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Comedy drama

The Hero (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

The Hero (2017) movie poster

The Hero is a 2017 comedy drama directed by Brett Haley, starring Sam Elliott, Nick Offerman and Max Gail. It runs 1 hour 33 minutes and earned $4.1 million worldwide on a $1.2 million budget. Critics gave it 77% on Rotten Tomatoes and 61 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10.

IMDb rating
6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes
77%
worldwide gross
$4.1M
Echo Score
67
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The Hero (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 33m (93 min)
Director
Brett Haley
Genres
Drama , Comedy
Original language
English
Budget
$1.2M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Hero About?

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

A former Western star, Lee Hayden, finds his career and life fading into obscurity. Facing a cancer diagnosis, he's forced to confront his past and the impact he’s had on his family, particularly his estranged daughter. He also forms an unexpected connection with a stand-up comedian. As he grapples with his mortality, he seeks a final chance at redemption and a renewed sense of purpose.

The Hero Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • marijuana
  • drug dealer
  • pancreatic cancer
  • comedy club
  • memorizing lines
  • dying
  • father daughter reunion
  • beach house
  • sadness
  • speech
  • older man younger woman relationship
  • old man
+38 more
  • los angeles skyline
  • ex husband ex wife relationship
  • father daughter estrangement
  • father daughter relationship
  • cancer
  • actor
  • marijuana joint
  • dream sequence
  • acceptance speech
  • terminal illness
  • aging
  • los angeles california
  • apology
  • kiss
  • undressing someone
  • nudity
  • female nudity
  • twitter
  • comedienne
  • watching a video on a computer
  • iceberg analogy
  • computer
  • commercial
  • apple computer
  • fax
  • pipe dream
  • running lines
  • nickname
  • crying man
  • stand up commedienne
  • bar
  • beer
  • female bartender
  • laughter
  • promise
  • video camera
  • swimming pool
  • restaurant
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Cast & crew

The Hero Cast

Sam Elliott leads the cast, with Nick Offerman and Max Gail. Directed by Brett Haley; 10 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Brett Haley

More films directed by Brett Haley, best-rated first: Hearts Beat Loud, All Together Now, All the Bright Places and I'll See You in My Dreams.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Hero Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Hero 77% on Rotten Tomatoes and 61 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 67/100, strongest in character & emotion (90) and weakest in story & flow (55).

67 /100

The Hero Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, The Hero presents a quietly moving central performance counterbalanced by narrative and pacing inconsistencies. Many reviewers commend Sam Elliott’s deeply resonant portrayal while noting the screenplay’s reliance on familiar tropes and occasional sluggish segments. User feedback often cites the film’s vague ending and deliberate rhythm as points of frustration. As a result, the film functions as a modestly engaging character study upheld chiefly by its lead performance.

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

  • Art & Craft 60

    The film’s craft elements exhibit measured restraint but sometimes lack dynamic momentum and pacing coherence. Critics note the director’s patient handling of performance rhythms, yet both critics and users describe prolonged scenes—such as lingering wave shots and artsy dream sequences—that feel extraneous. Editing is unobtrusive but contributes to a slow progression. Overall, the craft work offers a calm visual frame without propelling narrative energy.

  • Character & Emotion 90

    In terms of character and emotion, the film relies heavily on the lead performance to establish depth and resonance. Viewers widely praise Sam Elliott’s nuanced depiction of regret and longing, complemented by tangible chemistry with supporting actors such as Nick Offerman and Laura Prepon. Emotional stakes in family interactions receive consistent mention for their understated authenticity. As a result, character engagement remains the film’s most compelling dimension.

  • Story & Flow 55

    Story and flow display thematic sincerity but are hindered by conventional plotting and uneven pacing. Multiple sources point to familiar aging-actor clichés, a vague or rushed conclusion, and repetitive beats that limit narrative propulsion. While some appreciate the earnest emotional underpinning, the overall coherence and originality are frequently described as modest. Consequently, the plot engages at select moments but lacks sustained momentum.

  • Sensory Experience 70

    When it comes to sensory experience, the film adopts an understated audiovisual approach that supports its reflective tone. The soundtrack’s varied songs earn positive notices for mood enhancement, and the color palette remains restrained in service of authenticity. At the same time, artsy dream sequences introduce a level of pretension, and sound design stays largely in the background. Overall, the sensory elements contribute a subtle, cohesive atmosphere.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    Regarding rewatch factor, the film’s lasting appeal is intimately tied to its central performance rather than narrative surprises. Several viewers indicate that Sam Elliott’s nuanced moments reward repeat viewings, but the simple plot and deliberate pace reduce incentives for multiple runs. The absence of significant plot twists or novel revelations further limits replay value. Thus, the film offers moderate rewatch appeal anchored in character observation.

Plot

The Hero Plot Summary

What happens in The Hero from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

71-year-old seasoned cowboy actor Lee Hayden finds himself trapped in a monotonous cycle, endlessly recording the same tagline for a Texas barbecue sauce, which leads to his growing frustration. During a drive, he receives a grim phone call from his agent Peter informing him that there are no significant roles available, but he promises to keep searching.

Full summary

The whole story of The Hero, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

The Hero Box Office & Budget

The Hero grossed $4.1 million worldwide on a $1.2 million budget, 3.4 times what it cost. $4.1 million came from the US and Canada and $24,366 (1%) from the rest of the world.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$4.1M

3.4× its budget

US & Canada
$4.1M
International
$24.4K
Budget
$1.2M
US & Canada 99% Rest of the world 1%
Videos

The Hero Trailers & Videos

The trailer of The Hero.

The Hero (2017) | Official Trailer HD
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Hero?

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 profession of Lee Hayden in 'The Hero'?

Cars

Cars in The Hero

6 cars on screen, including the 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe and the 2013 Honda Civic.

All 6 cars
  • 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe in The Hero 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe Important role
  • 2013 Honda Civic in The Hero 2013 Honda Civic Background role
  • 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport in The Hero 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Background role
  • 2014 Infiniti Q50 in The Hero 2014 Infiniti Q50 Background role
Details

The Hero Also Known As

16 alternative titles, including “Герой” and “더 히어로”.

Also known as
  • Герой
  • 더 히어로
  • Hrdina
  • Kahraman
  • Героят
  • O Heroi
  • 昔日英雄
  • הגיבור
  • Eroul
  • Hrdina až do konce
  • Bohater
  • EL Heroe
+4 more
  • O Herói
  • Didvyris
  • A hős
  • The Hero - Una vita da eroe

Seen The Hero?

FAQ

The Hero FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

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

How long is The Hero?

The Hero runs 1 hour 33 minutes (93 minutes).

When was The Hero released?

The Hero was released on June 9, 2017.

Who directed The Hero?

The Hero was directed by Brett Haley.

More films by Brett Haley

Who is in the cast of The Hero?

The Hero stars Sam Elliott, Nick Offerman and Max Gail, among 10 credited actors.

How much did The Hero make at the box office?

The Hero grossed $4.1 million worldwide ($4.1 million domestic, $24,366 international) on a budget of $1.2 million.

How is The Hero rated?

The Hero has 6.5/10 on IMDb, 77% on Rotten Tomatoes, 61 on Metacritic and 61% on TMDB.

Does The Hero have a post-credit scene?

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

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