Cool Hand Luke (1967)
Kernel Score: 85% · 1,578 ratings · Rated PG
Genres: Drama, Crime
Released: 1967-11-01
Runtime: 127 minutes
Where to watch Cool Hand Luke
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
When petty criminal Luke Jackson is sentenced to two years in a Florida prison farm, he doesn't play by the rules of either the sadistic warden or the yard's resident heavy, Dragline, who ends up admiring the new guy's unbreakable will. Luke's bravado, even in the face of repeated stints in the prison's dreaded solitary confinement cell, "the box," make him a rebel hero to his fellow convicts and a thorn in the side of the prison officers.
Cool Hand Luke parents' guide: ages 11+
Parents need to know that Cool Hand Luke is a PG-rated prison drama with themes of rebellion and harsh punishment.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Depicts imprisonment, harassment, and punishment in a prison farm setting.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Cool Hand Luke
If you liked Cool Hand Luke, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- The Shawshank Redemption (1994) — 100%
- Brubaker (1980) — 80%
- Papillon (1973) — 87%
- GoodFellas (1990) — 92%
- Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019) — 77%
- Birdman of Alcatraz (1962) — 85%
- Midnight Express (1978) — 84%
- Bronson (2009) — 76%
Director
Stuart Rosenberg
Cast
- Paul Newman as Luke Jackson
- George Kennedy as Dragline
- Luke Askew as Boss Paul
- Morgan Woodward as Boss Godfrey
- Harry Dean Stanton as Tramp
- Dennis Hopper as Babalugats
- Lou Antonio as Koko
- Robert Drivas as Loudmouth Steve
- Strother Martin as Captain
- Jo Van Fleet as Arletta
Cool Hand Luke FAQ
Is Cool Hand Luke good?
Cool Hand Luke has an 85% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 1,578 audience ratings.
Where can I watch Cool Hand Luke?
In the US you can rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Cool Hand Luke OK for kids?
Cool Hand Luke is rated PG. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 11+. Parents need to know that Cool Hand Luke is a PG-rated prison drama with themes of rebellion and harsh punishment.
What movies are like Cool Hand Luke?
If you liked Cool Hand Luke, try The Shawshank Redemption, Brubaker, Papillon and GoodFellas.