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Crime comedy

The Comeback Trail (2020): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

The Comeback Trail (2020) movie poster

The Comeback Trail is a 2020 crime comedy directed by George Gallo, starring Robert De Niro as Max Barber, J. Nathan Simmons and Morgan Freeman. It runs 1 hour 44 minutes and earned $2.4 million worldwide on a $25 million budget. Its Echo Score is 57/100.

worldwide gross
$2.4M
Echo Score
57
budget
$25M
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The Comeback Trail (2020) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 44m (104 min)
Director
George Gallo
Genres
Comedy , Crime
Original language
English
Budget
$25M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Comeback Trail About?

The premise of The Comeback Trail without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Facing financial ruin and owing money to dangerous figures, two desperate movie producers orchestrate an elaborate insurance scam involving a fading movie star. Their plan is intended to save their careers, but the situation quickly spirals out of control, leading to unexpected and perilous consequences for everyone involved.

The Comeback Trail Themes & Keywords

· 14 tags
  • neo western
  • cowboy
  • winchester rifle
  • lever action rifle
  • cowboy hat
  • money troubles
  • fake trailer
  • accidental death
  • movie making
  • film producer
  • movie set
  • dark comedy
+2 more
  • caper crime
  • based on film
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Cast & crew

The Comeback Trail Cast & Characters

Robert De Niro leads the cast as Max Barber, with J. Nathan Simmons as Cowboy in the film and Morgan Freeman as Reggie Fontaine. Directed by George Gallo; 47 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Comeback Trail

· 43 more
Show all 47 cast members
From the director

More from George Gallo

More films directed by George Gallo, best-rated first: Middle Men, DysFunktional Family, Trapped in Paradise and Bigger.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Comeback Trail Reviews & Ratings

Our Echo Score gives it 57/100, strongest in character & emotion (78) and weakest in art & craft (38).

57 /100

The Comeback Trail Echo Score Breakdown

The Comeback Trail receives a mixed reception, with critics largely denouncing its direction and execution while many audience members highlight its humor and cast chemistry. Critics point to a lack of cohesive vision, uneven pacing, and subpar editing, whereas users frequently cite laugh‑out‑loud moments and enjoyable performances. This divergence results in an overall moderate rating that reflects both the film's entertaining aspects and its structural shortcomings.

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

  • Art & Craft 38

    In terms of art and craft, the film shows inconsistency in direction, editing, and cinematography. Critics note a lack of clear direction, sloppy editing timing, and uneven visual quality, with some shots described as gorgeous but many appearing amateurish. User commentary mirrors this, acknowledging occasional visual flair but emphasizing overall unevenness. The net impression is a below‑average technical execution.

  • Character & Emotion 78

    When evaluating character and emotion, the performances emerge as the film's strongest element. Both critics and users commend De Niro’s energetic delivery, Freeman’s solid presence, and Jones’s effective portrayal, noting that the veteran cast often carries the comedy. Audience reviews repeatedly praise acting chemistry and nuanced delivery, outweighing the sparse critical praise. Overall, the character work is judged highly successful.

  • Story & Flow 58

    The story and flow receive a middling assessment. Critics criticize a messy screenplay, uneven pacing, and telegraphed jokes that dilute narrative momentum. Users, however, describe the plot as fun, fast‑paced, and occasionally darkly charming, though some mention it remains one‑note. The combined feedback suggests an engaging premise hampered by inconsistent storytelling, resulting in an average score.

  • Sensory Experience 45

    Sensory experience is viewed unfavorably across reviews. Critics label the soundtrack as poorly sourced, likening it to random YouTube music, and point out uneven cinematography and weak sound design. Users echo these concerns, noting a jarring score and variable visual quality despite a few effective opening moments. Consequently, the film’s auditory and visual cohesion is assessed as below average.

