Bite the Bullet

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Bite the Bullet

PG,

1975,

2h 11m,

Western

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Watchlist

68%

73 Reviews

Tomatometer

55%

1,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

68%

Tomatometer

73 Reviews

55%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

A disparate group of individuals enters a horse race through 700 miles of the Wild West to win a large cash prize. The contestants include two ex-Rough Riders (Gene Hackman, James Coburn), an aging cowboy who refuses to slow down (Ben Johnson), an inexperienced youth (Jan-Michael Vincent), a Mexican (Mario Arteaga), an Englishman (Ian Bannen) and a woman (Candice Bergen). Over the course of the trek, the riders begin to shed their biases toward gender, race and age, and appreciate one another.

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Critics Consensus

Despite its over-reliance on well-worn genre clichés, Bite the Bullet's stunning scenery, unique premise, and solid performances fashion it into rollicking journey through the Old West.

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David Robinson

The Times (UK)

Jan 15, 2026

The scenery is great; the story pushes on; only it would be nice to know where the film-makers thought it was actually going.

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Paul D. Zimmerman

Newsweek

Jan 15, 2026

Brooks stretches his story with meaningless two-horse sprints that seems senseless in an endurance contest and lots of deadend incident.

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Judith Crist

New York Magazine/Vulture

Jan 15, 2026

Brooks' use of the camera is simply stunning in its depiction of the grandeur of the West.

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John Alan Simon

Times-Picayune

Mar 30, 2026

Relaxed performances by Gene Hackman and James Coburn contribute the only bright touches to the plodding heavy-handedness of this attempted action-comedy.

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Richard Combs

Monthly Film Bulletin

Jan 15, 2026

Both visually and dramatically the film is constantly receding, since Brooks seems to doubt that he can convey what he means except by making sleeve-tugging speeches.

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Theodore M

Nov 13, 2007

This slow-pokey Western adventure has a solid cast, a healthy budget, and an air of authenticity. Its moral lessons will be forgiven if not completely overlooked. In short, this is a movie that western fans, or fans of specific actors, should enjoy.

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Richard Brooks

Director

Gene Hackman

Sam Clayton

Candice Bergen

Miss Jones

James Coburn

Luke Matthews

Ben Johnson

Mister

Ian Bannen

Norfolk

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Synopsis

A disparate group of individuals enters a horse race through 700 miles of the Wild West to win a large cash prize. The contestants include two ex-Rough Riders (Gene Hackman, James Coburn), an aging cowboy who refuses to slow down (Ben Johnson), an inexperienced youth (Jan-Michael Vincent), a Mexican (Mario Arteaga), an Englishman (Ian Bannen) and a woman (Candice Bergen). Over the course of the trek, the riders begin to shed their biases toward gender, race and age, and appreciate one another.

Director: Richard Brooks
Producer: Richard Brooks
Screenwriter: Richard Brooks
Distributor: Columbia Tristar, Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Vista, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Persky-Bright Productions
Rating: PG
Genre: Western
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 20, 1975, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 14, 2010
Runtime: 2h 11m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Scope (2.35:1)

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