Hell or High Water (2016)
Kernel Score: 83% · 4,780 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Western, Crime, Drama
Released: 2016-08-11
Runtime: 102 minutes
Is Hell or High Water worth watching?
Must-watch. A lean modern western about two brothers robbing banks to save the family farm. The performances are great, the dialogue is sharp, and the Texas setting feels lived in.
Watch it if you
- like crime stories with moral grey areas
- enjoy modern westerns and dry humour
- want a short film with real tension
Skip it if you
- need a lot of action
- dislike stories without clean heroes
Best for: Solo night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Hell or High Water
- Stream: HBO Max
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
A divorced dad and his ex-con brother resort to a desperate scheme in order to save their family's farm in West Texas.
Hell or High Water parents' guide: ages 14+
Parents need to know that Hell or High Water is an R-rated neo-Western about brothers robbing banks to save their family farm, featuring gunfights and a police officer killed.
- Violence & scariness: Strong — Includes bank robberies, gun battles, a police officer killed, and a car fire.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Hell or High Water
If you liked Hell or High Water, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- No Country for Old Men (2007) — 94%: Same bleak, tense Texas landscape and cat-and-mouse chase
- Paris, Texas (1984) — 91%: Slow, deeply felt story of family and the American West
- The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) — 79%: Reflective, beautifully shot story of outlaw life
- Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) — 86%: Classic outlaw duo you end up rooting for
- The Getaway (1972) — 79%: Couple on the run after a heist
- Lawless (2012) — 80%: Brothers and criminal life in a rough, violent setting
Director
Cast
- Jeff Bridges as Marcus Hamilton
- Chris Pine as Toby Howard
- Ben Foster as Tanner Howard
- Gil Birmingham as Alberto Parker
- Marin Ireland as Debbie Howard
- Kevin Rankin as Billy Rayburn
- Dale Dickey as Elsie
- William Sterchi as Mr. Clauson
- Kristen Berg as Olney Teller
- Katy Mixon as Jenny Ann
Hell or High Water FAQ
Is Hell or High Water worth watching?
Must-watch. A lean modern western about two brothers robbing banks to save the family farm. The performances are great, the dialogue is sharp, and the Texas setting feels lived in.
Where can I watch Hell or High Water?
In the US you can stream Hell or High Water on HBO Max and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Hell or High Water OK for kids?
Hell or High Water is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 14+. Parents need to know that Hell or High Water is an R-rated neo-Western about brothers robbing banks to save their family farm, featuring gunfights and a police officer killed.
What movies are like Hell or High Water?
If you liked Hell or High Water, try No Country for Old Men, Paris, Texas, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.