As far as Westerns go, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid may well be one of the most popular films of that genre. With an 89 per cent Rotten Tomatoes score, the movie has made it to many ‘best Westerns of all time’ lists.
Released in September 1969, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is an American Western buddy film, except there’s nothing ordinary about it. Written by William Goldman and directed by George Roy Hill, the movie is loosely based on facts and tells the story of Wild West outlaws Robert LeRoy Parker, better known as Butch Cassidy (Paul Newman), and his bro-mantic partner-in-crime, Harry Longabaugh or the Sundance Kid (Robert Redford).
After a series of train robberies, the duo find themselves on the run from a crack US posse. Together with Sundance’s lover, Etta Place (Katharine Ross), they flee to Bolivia in a desperate bid to escape.
The movie gave us one of the most iconic, oft-quoted songs of all time: Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head. Although many felt the inclusion of the song in the Western was absurd, — including Robert Redford who was one of the film’s leads — director George Roy Hill revealed. Robert famously said of the song retrospectively: “When the film was released, I was highly critical: How did the song fit with the film? There was no rain. At the time, it seemed like a dumb idea. How wrong I was, as it turned out to be a giant hit.”
In its opening week, the film pulled in $82,625 from just two theaters in New York City. It quickly caught on and exploded on the scene, soaring to the top of the box office in both the US and Canada, holding that spot for two consecutive weeks. By the close of 1969, it had grossed $15 million in rentals across North America.
Fox’s records showed that the film needed $13.85 million in rentals to break even, and by December 11, 1970, it had already earned $36.83 million, turning a significant profit for the studio. The film ultimately generated $45.95 million in rentals, and with a final US gross surpassing $100 million, it became the highest-grossing film of 1969.
Not only did the film knock it out of the park in terms of box-office collections, but it released to immense critical acclaim, bagging four Oscars for Best Story and Screenplay – Based on Material Not Previously Published or Produced, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score for a Motion Picture (Not a Musical), and Best Song – Original for the Picture.
Critics liked the film, with one review stating: “It’s lighthearted and likeable, a cool, 1960s spin on a genre that at the time had become a little tired.” These feelings were echoed by another critic who wrote: “Note-perfect performances, a screenplay steeped in both nostalgia and a timely sense of insight, and anti-heroes you can’t help but love: it’s no surprise that the always re-watchable Butch And Sundance was once labelled the most likeable film ever made.”
Audience review of the film also sang its praise, with one viewer commenting: “A beautiful film in every way. The cinematography, characters, story and soundtrack, are all on another level. I simply can’t recommend enough.”
Another audience review of the movie said: “Absolute classic, though you feel it really has no right to be, with that strange, anachronistic Burt Bacharach song in the middle, followed by sepia postcards from the boat trip to South America. Proof in a way that you can hang almost anything on a brilliant script and characters … and the movie will still work.”
Dubbed a “non-stop rollercoaster of emotions” by one viewer, their review stated: “One of the most fun westerns I’ve seen and a bromance that makes the movie even more enjoyable. It is a non-stop rollercoaster of emotions and adventures in the life of two bandits thanks to a phenomenal performance by the two leads. A beautifully scripted and shot movie.”
The reviewer continued: “I can recommend this to people who are just looking for a couple of hours of enjoyable characters, beautiful shots and a compelling story. I will give a 9/10 for a Western, some aspects of the movie didn’t work for me but subtract nothing from the overall greatness put on screen.”
For UK Copies: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is available to stream on Disney+.
For US Copies: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is available for rent on Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video for $3.99