Desperado (1995)
Kernel Score: 77% · 3,079 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Thriller, Action, Crime
Released: 1995-08-25
Runtime: 104 minutes
Is Desperado worth watching?
Worth watching. Robert Rodriguez's stylish, violent sequel-of-sorts follows a guitar-case-toting gunman on a revenge trip through a Mexican border town. It's lean, cartoonish and fun, with Antonio Banderas as a charismatic lead.
Watch it if you
- like stylish, over-the-top action
- enjoy western-flavoured revenge stories
Skip it if you
- dislike gun violence
- want a realistic crime story
Best for: Action night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Desperado
- Stream: Prime Video
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
El Mariachi plunges headfirst into the dark border underworld when he follows a trail of blood to the last of the infamous Mexican drug lords, Bucho, for an action-packed, bullet-riddled showdown. With the help of his friend and a beautiful bookstore owner, El Mariachi tracks Bucho, takes on his army of desperados, and leaves his own trail of blood.
Desperado parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that Desperado is an R-rated action film with intense gunfights, explosions, and brutal violence tied to drug cartel conflict.
- Violence & scariness: Intense — Features near-constant shootouts, explosions, and brutal action violence consistent with its R rating.
- Drinking, drugs & smoking: Some — Drug lords and drug trafficking are central to the plot's conflict.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Desperado
If you liked Desperado, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) — 80%: Rodriguez's wild, genre-mixing violent adventure
- Sin City (2005) — 84%: Rodriguez's stylised, ultra-violent comic-book crime film
- Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004) — 88%: Stylish revenge story with western flavour
- Man on Fire (2004) — 84%: Revenge thriller with a tough hero
- John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023) — 86%: Stylised action with a relentless hero
- Sicario (2015) — 83%: Tense, serious border-crime thriller
Director
Cast
- Antonio Banderas as El Mariachi
- Salma Hayek Pinault as Carolina
- Joaquim de Almeida as Bucho
- Steve Buscemi as Buscemi
- Cheech Marin as Short Bartender
- Carlos Gómez as Right Hand
- Quentin Tarantino as Pick-Up Guy
- Tito Larriva as Tavo
- Angel Aviles as Zamira
- Danny Trejo as Navajas
Desperado FAQ
Is Desperado worth watching?
Worth watching. Robert Rodriguez's stylish, violent sequel-of-sorts follows a guitar-case-toting gunman on a revenge trip through a Mexican border town. It's lean, cartoonish and fun, with Antonio Banderas as a charismatic lead.
Where can I watch Desperado?
In the US you can stream Desperado on Prime Video and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Desperado OK for kids?
Desperado is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Desperado is an R-rated action film with intense gunfights, explosions, and brutal violence tied to drug cartel conflict.
What movies are like Desperado?
If you liked Desperado, try From Dusk Till Dawn, Sin City, Kill Bill: Vol. 2 and Man on Fire.