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Pale Rider
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Pale Rider

1985
Western
1h 55m
A mysterious preacher protects a humble prospector village from a greedy mining company trying to encroach on their land. (imdb)
Directed by:
Clint Eastwood Clint Eastwood
Written by:
Michael Butler Dennis Shryack
+1 more
Starring:
Clint Eastwood Clint Eastwood Chris Penn Chris Penn Michael Moriarty Michael Moriarty Carrie Snodgress Carrie Snodgress Richard Dysart Richard Dysart Richard Kiel Richard Kiel Sydney Penny Sydney Penny Billy Drago Billy Drago Doug McGrath John Russell John Russell Terrence Evans Terrence Evans Jeffrey Weissman Jeffrey Weissman
More
Genre:
Western
Country:
USA
Language:
English
imdb More information at IMDb
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Pale Rider

1985
Western
1h 55m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 58.04% from 1065 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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pickpocketPickpocket
Rated 22 Aug 2010
8
82nd
Underrated and pretty entertaining throughout. Clint is the king of the entrance and this film has another great one for his resume. "You shouldn't play with matches." I love that shit. Also I love me some Richard Kiel so it was a nice surprise seeing him here. Felt almost like a remake of Shane but the main difference being that this wasn't terrible. The biggest problem with the film are the scenes without Clint. They aren't nearly as good and you really start to long for him to return.
Rated 22 Aug 2010
doctor7doctor7
Rated 25 Apr 2010
91
93rd
Though a lot of people consider the Man with No Name trilogy the highlight of Eastwood's western career, and with good reason considering they're excellent films, for me I'd have to go with Unforgiven, High Plains Drifter and Pale Rider. Like High Plains Drifter this involves slightly surreal and almost supernatural forces working through the Eastwood's "preacher" character which gives an interesting twist on the genre. If you want Eastwood this won't disappoint.
Rated 25 Apr 2010
vesupriavesupria
Rated 26 Apr 2010
5
44th
This seems to be a mish-mash of different ideals, moods, screenplay ideas etc. Every time that I was starting to get engaged with this something unnecessary broke up the tension or moment of the previous part (ie the soppy 'love' triangle). The attempts at humour also seemed to bog the movie down in much the same way. Eastwood was good, not as his best, but his character did have a 'mystique' in this that I do think pays homage to why he has such a good presence in most things he's in.
Rated 26 Apr 2010
boxcarsBoxcars
Rated 11 Dec 2016
8
71st
Describing 'Pale Rider' as 'Shane' meets 'High Plains Drifter' isn't the most original laconic description, but it's accurate. Not only that, but it's superior to both pictures. Not every subplot is the best, and it doesn't stray too far from the Eastwood formula (there's TWO side-kick savior shots), but this is a damn fine Western.
Rated 11 Dec 2016
karlsonkarlson
Rated 24 Mar 2023
45
10th
There are a couple of fine roles in this mess: Dysart, Russel, Eastwood and Weismann deserve mentioning and Moriarty pulls off an almost awardwinning lead. Production design? Excellent! The scenario is cartoonish but that does not necessarily cripple a western. But oh lord the women around Eastwood! They are again a complete disaster. I’m positive that in five decades of directing, Meryl Streep (in Bridges of M) acted the one and only female fling/relationship that didn’t ruin his film.
Rated 24 Mar 2023
muzak66muzak66
Rated 11 Jul 2010
96
97th
Great movie through out once again Clint is the man.
Rated 11 Jul 2010
thedenizenTheDenizen
Rated 14 Aug 2007
75
74th
Good, but kinda the same thing as High Plains Drifter. Michael Moriarity is great though.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
overratedoverrated
Rated 09 Feb 2012
49
46th
Forgettable. The climactic gunfight is enjoyable but there's nothing that hasn't been done better in other Eastwood westerns. The score is on the wrong side of 50 just because of that girl's acting.
Rated 09 Feb 2012
luna6ixLuna6ix
Rated 15 Mar 2009
78
66th
A solid average. I wonder how many men of cloth were inspired to take up a life of gun toting, dynamite throwing, justice dealing by this movie--'cause it must have been a lot.
Rated 15 Mar 2009
miss_jesusmiss jesus
Rated 24 Nov 2008
49
33rd
The story is predictable at every turn, but it's entertaining to see Eastwood doing his western thing on the same screen as Ben Stone from Law & Order. Whoever that was playing the daughter was awful--couldn't act at all.
Rated 24 Nov 2008
vandelay1Vandelay1
Rated 25 Aug 2019
60
63rd
okay movie
Rated 25 Aug 2019
mechatiggerMechatigger
Rated 10 Dec 2009
71
50th
Eastwood's first western since _The Outlaw Josey Wales_ is a classically structured, visually spectacular return to form. The acting is solid, and Eastwood's direction is attentive to the vast and symbolic terrain of the western film.
Rated 10 Dec 2009
dorkovskyDorkovsky
Rated 28 Apr 2009
6
70th
Imagine "Shane", only good.
Rated 28 Apr 2009
walkearthwalkearth
Rated 03 Oct 2015
70
81st
Clint fuckin' Eastwood.
