Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Cool Hand Luke

Play trailer Poster for Cool Hand Luke PG 1967 2h 9m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
100% Tomatometer 56 Reviews 95% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
When petty criminal Luke Jackson (Paul Newman) is sentenced to two years in a Florida prison farm, he doesn't play by the rules of either the sadistic warden (Strother Martin) or the yard's resident heavy, Dragline (George Kennedy), 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.
Watch on Fandango at Home Stream Now

Where to Watch

Cool Hand Luke

Cool Hand Luke

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Though hampered by Stuart Rosenberg's direction, Cool Hand Luke is held aloft by a stellar script and one of Paul Newman's most indelible performances.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
John Mahoney The Hollywood Reporter 12/15/2020
Well written by Pearce and Pierson and acted by a most talented ensemble of performers, Luke succeeds as both a highly humorous and deeply dramatic study of the immolation of human spirit in captivity and as an allegory. Go to Full Review Jake Wilson The Age (Australia) 09/27/2018
The whole thing depends on Newman's blue eyes, easy grin, and ability to appear charismatic but never cocky. Go to Full Review Dave Kehr Chicago Reader 04/23/2009
Stuart Rosenberg's direction is a horror, but the cast teems with so many familiar faces that this 1967 film can't help but entertain. Go to Full Review Bianca Garner Filmotomy 10/10/2024
Cool Hand Luke has one of cinema’s best character introductions and film openings. Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 05/06/2023
There’s more than a bit of Christ allegory in the imagery but it’s the character of the scruffy prisoners in the impoverished prison... that gives the film its juice. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 04/08/2023
3.5/4
In a career filled with iconic anti-heroes -- including what I deem the “4-H Club” from the 1960s (Hud, Harper, Hombre, and The Hustler) -- Lucas Jackson just might be the most popular of all the societal misfits played by Paul Newman. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
chad Apr 7 This as good a movie you can hope to see, until One Flew comes along and does it better. See more Micah S. @mns527 Jan 2 Excellent movie, great cast See more Ed F. Jan 2 Sometimes nothing is a real cool hand. See more James G. @Yriug Oct 9 Fantastic movie I’ve watched it probably 20 times See more welsh l Jul 29 A perfect film. Cast is ideal. The pace of events and language is perfect. It is a window into how choices shape your world. Too much pride can be your ruination. See more Nathan B Jul 28 “Natural born world-shaker”. Cool Hand Luke is a gripping exploration of a man’s search for purpose and meaning in the world, as he defies the rules and regulations imposed by others, even those dictated by God. Paul Newman reveals an immovable and unbreakable spirit, unbeknownst to others, who tries desperately to feed off his freedom, yet is captive to their fear of breaking society’s place for them. Luke finds himself reeling from emptiness and alienation at times, but never considers conforming as his path toward belonging. He fails to find meaning while others find meaning in him, gravitating toward him. Ultimately, Luke asked where his place on this Earth was, and God answered him. See more Read all reviews
Cool Hand Luke

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

View All

Stuart Rosenberg

Director

Paul Newman

Luke

George Kennedy

Dragline

J.D. Cannon

Society Red

Lou Antonio

Koko

Robert Drivas

Loudmouth Steve

More Like This

View All
East of Eden 86% 90% East of Eden Watchlist All the President's Men 94% 92% All the President's Men Watchlist Chariots of Fire 84% 80% Chariots of Fire Watchlist A Streetcar Named Desire 97% 89% A Streetcar Named Desire Watchlist The Learning Tree 76% 84% The Learning Tree Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

Cool Hand Luke

Cool Hand Luke (1967) Cool Hand Luke (1967) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis When petty criminal Luke Jackson (Paul Newman) is sentenced to two years in a Florida prison farm, he doesn't play by the rules of either the sadistic warden (Strother Martin) or the yard's resident heavy, Dragline (George Kennedy), 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.
Director
Stuart Rosenberg
Producer
Gordon Carroll
Screenwriter
Frank Pierson, Donn Pearce, Donn Pearce
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Home Vídeo
Production Co
Warner Brothers, Jalem Productions
Rating
PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 1, 1967, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
May 19, 2016
Runtime
2h 9m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
Most Popular at Home Now