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Once Upon a Time in Mexico
2003 102 min United States of America, Mexico R 18+
★6.5
Action, Crime, Thriller, Western
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Trailers
Description
A corrupt CIA agent Sands hires hitman El Mariachi to assassinate a Mexican general hired by a drug kingpin attempting a coup d'état of the President of Mexico.
Budget:
$29M
US Gross:
$56.36M
Worldwide:
$98.77M
Starring
Antonio Banderas
Actor
Salma Hayek
Actor
Johnny Depp
Actor
Awards
3 wins & 6 nominations total
Key opinion
Once Upon a Time in Mexico is a polarizing conclusion to Robert Rodriguez's trilogy, frequently criticized for its convoluted plot and disjointed character arcs. While many viewers enjoy its high-octane action, star-studded cast, and Rodriguez's signature stylistic flair, others find it a chaotic, shallow, and unnecessary follow-up to its predecessors.
| Direction | The film functions as a high-energy, entertaining popcorn movie that succeeds primarily through its relentless action sequences and Rodriguez’s signature stylized aesthetic. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is widely considered a narrative mess, criticized for being confusing, disjointed, and overcrowded with extraneous characters that lack depth. | |
| Acting | Johnny Depp provides a standout, charismatic performance that frequently dominates the film, though critics are divided on whether his character is a compelling addition or a distracting element. | |
| Originality | The film’s tone is subject to intense debate; fans celebrate its 'guerrilla' freedom and 'Rocky'-like rewatchability, while detractors find it an uninspired, tasteless, and humorless departure from the charm of the earlier films. | |
| Culture | The film’s depiction of Mexico is frequently criticized for relying on inauthentic stereotypes and a lawless, exploitative portrayal that fails to resonate with the grounded nature of the original trilogy entries. |