Crime drama

Hell or High Water (2016): Ratings, Box Office & Ending

Name: Hell or High Water
Genre: Drama, Crime
Released: 2016-08-12
Duration: 1 h 42 min

Hell or High Water is a 2016 crime drama directed by David Mackenzie. It runs 1 hour 42 minutes and earned $38 million worldwide on a $12 million budget. It won 2 awards from 20 nominations, among them 4 Oscar nominations. Critics gave it 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and 88 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.6/10.

IMDb rating: 7.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
worldwide gross: $38M
awards won: 2

Loading streaming availability…

Watch the trailer Plot & ending explained

Released: August 12, 2016
Runtime: 1h 42m (102 min)
Director: David Mackenzie
Genres: Drama , Crime
Original language: English
Studio: CBS Films
Budget: $12M
After the credits: No No extra scene

The story

What Is Hell or High Water About?

The premise of Hell or High Water without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

Estranged brothers Toby and Tanner Howard resort to desperate measures to save their family’s ranch from foreclosure. Tanner, an unpredictable ex-con, and Toby, a responsible father, plan a series of bank robberies, targeting the institution threatening their livelihood. Their actions draw the attention of Marcus Hamilton, a seasoned Texas Ranger nearing retirement, who is determined to bring them to justice. As the brothers' risky scheme unfolds, a tense and thrilling pursuit ensues, testing the boundaries of loyalty and justice in the vast Texas landscape.

Hell or High Water Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags

texas
bank robbery
texas ranger
bank robber
native american
brother brother relationship
casino
bank
oil
brother brother team
armed robbery
modern western

+38 more

ranch
west texas
posse
anti hero
bank foreclosure
oil drilling
gunfight
indian casino
bullet hole in windshield
car set on fire
small town
racial slur
father son relationship
loss of brother
death of brother
ford bronco
dinner
bolt action rifle
2010s
comanche indian
poker chip
warrant
half breed
small town cop
quick draw
final showdown
showdown
police station
police detective
cigarette smoking
horse
cow
cattle
ghost town
social commentary
death of partner
driving in reverse
social decay

Loading streaming availability…

Crew

The Director of Hell or High Water

Directed by David Mackenzie.

Director David Mackenzie

From the director

More from David Mackenzie

More films directed by David Mackenzie, best-rated first: Starred Up, Outlaw King, Homemade and Relay.

Full filmography

Ratings

Hell or High Water Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Hell or High Water 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and 88 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.6/10.

IMDb

7.6 /10
See on IMDb
Rotten Tomatoes

97% Tomatometer

Popcornmeter 88%
See on Rotten Tomatoes
Metacritic

88 Metascore

User score 8.0
See on Metacritic
TMDB

73% User score
See on TMDB
Movie Insider

3.7 /5
See on Movie Insider

Plot

Hell or High Water Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Hell or High Water from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In West Texas, divorced father Toby Howard (Chris Pine) and his ex-con brother Tanner (Ben Foster) engage in a series of daring early morning heists targeting two branches of the Texas Midlands Bank. Their first robbery unfolds in Archer City, where they catch the bank’s teller, Elsie (Dale Dickey), off guard as she opens the doors for the day. The duo then awaits the arrival of the bank manager Mr. Clauson (William Sterchi), who holds the keys to the cash-laden safe.

Full summary

The whole story of Hell or High Water, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary

Box office

Hell or High Water Box Office & Budget

Hell or High Water grossed $38 million worldwide on a $12 million budget, 3.2 times what it cost. $27 million came from the US and Canada and $11 million (29%) from the rest of the world.

2016 box office

Worldwide gross

$38M

3.2× its budget

US & Canada: $27M
International: $11M
Budget: $12M

US & Canada 71% Rest of the world 29%

Awards

Hell or High Water Awards & Nominations

Hell or High Water won 2 awards from 20 nominations, among them 4 Oscar nominations. Its biggest night was the Spirit Awards 2017, with 1 win from 3 nominations.

2 wins20 nominations7 ceremonies

Spirit Awards 2017 1 win · 3 nominations
- Won Best Supporting Male – Ben Foster
- Nominated Best Editing
- Nominated Best Screenplay
Artios Awards 2017 1 win · 1 nomination
- Won Studio or Independent – Comedy
Oscars 2017 4 nominations
- Nominated Actor in a Supporting Role – Jeff Bridges
- Nominated Best Picture
- Nominated Film Editing
- Nominated Writing (Original Screenplay)
BAFTA 2017 3 nominations
- Nominated Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Jeff Bridges
- Nominated Best Cinematography
- Nominated Best Original Screenplay

Show all 7 ceremonies

Golden Globes 2017 3 nominations
- Nominated Best Motion Picture – Drama
- Nominated Best Screenplay
- Nominated Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama, Musical or Comedy – Jeff Bridges
Actor Awards (SAG) 2017 1 nomination
- Nominated Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role – Jeff Bridges
Critics' Choice 2016 5 nominations
- Nominated Best Acting Ensemble
- Nominated Best Director – David Mackenzie
- Nominated Best Original Screenplay
- Nominated Best Picture
- Nominated Best Supporting Actor – Jeff Bridges and Ben Foster