  • Rewatch Factor 65

    Rewatch factor reflects a moderate to high appeal among viewers. While critics doubt the film’s lasting value, many audience members report strong enjoyment, citing laughter, memorable scenes, and a desire to view the film again, especially fans of the lead actors. This positive audience sentiment balances the critical skepticism, yielding a respectable replay potential rating.

Plot

The Comeback Trail Plot Summary

What happens in The Comeback Trail from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In spring 1974, after his latest film tanks at the box office, [Robert De Niro] as Max Barber finds himself deeply in debt to mobster Reggie Fontaine. A rival producer [Emile Hirsch] as James Moore offers to settle the debt, even proposing a $1 million purchase for a script to a movie called Paradise, a project Max technically owns the rights to. Max reluctantly agrees, but his stance hardens when he witnesses the death of movie star [Patrick Muldoon] as Frank Pierce, an event that earns Moore $5 million in insurance money.

Full summary

The whole story of The Comeback Trail, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

The Comeback Trail Box Office & Budget

The Comeback Trail grossed $2.4 million worldwide on a $25 million budget, 10% of what it cost.

2020 box office

Worldwide gross

$2.4M

10% of its budget back

International
$2.4M
Budget
$25M
Videos

The Comeback Trail Trailers & Videos

The trailer of The Comeback Trail.

The Comeback Trail - Official Trailer (2020) Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, Tommy Lee Jones
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Comeback Trail?

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

In what year is the story of this film set?

Cars

Cars in The Comeback Trail

7 cars on screen, including the 1960 Chevrolet Impala and the 1975 Lincoln Continental Mark IV.

All 7 cars
  • 1960 Chevrolet Impala in The Comeback Trail 1960 Chevrolet Impala Main role
  • 1975 Lincoln Continental Mark IV in The Comeback Trail 1975 Lincoln Continental Mark IV Important role
  • 1978 Chevrolet Camaro in The Comeback Trail 1978 Chevrolet Camaro Background role
  • 1966 Ford F-100 in The Comeback Trail 1966 Ford F-100 Background role
Details

The Comeback Trail Also Known As

27 alternative titles, including “C'era una truffa ad Hollywood” and “荷里活有個耆福黨”.

Also known as
  • C'era una truffa ad Hollywood
  • 荷里活有個耆福黨
  • Афера по-голливудски
  • C'era una truffa a Hollywood
  • Podfuk za všechny prachy
  • Афера по-голлівудськи
  • Arnaque à Hollywood
  • 回归之路
  • 컴백 트레일
  • La última gran estafa
  • Kings of Hollywood
  • Hollywoodska prevara
+15 more
  • A nagy visszatérők
  • Um Bando de Vigaristas em... Hollywood
  • Велики повратници
  • Πώς να Σκοτώσεις τον Πρωταγωνιστή σου
  • Vigaristas em Hollywood
  • مسلك العودة
  • Holivudo afera
  • Cwaniaki z Hollywood
  • Убийство за Оскар
  • 詐製片家
  • Holivudas blēži
  • カムバック・トゥ・ハリウッド!!
  • המערב הקרוע
  • O schemă de milioane
  • Podfuk za všetky prachy

Seen The Comeback Trail?

FAQ

The Comeback Trail FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of The Comeback Trail, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Comeback Trail?

The Comeback Trail runs 1 hour 44 minutes (104 minutes).

When was The Comeback Trail released?

The Comeback Trail was released on November 12, 2020.

Who directed The Comeback Trail?

The Comeback Trail was directed by George Gallo.

More films by George Gallo

Who is in the cast of The Comeback Trail?

The Comeback Trail stars Robert De Niro as Max Barber, J. Nathan Simmons as Cowboy in the film and Morgan Freeman as Reggie Fontaine, among 47 credited actors.

How much did The Comeback Trail make at the box office?

The Comeback Trail grossed $2.4 million worldwide on a budget of $25 million.

Does The Comeback Trail have a post-credit scene?

No. The Comeback Trail has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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