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Western thriller

Dead for A Dollar (2022): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Dead for A Dollar (2022) movie poster

Dead for A Dollar is a 2022 western thriller directed by Walter Hill, starring Willem Dafoe as Joe Cribbens, Christoph Waltz and Benjamin Bratt. It runs 1 hour 54 minutes and earned $81,403 worldwide. Critics gave it 54% on Rotten Tomatoes and 61 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.4/10.

IMDb rating
5.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes
54%
worldwide gross
$81.4K
Echo Score
58
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Dead for A Dollar (2022) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 54m (114 min)
Director
Walter Hill
Genres
Thriller , Western
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Dead for A Dollar About?

The premise of Dead for A Dollar without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

In 1870s America, a skilled gunslinger named Max accepts a job to find a young woman who has run away from her abusive husband. His pursuit leads him to discover she has escaped with an army deserter, forcing him to question his own sense of justice. As he tracks them across the dangerous landscape, Max finds himself facing ruthless assassins and a formidable rival, creating a perilous journey filled with moral complexities and deadly encounters.

Dead for A Dollar Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • year 1897
  • prison
  • prisoner
  • chihuahua mexico
  • interracial relationship
  • gambler
  • female nudity
  • female rear nudity
  • albuquerque new mexico
  • reference to helen of troy
  • horseback riding
  • view through binoculars
+38 more
  • digging a grave
  • gambling
  • playing poker
  • english man in the old west
  • bounty hunter
  • jail
  • woman in a bathtub
  • mexico
  • what happened to epilogue
  • co written by director
  • bartender
  • winchester rifle
  • lever action rifle
  • west
  • wild west
  • new mexico
  • prison visit
  • prison cell
  • flashback
  • nudity
  • male nudity
  • shot to death
  • six shooter
  • revolver
  • release from prison
  • montage
  • target practice
  • black man white woman relationship
  • wife elopes with lover
  • slapped in the face
  • runaway couple
  • saloon
  • shot in the head
  • burying a dead body
  • runaway wife
  • card game
  • cardsharp
  • army deserter
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Cast & crew

Dead for A Dollar Cast & Characters

Willem Dafoe leads the cast as Joe Cribbens, with Christoph Waltz as Max Borlund and Benjamin Bratt as Tiberio Vargas. Directed by Walter Hill; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Dead for A Dollar

· 6 more
From the director

More from Walter Hill

More films directed by Walter Hill, best-rated first: The Long Riders, 48 Hrs., Hard Times and Crossroads.

Full filmography
Ratings

Dead for A Dollar Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Dead for A Dollar 54% on Rotten Tomatoes and 61 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 5.4/10. Our Echo Score gives it 58/100, strongest in art & craft (72) and weakest in story & flow (45).

58 /100

Dead for A Dollar Echo Score Breakdown

Dead for a Dollar elicits a mixed response, with commendations for its efficient cinematography and understated visual style but criticism for its uneven performances and derivative narrative. Critics note the film’s solid B-picture craftsmanship and occasional snappy moments, while several viewers find the acting flat and the plot uninspired. The soundtrack receives modest praise, yet the film struggles to sustain engagement beyond an initial viewing. Consequently, its lasting appeal remains limited.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 72

    On the art and craft front, the film displays competent direction and efficient shooting that many critics highlight as a solid B-picture execution. Visual austerity and a big-sky palette contribute to a distinct Western aesthetic, though some reviewers cite clumsy editing that undercuts the overall polish. Overall, craftsmanship is respectable but uneven.

  • Character & Emotion 55

    The character and emotion aspect suffers from uneven performances, with some critics praising the ensemble’s occasional depth while others describe the acting as drowsy and mechanical. Viewers frequently note a lack of chemistry and emotional resonance, labeling the portrayals as flat. Consequently, character work is viewed as a notable weakness overall.

  • Story & Flow 45

    The story component is perceived as derivative and uneven, with criticism aimed at its lackluster originality and pacing. While a few reviewers acknowledge hairpin plot twists and a snappy narrative tempo, many find the overall structure uninspired and the storytelling flat. Thus, the film’s narrative effectiveness is judged to be below average.

  • Sensory Experience 68

    Sensory elements emerge as a relative strength, highlighted by the film’s austere visual palette and effective use of music that several viewers find commendable. Critics also note the soundscape’s alignment with classic Western motifs. Though not uniformly praised, the overall sensory experience contributes positively to the film’s atmosphere.

  • Rewatch Factor 48

    The rewatch factor is limited, as most feedback points to a film that fails to sustain interest beyond its initial run. While a minority cite modest charm and nostalgic appeal, the prevalent sentiment highlights flat performances and a predictable plot that diminish repeat viewing motivation. Overall, replay value is low.

Plot

Dead for A Dollar Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Dead for A Dollar from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

The film opens with a tense confrontation between a prisoner and his captor, the bounty hunter, who serves as the story’s protagonist. Following his release from prison, the former inmate transforms into one of the film’s antagonists. As the narrative unfolds through various flashbacks, the bounty hunter receives a military mission to venture into Mexico. His objective is to locate and retrieve the wife of a powerful businessman, who has been abducted by an Army deserter and held for ransom.

Full summary

The whole story of Dead for A Dollar, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

Dead for A Dollar Box Office

Dead for A Dollar grossed $81,403 worldwide.

2022 box office

Worldwide gross

$81.4K

International
$81.4K
Videos

Dead for A Dollar Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Dead for A Dollar.

Official Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Dead for A Dollar?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is the bounty hunter's initial task?

Details

Dead for A Dollar Also Known As

26 alternative titles, including “Hung” and “Drawn and Quartered”.

Also known as
  • Hung
  • Drawn and Quartered
  • Moon of Popping Trees
  • El cazador de recompensas
  • مردن برای یک دلار
  • Morto per un dollaro
  • 데드 포 어 달러
  • Умереть за доллар
  • Meghalni egy dollárért
  • 一元换命
  • Umrijeti za dolar
  • Muerto por un Dolar
+14 more
  • Померти за долар
  • Lovec hlav
  • Caçadores de Recompensas
  • Łowca Głów
  • Mrtev za dolar
  • 一元換命
  • למות בעד הדולר
  • El caçador de recompenses
  • Mirtis už dolerį, მოკვდე დოლარისთვის
  • Мъртъв за долар
  • จับตายแลกเงิน
  • Lovec odmien
  • Chết Vì Một Đô La
  • Mort pour un dollar

Seen Dead for A Dollar?

FAQ

Dead for A Dollar FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Dead for A Dollar, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Dead for A Dollar?

Dead for A Dollar runs 1 hour 54 minutes (114 minutes).

When was Dead for A Dollar released?

Dead for A Dollar was released on September 30, 2022.

Who directed Dead for A Dollar?

Dead for A Dollar was directed by Walter Hill.

More films by Walter Hill

Who is in the cast of Dead for A Dollar?

Dead for A Dollar stars Willem Dafoe as Joe Cribbens, Christoph Waltz as Max Borlund and Benjamin Bratt as Tiberio Vargas, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Dead for A Dollar make at the box office?

Dead for A Dollar grossed $81,403 worldwide.

How is Dead for A Dollar rated?

Dead for A Dollar has 5.4/10 on IMDb, 54% on Rotten Tomatoes, 61 on Metacritic and 59% on TMDB.

Does Dead for A Dollar have a post-credit scene?

No. Dead for A Dollar has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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