Rated 03 Oct 2015
gwulingwulin
Rated 29 Aug 2012
80
84th
extremely cool Clint, even without Morricone music
Rated 29 Aug 2012
joojooJooJoo
Rated 20 Sep 2011
4
55th
It's odd of how little interest the westerns Eastwood makes on his own are to me. I don't really get much of anything but the most basic (and short-lived) enjoyment from them.
Rated 20 Sep 2011
glumpy99glumpy_99
Rated 05 Apr 2021
84
73rd
Conservative remake of Clint's own HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER lacks the complexity and ambiguity of the earlier effort but is still interesting as a signpost on the way to UNFORGIVEN showing Eastwood's growing ambivalence to the heroic undertones of his "Man With No Name". A droll sense of self-deprecating humour is welcome, but it is interesting to note that Eastwood may well be one of the most insecure of action star personas, especially the sometimes absurd swooning of all his female co-stars!
Rated 05 Apr 2021
heandhishairheandhishair
Rated 14 Aug 2007
58
42nd
A take-it-or-leave-it Eastwood western. Meh.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
battletoadBattleToad
Rated 21 May 2007
83
69th
Though not quite on par with some of Clint's other westerns, Pale Rider still shows his consistently great film making with interesting characters and a classic plot. Everyone likes an underdog, and this movie has an entire village of them. Really good!
Rated 21 May 2007
hellboy76hellboy76
Rated 22 Sep 2010
70
79th
I will take an Eastwood western anyway I can get it but this one is an odd one. Preacher will beat your ass and help ya up, and also nail the people he helps wives. Awesome.
Rated 22 Sep 2010
jeg2jeg2
Rated 05 Apr 2008
70
81st
almost choreographed--more to be seen for its form than for the story
Rated 05 Apr 2008
teeceeteecee
Rated 18 Oct 2008
52
76th
Gammeldags og typisk Eastwood - ser den gerne igen og igen...
Rated 18 Oct 2008
zozanZozan
Rated 14 Nov 2009
25
23rd
69 PSI? Noty. You can tell exactly how this movie gonna end in the first couple of minutes. Not boring but still feels like a waste of time.
Rated 14 Nov 2009
zealot185Zealot185
Rated 01 Nov 2009
42
20th
Eastwood has some pretty bad-ass scenes, which was to be expected, but unfortunately the rest of the cast (save for maybe Stockburn and LaHood) doesn't carry much energy. There are some really dumb scenes like the guy bragging about his giant nugget, but what grated on me the most was the awful final showdown. The similarities to Shane are pretty obvious, but I feel like Shane pulled off a more engaging story as well as better choreographed action pieces.
Rated 01 Nov 2009
rnestrnest
Rated 30 Nov 2015
6
45th
lite väl löjlig ibland
Rated 30 Nov 2015
evilmangoesEvilMangoes
Rated 11 Feb 2017
92
76th
A-
Rated 11 Feb 2017
omgfridgeomgfridge
Rated 25 Jul 2010
8
80th
Doesn't have as much impact as "High Plains Drifter" yet still a solid movie in its own right.
Rated 25 Jul 2010
blearybleary
Rated 08 Sep 2008
80
93rd
eastwood on a horse! need i say more
Rated 08 Sep 2008
hankhank
Rated 09 Nov 2008
85
83rd
Great movie - I've seen it many times. Clint does an excellent job in this one, playing the part of a preacher (!) with a dark side. A must-see for Clint/Western fans.
Rated 09 Nov 2008
dynagripDynagrip
Rated 13 Apr 2008
97
95th
amazing western
Rated 13 Apr 2008
jhmclellanjhmclellan
Rated 15 Aug 2007
75
51st
When is a Spaghetti Western not a Spaghetti Western. Here's your answer. And all the women want him of course.
Rated 15 Aug 2007
stainStain
Rated 06 May 2007
60
47th
Not a bad Western but the whole Shane thing is getting old
Rated 06 May 2007
jordanraidenjordanraiden
Rated 25 Sep 2017
15
60th
7/7
Rated 25 Sep 2017
kough33kough33
Rated 13 Nov 2023
72
60th
A more up to date version of "Shane", Pale Rider depicts a man who is willing to bring back peace at any cost. At the end, the hell he has created doesn't seem able to turn into a paradise for the villagers. However, looks like the only way to distract these bastards from money is to remove them completely. Familiar?
Rated 13 Nov 2023
potzblitzPotzblitz
Rated 11 Sep 2007
89
63rd
The only western Eastwood made in the '80s (before returning to the genre with "Unforgiven" in 1992), "Pale Rider" is sadly almost forgotten. It is a good one, though. The ghostly preacher is a great character.
Rated 11 Sep 2007
glm01glm01
Rated 15 Feb 2013
82
71st
82.000
Rated 15 Feb 2013
ytadelYtadel
Rated 05 Nov 2019
7
84th
A very enjoyable western in the “stranger rides into town” subgenre. Plenty of badassery and cool moments and stylish filmmaking. Cool to see Richard Kiel outside of James Bond/Happy Gilmore. The biblical passage bit with Clint and the pale horse ridden by death is terrific editing. My one notable complaint would be that the villainous lawman played by John Russell is so well-introduced and well-acted but then underused.
