won't allow it because she's a woman there's also a rival in the form of Scott Glenn testing Bud's patience and unwanted attention towards his wife Bud then gets injured on the job and it seems that Sissy has had enough of his temper next to his old gender norms the movie shows how good Travolta can be given the right material, Winger plays terrific opposite as the love interest wanting her own ambitions, this soundtrack is soft fitting the cowboy setting, and shows how even a cowboy has to learn to swallow his pride in order to still keep what he loves most the last 15 min maybe could've been shaved off and they did squeeze a bit too much near the climax but the movie is still proof Travolta has the acting chops for drama and romance this was also the movie that set the stage for the Western and country fad in cinema and the music industry 'Saturday Night Fever' is better in many respects but this is still a good staple on Travolta and Winger's resumes Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/10/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Urban Cowboy

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Cast & Crew

James Bridges Director John Travolta Bud Debra Winger Sissy Davis Scott Glenn Wes Hightower Madolyn Smith Osborne Pam Barry Corbin Bob Davis
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Movie Clips

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Urban Cowboy

Urban Cowboy: Official Clip - A Sexy Sissy Ride Urban Cowboy: Official Clip - A Sexy Sissy Ride 2:13 Urban Cowboy: Official Clip - A Wedding at Gilley's Urban Cowboy: Official Clip - A Wedding at Gilley's 0:44 Urban Cowboy: Official Clip - I Love You, Sissy Urban Cowboy: Official Clip - I Love You, Sissy 1:58 Urban Cowboy: Official Clip - Swaller Pride Urban Cowboy: Official Clip - Swaller Pride 2:12 Urban Cowboy: Official Clip - Hitching a Ride Urban Cowboy: Official Clip - Hitching a Ride 2:08 Urban Cowboy: Official Clip - We're Going Home Urban Cowboy: Official Clip - We're Going Home 1:48 Urban Cowboy: Official Clip - Gilley's Rodeo Competition Urban Cowboy: Official Clip - Gilley's Rodeo Competition 2:12 Urban Cowboy: Official Clip - Sissy Rides the Bull Urban Cowboy: Official Clip - Sissy Rides the Bull 2:12 Urban Cowboy: Official Clip - We Live Like Pigs Urban Cowboy: Official Clip - We Live Like Pigs 2:13 View more videos

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Urban Cowboy

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Synopsis After moving to Pasadena, Texas, country boy Bud Davis (John Travolta) starts hanging around a bar called Gilley's, where he falls in love with Sissy (Debra Winger), a cowgirl who believes the sexes are equal. They eventually marry, but their relationship is turbulent due to Bud's traditional view of gender roles. Jealousy over his rival, Wes (Scott Glenn), leads to their separation, but Bud attempts to win Sissy back by triumphing at Gilley's mechanical bull-riding competition.

Director
James Bridges

Producer
Irving Azoff, Robert Evans

Screenwriter
Aaron Latham, James Bridges

Production Co
Paramount Pictures, Robert Evans Company

Rating
PG

Genre
Drama

Original Language
English

Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 6, 1980, Wide

Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 1, 2013

Runtime
2h 15m

Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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