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Junior Bonner

Play trailer Poster for Junior Bonner PG,  1972,  1h 40m,  Comedy/ Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 91% 22 Reviews Tomatometer 62% 2,500+ Ratings Popcornmeter
91% Tomatometer 22 Reviews 62% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
When wandering middle-aged rodeo rider Junior Bonner (Steve McQueen) returns to his Arizona hometown, he reunites with his family, which includes his charming, troublemaking father, Ace (Robert Preston), and his ambitious real-estate developer brother, Curly (Joe Don Baker). While Ace dreams of finding his fortune in Australia, Junior is determined to conquer a tough bull named Sunshine by riding it for eight seconds. Can Junior claim victory over Sunshine and stay in the rodeo business?
Junior Bonner

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A strong central performance from Steve McQueen and absorbingly contemplative direction from Sam Peckinpah make rodeo drama Junior Bonner a classic character study.

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Critics Reviews

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Michael Atkinson Village Voice May 30, 2018
[Steve] McQueen's reticent personality and hypnotic physical grace are in perfect service, and the air of authenticity is stinging. Go to Full Review
Michael Pattison Slant Magazine Aug 9, 2015
The historical moment is precious, as its only constant is flux. Go to Full Review
Variety Staff Variety Mar 26, 2009
Sam Peckinpah's reputation for violence is herein exorcised in the rodeo and brawl sequences. Audiences which consider such rough-and-tumble as innocuous, vicarious ventilation will get their fill, though others may perceive a bit more. Go to Full Review
Robert Sullivan Los Angeles Free Press Jan 7, 2020
Junior Bonner is considerably better than most of the reviews it has been receiving would lead you to believe. Go to Full Review
Tony Sloman Radio Times May 30, 2018
4/5
Brilliantly played by Steve McQueen. Go to Full Review
Brian Orndorf Blu-ray.com May 30, 2018
There are broken dreams to tend to and long simmering antagonisms to manage, with Peckinpah keeping his distance, giving "Junior Bonner" a lived-in feel that's gentle on the senses but occasionally hard on the heart... Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Leia W May 21, 2018 not the most exciting film but a beautiful looking 70s picture
Hermione W Mar 18, 2018 Sometimes it looks more like a documentary than a movie. Story seems really weak and a pretext to show this rodeo traditional world. Actors are great. So, that's a pleasant movie, but not what you could expect from Peckinpah. See more
Kylo S Nov 17, 2017 The first of 2 movies Steve McQueen worked with writer/ director/ producer Sam Peckinpah which is the western equivalent of a Robert Altman movie. With McQueen as the title character Junior Bonner returning to his Western roots to compete in the county rodeo mending old fences with movie vets Ida Lupino as Elvira Bonner and Robert Preston as Junior's dad, Ace. See more
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Junior Bonner

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Cast & Crew

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Sam Peckinpah

Director

Steve McQueen

Junior "JR" Bonner

Robert Preston

Ace Bonner

Ida Lupino

Elvira Bonner

Ben Johnson

Buck Roan

Joe Don Baker

Curly Bonner

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Junior Bonner

Junior Bonner (1972) Junior Bonner (1972) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis When wandering middle-aged rodeo rider Junior Bonner (Steve McQueen) returns to his Arizona hometown, he reunites with his family, which includes his charming, troublemaking father, Ace (Robert Preston), and his ambitious real-estate developer brother, Curly (Joe Don Baker). While Ace dreams of finding his fortune in Australia, Junior is determined to conquer a tough bull named Sunshine by riding it for eight seconds. Can Junior claim victory over Sunshine and stay in the rodeo business?
Director
Sam Peckinpah
Producer
Joe Wizan
Screenwriter
Jeb Rosebrook
Production Co
Solar Productions, Joe Wizan-Booth Gardner Productions
Rating
PG
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 2, 1972, Original
Release Date (DVD)
May 25, 2004
Runtime
1h 40m
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