Rated 05 Nov 2019
lookinglandLookingLand
Rated 16 Nov 2007
60
69th
perhaps oddly one of my favorite eastwood westerns.
Rated 16 Nov 2007
moraesfelipemoraesfelipe
Rated 25 Mar 2016
85
92nd
Such a beautiful ghost tale about the character Clint loves to depict: a drifter that seems to be in between worlds and timelines, just passing by to help this group of humble, hard-working miners and their families to slowly stand up against one greed business man -- and making a woman and her daughter fall in love with him, too. Preacher facing the man who killed him brings maybe the most haunting western image of the director's career. Oh, and yes, there is Chris Penn.
Rated 25 Mar 2016
mentaculusMentaculus
Rated 23 Jan 2010
77
65th
Swimming in Western symbolism and grit. It is all very cliche, even stock, but pulled off with such panache it's hard to find much fault with it (the lonely town, and later gunfight, are glorious). But despite this awesomeness, I saw more boom mikes and equipment shadows and lack of key lights here than in any other very professional film I can think of, which took me out of it at the wrong places. Still great, besides.
Rated 23 Jan 2010
nathan_sNathan S
Rated 13 Mar 2007
3
45th
A little hokey at times, but always entertaining. Eastwood creates one of the most compelling characters I've ever seen. He's a preacher that'll hit a man in the groin with a sledgehammer, then help him back up. The mythical presence of the Preacher is interesting, if a bit forced. I prefer High Plains Drifter's ambiguity, but Pale Rider isn't bad by any means.
Rated 13 Mar 2007
jsdavis1jsdavis1
Rated 14 May 2010
78
75th
While dazzling, concerning Western grit and symbolism, Pale Rider contains far too many 'just script readers' to enjoy fully and completely. Acknowledging this, Pale Rider has sparked a curiosity and desire to watch Eastwood in his 'Man With No Name' films.... Or perhaps I'm just too drunk to think straight.
Rated 14 May 2010
hulothulot
Rated 19 Dec 2011
80
81st
watched: 2011, 2021
Rated 19 Dec 2011
okkervilOkkervil
Rated 02 Aug 2009
72
71st
Clint kills some shit back in the mid to late 19th Century. Always seemed to work pretty well.
Rated 02 Aug 2009
gemma68Gemma68
Rated 28 Aug 2013
79
39th
att
Rated 28 Aug 2013
chemical404chemical404
Rated 12 May 2010
60
59th
Pale Rider is a curious western by Eastwood because of the rare for him religion theme. There is a certain artistic and at the same time slightly campy feel about the way it is filmed. Story is pretty much the same as in many other westerns, and gets tiring towards the end. Overall - decent western, but not even close to the Man With No Name trilogy.
Rated 12 May 2010
thehynesthehynes
Rated 04 Feb 2014
70
88th
Great little Western with Clint doing his thing. Different as there's a supernatural theme to proceedings (a la High Plains Drifter) which you can take or leave without it lessening the film's quality
Rated 04 Feb 2014
thedicemanTheDiceman
Rated 02 Mar 2007
60
62nd
Good.
Rated 02 Mar 2007
myfavchordsmyfavchords
Rated 02 Dec 2016
80
80th
This is a good, well made western. Clint Eastwood is great in the lead role and the rest of the cast also does a good job here. The screenplay keeps things interesting. Overall I would recommend this film.
Rated 02 Dec 2016
pompousasspompousass
Rated 21 May 2009
20
44th
What comes entirely natural to Eastwood might well have seemed teeth-gnashingly self-conscious and pretentious to one such as John Wayne, alongside whom Eastwood, with not yet a dozen Westerns notched on his gun, is still in the position of a tenderfoot. To have so closely copied the story pattern of _Shane_ may have seemed a guarantee of mythical "correctness."
Rated 21 May 2009
glmglm
Rated 19 Apr 2012
80
66th
80.250
Rated 19 Apr 2012
dustydDustyd
Rated 17 Sep 2007
70
63rd
solid western
Rated 17 Sep 2007
matthagenmatthagen
Rated 02 Sep 2020
46
32nd
Kind of cool, kind of fun, kind of awkward, kind of amateurish. I'm not a big western fan, but I have seen my fair share. This is an above average western, but a just plain average overall movie.
Rated 02 Sep 2020
sfgse83rf3sfgse83rf3
Rated 07 Sep 2022
3
64th
A decent film overall. A bit unimaginative, following the same story we've seen many times before without anything new to show and having all characters be completely archetypical and shallow. Having the only two women in the movie fall in love with the protagonist at first sight was a bit much.
Rated 07 Sep 2022
zipsterZipster
Rated 11 Aug 2014
75
30th
An obvious companion piece to High Plains Drifter but much closer to Shane, this contemporary Western riff seems to offer another version of male heroism by contending that while Eastwood's ghostly stranger is practiced in violence in a way respected by longstanding figures of masculinity, it's just that which keeps him from assimilation into family and community.
Rated 11 Aug 2014

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