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Pale Rider

Play trailer Poster for Pale Rider R 1985 1h 55m Western Play Trailer Watchlist
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94% Tomatometer 32 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
When property owner Coy LaHood (Richard Dysart) starts using a band of hooligans to terrorize a group of small-town gold miners into giving up their territory, an enigmatic man named "Preacher" (Clint Eastwood) arrives in town. Preacher fends off the attacks, and then goes directly to LaHood to negotiate. When the miners, led by Hull Barret (Michael Moriarty), refuse the terms, LaHood sends in Marshall Stockburn (John Russell) to take down Preacher and the others.
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Pale Rider

Pale Rider

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Nearly a decade after The Outlaw Josey Wales, Clint Eastwood returns as a director to the genre that made his name with this elegant, spiritual Western that riffs on the classic Shane.

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Critics Reviews

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Dave Kehr Chicago Reader 05/27/2011
Though the metaphysical overtones of the screenplay are sometimes awkwardly handled and Eastwood's direction of actors (other than himself) is occasionally uncertain, this was one of the better American films of 1985. Go to Full Review Richard Corliss TIME Magazine 10/26/2008
Pale Rider does nothing to disprove the wisdom that this genre is best left to the revival houses. A double feature of Shane and Eastwood's High Plains Drifter will do just fine, thanks. Go to Full Review Variety Staff Variety 10/26/2008
It's all been seen before, but Eastwood serves it up with authority, fine craftsmanship and a frequent sense of fun. Go to Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Jan 3
6/10
The revenge formula is dependable, with obvious antagonists who require a special kind of cinematic justice. Go to Full Review Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal 06/26/2025
3.5/5
The very model of a polished, competent Western — one that showed Clint Eastwood could still scratch the itch so that, with "Unforgiven" seven years later, he could dig deep into the scab. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 05/06/2025
3/4
Bless Clint Eastwood for climbing back into the saddle during a period when most others preferred to climb into a spaceship. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Joseph P @Bigjoe331 Jul 25 Great movie from beginning to end See more Jerod S @jeroduptown Jun 5 Should've been called "The Preacher" instead of the Pale Rider - but Eastwood is both bad-A and the good guy at the same time as he saves a town from an old west mob. See more Robert B. @duncan1 May 31 Everything everyone hopes for from a western. See more Drew M. @Stonehands211 Mar 17 This one was more like it. A better story to go along with the gun fights and tough talk. See more Kerry G @Seazey Jan 1 Lacks something or someone more sinister than what we get. See more Clive M @Dyshane Nov 14 I must have watched this 10 times. He is a master when it comes to westerns. That typical mean bad ass Clint is what we expect See more Read all reviews
Pale Rider

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Cast & Crew

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Clint Eastwood

Director

Clint Eastwood

Preacher

Michael Moriarty

Hull Barret

Carrie Snodgress

Sarah Wheeler

Chris Penn

Josh LaHood

Richard Dysart

Coy LaHood

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Pale Rider

Pale Rider (1985) Pale Rider (1985) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis When property owner Coy LaHood (Richard Dysart) starts using a band of hooligans to terrorize a group of small-town gold miners into giving up their territory, an enigmatic man named "Preacher" (Clint Eastwood) arrives in town. Preacher fends off the attacks, and then goes directly to LaHood to negotiate. When the miners, led by Hull Barret (Michael Moriarty), refuse the terms, LaHood sends in Marshall Stockburn (John Russell) to take down Preacher and the others.
Director
Clint Eastwood
Producer
Clint Eastwood
Screenwriter
Michael Butler, Dennis Shryack
Distributor
Warner Bros., Warner Home Vídeo
Production Co
The Malpaso Company
Rating
R
Genre
Western
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 28, 1985, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 15, 2008
Runtime
1h 55m
Sound Mix
Dolby, Surround