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The Old Way 2023

In this gritty Western, Nicolas Cage portrays Colton Briggs, a former gunslinger seeking a quiet life as a family man. When his family is targeted by ruthless outlaws, Colton is forced to confront his violent past. He reluctantly joins forces with his resourceful 12-year-old daughter to protect them. A thrilling showdown ensues, pitting them against a dangerous enemy in a fight for survival where only one will remain.

In this gritty Western, Nicolas Cage portrays Colton Briggs, a former gunslinger seeking a quiet life as a family man. When his family is targeted by ruthless outlaws, Colton is forced to confront his violent past. He reluctantly joins forces with his resourceful 12-year-old daughter to protect them. A thrilling showdown ensues, pitting them against a dangerous enemy in a fight for survival where only one will remain.

Does The Old Way have end credit scenes?

No!

The Old Way does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Ratings and Reviews for The Old Way

See how The Old Way is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where The Old Way stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Echo Score

The Movie Echo Score

44

The Old Way delivers a conventional western that largely fails to transcend genre expectations. Critics and viewers note the film’s formulaic plot, uneven direction, and modest technical competence, while occasional chemistry between the leads offers limited engagement. The lack of originality and pacing issues diminish its overall impact, resulting in a viewing experience that feels serviceable but unremarkable. Consequently, the film earns a modest score reflecting its mixed reception.

The Movie Echo Score Breakdown for The Old Way

45
Echo Score

Art & Craft

Direction and visual execution in The Old Way are inconsistent, leading to a largely unremarkable aesthetic. Critics point to formulaic framing and occasional mishandled shooting angles, while users acknowledge decent technical credits but note a lack of distinctive visual flair. This uneven craftsmanship limits the film’s artistic impact, resulting in a modest assessment of its art and craft.

55
Echo Score

Character & Emotion

Performance dynamics present a mixed picture, with the central duo delivering credible chemistry amid broader casting weaknesses. Reviewers commend the interplay between Cage and Armstrong, yet criticize supporting actors for amateurish delivery and limited depth. The resulting character engagement is uneven, providing occasional emotional moments but failing to sustain audience investment throughout the narrative.

40
Echo Score

Story & Flow

The narrative follows a familiar revenge premise that many find overly formulaic and sluggish. Critics and users alike highlight the thin plot, stilted dialogue, and prolonged monologues that hinder pacing and originality. While moments of tension emerge, the story’s lack of fresh ideas and uneven momentum undermine its overall cohesion.

40
Echo Score

Sensory Experience

The film’s auditory and visual sensibilities receive limited praise, with sound design and soundtrack largely unremarkable. Visual execution suffers from inconsistent shooting angles and a lack of distinctive stylistic choices, as noted by critics. Consequently, the sensory experience remains serviceable but fails to elevate the viewing atmosphere.

45
Echo Score

Rewatch Factor

Rewatch potential is limited due to the film’s predictable plot and uneven pacing. While some viewers find the lead chemistry and occasional humor enjoyable, the lack of novelty and lingering narrative flaws diminish lasting appeal. As a result, the movie offers modest replay value for genre enthusiasts but little incentive for broader audiences.

Metacritic

43

Metascore

5.1

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

32%

TOMATOMETER

review

70%

User Score

IMDb

5.6 /10

IMDb Rating

TMDB

57

%

User Score

Letterboxd

2.5

From 3 fan ratings

Movie Insider

3.27/5

From 11 fan ratings

Take the Ultimate The Old Way Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of The Old Way 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.


The Old Way Quiz: Test your knowledge of the film 'The Old Way' with this challenging quiz!

What year is the film set in?

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for The Old Way

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Read the complete plot summary of The Old Way, 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.


In the year 1878, within the rugged expanse of the Montana Territory, gunfighter Colton Briggs finds himself part of an extrajudicial posse tasked with capturing and executing Walter McAllister, a notorious bandit’s brother. However, plans take a violent turn when Walter and his gang attempt to thwart the public execution, sparking a relentless shootout that results in only Colton and Walter’s son, James surviving the chaos. In an emotional moment, Colton promises to spare Walter’s brother, using his execution as a mere ruse to draw out Walter. Yet, the younger McAllister, filled with rage, attempts to ambush Colton but is swiftly gunned down, leaving a lasting impression on young James.

Fast forward twenty years, and Colton is no longer the ruthless gunfighter he once was. Influenced by his loving wife Ruth, he has transformed into a respected merchant, running a general store and maintaining a modest farm where he raises their rebellious twelve-year-old daughter, Brooke. Sadly, Brooke’s defiant demeanor and emotional detachment are stark reminders of her father’s tumultuous past. One dreadful day, their peaceful lives are shattered when James McAllister returns, leading his gang to their farm, brutally murdering Ruth, and scrawling a taunting message in her blood before retreating.

As they mourn Ruth, they meet Franklin Jarret, the U.S. Marshal, who had once shared a close camaraderie with Colton. Jarret praises Colton for abandoning his violent ways but warns him against seeking vengeance. Despite his friend’s advice, vengeance consumes Colton, and he decides to take Brooke with him. He dons his old gunfighter attire, armed with pistols, and sets ablaze their home, marking the end of his peaceful life.

As they pursue answers, Colton and Brooke manage to confront Jarret once more, discovering that James plans to escape to Santa Rosa, Colorado, to retrieve a hidden stash of pesos. Determined, Colton warns Jarret not to interfere with his plans. In the town of Santa Rosa, while Colton waits outside, Brooke tries to gather intel from a local shopkeeper but is captured by James.

Brimming with his old skills, Colton skillfully dispatches members of the McAllister gang, culminating in a tense standoff where James presents him with a brutal choice: kill him, and Brooke dies, or sacrifice himself. In a calculated move, Colton takes down the second man, only to take a bullet from James. In an unexpected turn of events, Brooke, who has been honing her shooting skills, heroically picks up her father’s gun and avenges him, killing James.

As the dust settles, Jarret arrives and concocts a cover story to preserve Colton’s legacy, claiming he died heroically while apprehending criminals. Unbeknownst to Jarret, however, Brooke cleverly conceals a large sum of the McAllister gang’s money and sets her sights on returning home, leaving viewers eager to see how their story unfolds.

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

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Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for The Old Way

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Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from The Old Way. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.


Official Trailer

The Old Way Clip - He Cries Pretty Good

The Old Way Clip - I Heard Gunshots

The Old Way 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.


death of wifecoloradogunslingerjar of jelly beanssack of flourgun pointed at headtied upgirl tied upman tied upshot in the armstabbed in the backthroat slitkicked in the groinstrongboxburied moneypistol whippedrevengeshootoutshot in the chest12 year old girl12 year olddigging out a bulletcountry storeburning down a housestoreu.s. marshalpossemurderinterrupted hangingcorporalsaddlebagmexican moneyburning a barnschoolbooksaddleanti herowild west shootoutold west townwestwilhelm screamshot to deathwagon trainshot in the foreheadscene during opening creditsshooting a horseactor director writerdigging a graveone man armyfather daughter relationshipmurder of mother

The Old Way Other Names and Titles

Explore the various alternative titles, translations, and other names used for The Old Way across different regions and languages. Understand how the film is marketed and recognized worldwide.


À l'ancienne Отзвуки прошлого Camino de la venganza 老方法 Stara szkoła Camino de la Venganza (The Old Way) По-старому The Old Way - À Maneira Antiga Đường Xưa 올드 웨이: 분노의 추격자 Eski Yöntem Na stari način راه قدیمی הדרך הישנה Старият начин ガンズ・アンド・キラーズ Pavėluotas kerštas

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