The Cowboys
1972, English. Directed by Mark Rydell.
All they wanted was their chance to be men... and he gave it to them.
When his cattlemen abandon him for the gold fields, rancher Wil Andersen is forced to take on a collection of young boys as his cowboys in order to get his herd to market in time to avoid financial disaster. The boys learn to do a man's job under Andersen's tutelage, however, neither he nor the boys know that a gang of cattle thieves is stalking them.
- Runtime
- 2h 14m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- English
- Rated
- PG
Start now and it ends at ….
Worth the Hype
Clear your evening for this.
7.1/10 from 278 TMDB viewer ratings.
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Where to watch The Cowboys
The Cowboys isn’t on a subscription OTT platform in India, but you can rent it online.
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Amazon VideoAvailability in India as of 12 November 2026. Streaming data by JustWatch.
Cast & crew
- Mark RydellDirector
- John WayneWil Andersen
- Roscoe Lee BrowneJebediah Nightlinger
- Bruce DernLong Hair
- Colleen DewhurstKate
- Alfred Barker Jr.Cowboy Fats
- Nicolas BeauvyCowboy Dan
- Steve BenedictCowboy Steve
- Robert CarradineCowboy Slim Honeycutt
- Norman HowellCowboy Weedy
- Stephen R. HudisCowboy Charlie Schwartz
- Sean KellyCowboy Stuttering Bob
- A MartinezCowboy Cimarron
Details
- Released
- 13 January 1972
- Country
- United States of America
- Written by
- Irving Ravetch, William Dale Jennings, Harriet Frank Jr.
- Budget
- $6M
- Box office
- $7.5M
Check ratings elsewhere
News & fan talk
What The Cowboys is based on
The Cowboys is adapted from a novel.
Source details from Wikidata and TMDB.
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The Cowboys: quick answers
Is The Cowboys worth watching?
Our verdict is Worth the Hype: Clear your evening for this. It scores 7.1/10 from 278 TMDB viewer ratings.
How long is The Cowboys?
The Cowboys runs 134 minutes (2h 14m).
Does The Cowboys have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for The Cowboys. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
The Cowboys parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
The Cowboys is rated PG in India. That rating means it is generally fine for children.
Which OTT platform is The Cowboys on?
The Cowboys isn’t on a subscription OTT platform in India, but you can rent it online. (Checked 12 November 2026.)
What movies are like The Cowboys?
If you liked The Cowboys, try The Way West, Red River, The White Buffalo.
Who directed The Cowboys?
The Cowboys (1972) was directed by Mark Rydell and stars John Wayne, Roscoe Lee Browne, Bruce Dern.
What is The Cowboys based on?
The Cowboys is adapted from a novel.