The Sisters Brothers

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2:03

The Sisters Brothers

R

2018

1h 57m

Western

Mystery & Thriller

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Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

211 Reviews

69%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

It's 1851, and Charlie and Eli Sisters are both brothers and assassins, boys grown to men in a savage and hostile world. The Sisters brothers find themselves on a journey through the Northwest, bringing them to the mountains of Oregon, a dangerous brothel in the small town of Mayfield, and eventually, the gold rush land of California -- an adventure that tests the deadly family ties that bind.

Critics Consensus

The Sisters Brothers rides familiar genre trails in occasionally unexpected ways - a satisfying journey further elevated by its well-matched leading men.

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Ben Sachs

Chicago Reader

Mar 4, 2020

Neither a nostalgic throwback to traditional westerns nor a revisionist antiwestern, this advances a positive view of camaraderie between individualist western types while subtly critiquing the unfettered capitalist system in which they operate.

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Charlotte O'Sullivan

London Evening Standard

Apr 7, 2019

4/5

Erudite, visceral and chuckle-worthy, this western is based on Patrick deWitt's novel and starts out as the story of two gun-toting, chalk-and-cheese brothers, only to become more mysterious.

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Simran Hans

Observer (UK)

Apr 7, 2019

3/5

Images of the Oregon trail's deserted beauty invoke the genre's cinematic history, but these aren't John Ford's stoic, taciturn cowboys.

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Calum Cooper

Source (Scotland)

Jul 14, 2024

3/5

Fun and light-hearted, The Sisters Brothers is a film that graciously fulfils the requirements if you’re looking for a Western that’s completely content with being itself.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

May 29, 2024

4/5

…The Sisters Brothers is a violent, bleakly funny, spikey and constantly surprising movie that evokes the best of Sergio Leone, and that’s quite a high bar for any modern Western…

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

Aug 25, 2022

3.5/5

Despite its shaky tone, some of the humor lands really well. And it’s a lot of fun watching such an eclectic cast bite into this fascinating assortment of characters.

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Chris S

@Janomi Jun 19, 2026

The Sisters Brothers separates itself from traditional Westerns by focusing less on gunfights and more on the people carrying them out. Director Jacques Audiard creates a thoughtful and unusual story about aging, regret, violence, greed, and whether men who have spent their lives surrounded by brutality are capable of changing. It is far more reflective than the typical gunslinger adventure. John C. Reilly and Joaquin Phoenix are excellent as Eli and Charlie Sisters. Their relationship is complicated, built on loyalty, resentment, frustration, and dependency, transforming the film into a character study about brotherhood rather than a simple Western revenge story. Riz Ahmed and Jake Gyllenhaal add another strong dynamic, exploring friendship, ambition, and the hope of creating a better future. The dialogue-driven moments are often more compelling than the action itself. The film's mix of dark comedy, sudden violence, tragedy, and philosophical drama creates something unique.

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Saint C.

@fumandude Nov 14, 2025

Super Gucci Super Gucci

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EE D

@RT03285035 Sep 14, 2025

I liked how this 'normal' western turned to be way more dark in a great way. The way macho man had to set their boundaries between other males they've interacted with (not much different from today, just less violent), how they've 'worked out' their childhood traumas

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Ian S

@RT48225084 May 18, 2025

A very well acted offbeat western.

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Anthony M

@RT64225285 Mar 31, 2025

Slow burn and allows you to live in the characters world. I enjoy those type of movies so that is why i rated it so high. Great acting and above average plot. Why cant there be more movies like this instead of generic garbage.

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Andrew G

@Ski07 Feb 16, 2025

In my opinion this doesn’t fit the “standard” mold for most modern westerns. The brothers seem more like characters transported back in time versus being of the actual period, which opens up quite a few funny and entertaining elements. It is a rock solid story, believable characters, all star cast, and genuinely surprised me in being one of my new fave westerns.

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Jacques Audiard

Director

John C. Reilly

Eli Sisters

Joaquin Phoenix

Charlie Sisters

Jake Gyllenhaal

John Morris

Riz Ahmed

Hermann Kermit Warm

Rebecca Root

Mayfield

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Synopsis

It's 1851, and Charlie and Eli Sisters are both brothers and assassins, boys grown to men in a savage and hostile world. The Sisters brothers find themselves on a journey through the Northwest, bringing them to the mountains of Oregon, a dangerous brothel in the small town of Mayfield, and eventually, the gold rush land of California -- an adventure that tests the deadly family ties that bind.

Director: Jacques Audiard
Producer: Pascal Caucheteux, Grégoire Sorlat, Michel Merkt
Screenwriter: Jacques Audiard, Thomas Bidegain, Patrick deWitt
Distributor: Annapurna Pictures
Production Co: Mobra Films, France 2 Cinéma, France 3 Cinéma, Why Not Productions, Apache Films, Les Films du Fleuve, Page 114
Rating: R (Language|Disturbing Images|Some Sexual Content|Violence)
Genre: Western, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 19, 2018, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 22, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.1M
Runtime: 1h 57m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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