Badlands (1974)

Kernel Score: 84% · 1,314 ratings · Rated PG

Genres: Crime, Drama, Romance

Released: 1974-01-05

Runtime: 94 minutes

Where to watch Badlands

  • Free with ads: YouTube Free, Plex, Tubi
  • Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
  • Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube

US availability, updated 2026-10-23.

Overview

An impressionable teenage girl from a dead-end town and her older greaser boyfriend embark on a killing spree in the South Dakota badlands.

Badlands parents' guide: ages 13+

Parents need to know that Badlands is a PG-rated crime drama based on a true story about a teenage girl and her boyfriend on a killing spree.

  • Violence & scariness: Strong — Follows a real-life-inspired killing spree with a fugitive couple on the run, central to the plot.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Movies like Badlands

If you liked Badlands, these are the movies we'd watch next.

Director

Terrence Malick

Cast

  • Martin Sheen as Kit Carruthers
  • Sissy Spacek as Holly Sargis
  • Warren Oates as Holly's Father
  • Ramon Bieri as Cato
  • Alan Vint as Deputy
  • Gary Littlejohn as Sheriff
  • John Carter as Rich Man
  • Bryan Montgomery as Boy
  • Gail Threlkeld as Girl
  • Charles Fitzpatrick as Clerk

Badlands FAQ

Is Badlands good?

Badlands has an 84% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 1,314 audience ratings.

Where can I watch Badlands?

In the US you can watch it free with ads on YouTube Free, Plex and Tubi and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.

Is Badlands OK for kids?

Badlands is rated PG. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 13+. Parents need to know that Badlands is a PG-rated crime drama based on a true story about a teenage girl and her boyfriend on a killing spree.

What movies are like Badlands?

If you liked Badlands, try Bonnie and Clyde, In Cold Blood, Boys Don't Cry and Breathless.