Logo What's After the Movie

Once Upon a Time in the Midlands 2003

A small-time crook from Glasgow journeys to England's Midlands seeking to rebuild his life after witnessing his ex-wife’s rejection of her new partner. Jimmy confronts a complicated network of relationships as he grapples with themes of love, family, and the possibility of redemption. With humor and vulnerability, he explores second chances and the challenges of confronting his past.

A small-time crook from Glasgow journeys to England's Midlands seeking to rebuild his life after witnessing his ex-wife’s rejection of her new partner. Jimmy confronts a complicated network of relationships as he grapples with themes of love, family, and the possibility of redemption. With humor and vulnerability, he explores second chances and the challenges of confronting his past.

Does Once Upon a Time in the Midlands have end credit scenes?

No!

Once Upon a Time in the Midlands does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of Once Upon a Time in the Midlands

Explore the complete cast of Once Upon a Time in the Midlands, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


Ratings and Reviews for Once Upon a Time in the Midlands

See how Once Upon a Time in the Midlands is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where Once Upon a Time in the Midlands stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Metacritic

56

Metascore

tbd

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

50%

TOMATOMETER

review

45%

User Score

IMDb

6.3 /10

IMDb Rating

TMDB

61

%

User Score

Take the Ultimate Once Upon a Time in the Midlands Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of Once Upon a Time in the Midlands with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.


Once Upon a Time in the Midlands Quiz: Test your knowledge on the thrilling plot and characters of 'Once Upon a Time in the Midlands'.

Who is the CIA operative seeking out El Mariachi?

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for Once Upon a Time in the Midlands

See more

Read the complete plot summary of Once Upon a Time in the Midlands, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


El Mariachi, portrayed by Antonio Banderas, finds himself pulled into a dangerous mission when CIA officer Sheldon Jeffrey Sands recruits him to eliminate the corrupt General Emiliano Marquez, a high-ranking officer in the Mexican Army. With Marquez being a puppet for the ruthless drug lord Armando Barillo, who is scheming to assassinate the President of Mexico during a tumultuous period in Culiacan, the stakes have never been higher.

As unrest brews, the President (played by Pedro Armendariz, Jr.) courageously calls upon the people of Culiacan to unite against the growing threat posed by Barillo’s criminal empire. According to Nicholas, the President’s advisor, Barillo has a reputation as a folk hero, having seemingly improved the lives of many by distributing land. Yet, the President stands firm, knowing the truth of Barillo’s violent past. With faith in the people’s discernment, he believes they will not fall for the facade.

Sands learns of El Mariachi’s reputation and knows he must take immediate action to recruit him, despite the fact that every cartel in Mexico seeks to have him dead. Meanwhile, Barillo’s machinations lead him to find a lookalike for an elaborate plan involving facial reconstruction surgery; he aims to completely erase his identity and have his doppelgänger assume his position.

Bellini, a friend of Sands, recounts the history of El Mariachi, recalling a time when he and his wife, Carolina, were nearly killed by Marquez during a tragic shootout. Carolina, originally allied with Marquez, ultimately betrayed him to save El Mariachi, resulting in a relentless vendetta after Marquez ambushed and murdered both Carolina and their daughter. This harrowing loss fuels El Mariachi’s determination to hunt down Marquez mercilessly.

Sands goes to great lengths, even paying Bellini $10,000 for El Mariachi’s contact information, leading to a meeting where Sands tests El Mariachi’s survival skills by sending assassins after him. Alongside his mission, Sands persuades Jorge Ramirez, a former FBI agent once tormented by Barillo’s actions, to join the fight against the drug lord responsible for his partner’s death.

Meanwhile, Ajedrez is another operative working under Sands, tasked with tracking Barillo but struggling against the limitations placed on her as a woman in the police force. As Sands collaborates with Nicholas to eliminate the President, he plays a dangerous game, wanting Marquez dead just after the President meets his end.

Interwoven in this narrative are other characters like Billy Chambers, an American fugitive entangled with Barillo, who faces moral dilemmas and seeks a way out of his corrupt existence. Chambers cooperates with Ramirez in hopes of taking down Barillo, leading to a series of deadly confrontations where loyalties and schemes implode.

As events unfold, Sands soon finds himself in turmoil; his plans unravel as he gets captured by Barillo, suffering a fate worse than death. In a chaotic climax during the Day of the Dead celebrations, El Mariachi steps up, defying Sands’ orders, and intervenes to protect the President.

With gunfire erupting in the presidential palace, a fierce showdown occurs. El Mariachi finally faces Marquez again, delivering a long-awaited retribution for his family’s death. In the end, after a series of betrayals and confrontations, El Mariachi and Ramirez manage to take down Barillo and Ajedrez, reclaiming their honor.

Against all odds, El Mariachi chooses to give his share of the spoils back to his village, symbolizing hope as he strides into the sunset, forever marked by the battles fought for justice.

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for Once Upon a Time in the Midlands

See more

Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from Once Upon a Time in the Midlands. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.


Once Upon A Time in the Midlands (2002) | Trailer | Film4

Cars Featured in Once Upon a Time in the Midlands

See 12 more

Explore all cars featured in Once Upon a Time in the Midlands, including their makes, models, scenes they appear in, and their significance to the plot. A must-read for car enthusiasts and movie buffs alike.


Dodge

1979

50 Series

Ford

1983

Sierra XR4i MkI

Ford

1996

Transit MkIII

Land-Rover

1958

88'' Series II

Leyland

1992

DAF 200

Mini

1981

City MkIV

Mini

1980

Stretched Limousine MkIV

Oldsmobile

1970

Vista Cruiser

Reliant

1984

Rialto Estate

Smiths

1999

Cabac Elizabethan

Movie Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


mexicobikinioutnumberedmariachiplaying electric guitarguitar machine gunsnuffing a candle with fingersthrown through the airmobile barknife strapped to woman's thighvalisepump action shotgungun pointed at faceak 47held at gun pointchihuahuachained togetherjumping from a moving vehicleconcerttanker trucktruck crashscaling a wallten dollar billretired fbi agentroast porkbackground dancerdollar billplaying pianoelectric shockshot multiple timesdead body in a car trunkgun under a tablemilitary convoym3 halftrackclose up of eyeheart shaped pendantrepeated scene from a previous filmbandaged facehit with a rifle buttself propelled artillaryclose up of eyeshumveesyringeinjection in armeye cut outexploding tankexploding carexploding truckfbi federal bureau of investigationcia central intelligence agency

Similar Movies You Should Know About

Browse a curated list of movies similar in genre, tone, characters, or story structure. Discover new titles like the one you're watching, perfect for fans of related plots, vibes, or cinematic styles.


© 2025 What's After the Movie. All rights reserved.