Lone Star (1996): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Lone Star is a 1996 drama western directed by John Sayles, starring Chris Cooper and Elizabeth Peña. It runs 2 hours 15 minutes and earned $12.4 million worldwide. It won 1 award from 7 nominations, one of them 1 Oscar nomination. Critics gave it 79 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.4/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 15m (135 min)
- Director
- John Sayles
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Columbia TriStar Home Video
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Lone Star About?
The premise of Lone Star without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A man's life unravels when he uncovers his wife’s affair with his brother in this intense Western drama. Consumed by rage and a profound sense of betrayal, he sets out on a journey that forces him to confront his own inner demons and the difficult truths of life in a small, isolated Texas town. He seeks a path toward self-discovery and ultimately, redemption.
Lone Star Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- neo western
- father son relationship
- brother sister incest
- family history
- told in flashback
- interracial relationship
- interracial romance
- reference to davy crockett
- reference to jim bowie
- man and woman in a bed
- rio grande
- bipolar disorder
+38 more Show fewer
- reference to gulf war
- whodunit
- nonlinear timeline
- ensemble cast
- past
- incest
- contemporary western
- town with a dark secret
- border town
- town
- rio grande river
- masonic ring
- american southwest
- army base
- 1950s
- murder investigation
- year 1957
- 1990s
- sheriff
- texas
- skeleton
- desert
- bar
- badge
- border
- police procedural
- laborer
- corrupt cop
- colonel
- father son conflict
- mexican restaurant
- forensics
- lead mine
- firing range
- cactus
- army training
- skull
- human remains
Lone Star Cast
Chris Cooper leads the cast, with Elizabeth Peña. Directed by John Sayles.
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Director John Sayles
More from John Sayles
More films directed by John Sayles, best-rated first: Matewan, Eight Men Out, Sunshine State and The Brother from Another Planet.
Lone Star Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Lone Star 79 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.4/10.
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IMDb 7.4 /10
See on IMDb -
Metacritic 79 Metascore
User score 6.8
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 70% User score
See on TMDB
Lone Star Plot Summary
What happens in Lone Star from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The film begins with two men exploring a desert landscape, one of whom is fascinated by the native plants while the other diligently sweeps the area with a metal detector. As the story unfolds, we discover that these men are off-duty sergeants from a nearby military base scheduled to close in three years. Their excavation leads to the shocking discovery of a human skeleton, accompanied by a Rio County sheriff’s badge and a Masonic ring.
Full summary
The whole story of Lone Star, scene by scene
Lone Star Box Office
Lone Star grossed $12.4 million worldwide. $12.4 million came from the US and Canada and $12,597 (0%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$12.4M
- US & Canada
- $12.4M
- International
- $12.6K
Lone Star Awards & Nominations
Lone Star won 1 award from 7 nominations, one of them 1 Oscar nomination. Its biggest night was the Spirit Awards 1997, with 1 win from 4 nominations.
1 win7 nominations4 ceremonies
-
Spirit Awards 1997 1 win · 4 nominations- Won Best Supporting Female – Elizabeth Peña
- Nominated Best Feature
- Nominated Best Male Lead – Chris Cooper
- Nominated Best Screenplay – John Sayles
-
BAFTA 1997 1 nomination- Nominated Best Original Screenplay
-
Golden Globes 1997 1 nomination- Nominated Best Screenplay
-
Oscars 1997 1 nomination- Nominated Writing (Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen)
Lone Star Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Lone Star.
How Well Do You Know Lone Star?
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
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What significant discovery do the two sergeants make while searching the desert?
Cars in Lone Star
17 cars on screen, including the 1986 Buick Electra T-Type and the 1981 Chevrolet Impala.
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1986 Buick Electra T-Type Important role -
1981 Chevrolet Impala Important role -
1992 Buick Roadmaster Minor role -
1947 Chevrolet Advance-Design 3100 Minor role
Lone Star Also Known As
18 alternative titles, including “Одинокая звезда” and “Lone Star - Ahol a legendák születnek”.
- Also known as
-
- Одинокая звезда
- Lone Star - Ahol a legendák születnek
- כוכב בודד
- Na granicy
- Самотна звезда
- Stella solitaria
- 론 스타
- Lone Star - A Estrela Solitária
- Самотня зірка
- Звезда шерифа
- 小镇疑云
- 真実の囁き
+6 more Show fewer
- Osamělá hvězda
- Cảnh Sát Đơn Độc
- Lone Star, el rastre d’un crim
- Um Corpo no Deserto
- Samotna zvezda
- Yalnız Kovboy
Seen Lone Star?
Movies Like Lone Star
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Lone Star, The Lone Star Trail and Lone and Angry Man.
Lone Star FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Lone Star, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Lone Star?
Lone Star runs 2 hours 15 minutes (135 minutes).
When was Lone Star released?
Lone Star was released on June 21, 1996.
Who directed Lone Star?
Lone Star was directed by John Sayles.
More films by John Sayles Who is in the cast of Lone Star?
Lone Star stars Chris Cooper and Elizabeth Peña.
How much did Lone Star make at the box office?
Lone Star grossed $12.4 million worldwide ($12.4 million domestic, $12,597 international).
How is Lone Star rated?
Lone Star has 7.4/10 on IMDb, 79 on Metacritic and 70% on TMDB.
What awards did Lone Star win?
Lone Star won 1 award from 7 nominations, including Best Supporting Female at the Spirit Awards 1997.
Does Lone Star have a post-credit scene?
No. Lone Star has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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