The Cowboy Way (film)

The Cowboy Way is a 1994 American action comedy western film directed by Gregg Champion and starring Woody Harrelson and Kiefer Sutherland.

The Cowboy Way
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Gregg Champion
Written by	Rob Thompson
Produced by	Brian Grazer
Starring	Woody Harrelson Kiefer Sutherland Dylan McDermott Ernie Hudson
Cinematography	Dean Semler
Edited by	Michael Tronick
Music by	David Newman Bon Jovi (songs)
Production company	Imagine Entertainment
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date	June 3, 1994 (1994-06-03)
Running time	107 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$35 million[1]
Box office	$25 million[2]

Plot

The Cowboy Way follows two championship rodeo stars and lifelong best friends, Pepper Lewis and Sonny Gilstrap as they travel from New Mexico to New York City in search of their missing friend, Nacho Salazar, who came to the city to pay for his daughter's trip to the U.S. from Cuba. When they discover that he's been murdered, the pair set out to find the killer.

Cast

• Woody Harrelson as Pepper Lewis
• Kiefer Sutherland as Sonny Gilstrap
• Dylan McDermott as John Stark
• Ernie Hudson as Officer Sam 'Mad Dog' Shaw
• Cara Buono as Teresa Salazar
• Marg Helgenberger as Margarette
• Tomas Milian as Manny Huerta
• Luis Guzmán as Chango
• Angel Caban as Boca
• Matthew Cowles as Pop Fly
• Joaquín Martínez as Nacho Salazar
• Allison Janney as NYPD Computer Operator
• Christopher Durang as Waldorf Astoria waiter

In addition, Travis Tritt makes a cameo appearance.

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 25% of 16 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.3/10.^[3]

Joe Brown of The Washington Post said, "The Cowboy Way is a weak rehashing of the Crocodile Dundee gimmick: two modern-day cowboys taming the Wild East. The tired formula may still have some life left in it, but not this 'Way'. This dud ranch is saddled with the charisma-free teaming of dumb guns Woody Harrelson and Kiefer Sutherland."^[4]

Year-end lists

• 5th worst – Robert Denerstein, Rocky Mountain News^[5]
• Top 10 worst (listed alphabetically, not ranked) – Mike Mayo, The Roanoke Times^[6]
• Dishonorable mention – Dan Craft, The Pantagraph^[7]

Box office

The Cowboy Way debuted at number 5 at the US box office and went on to gross $20 million in the United States and Canada and $25 million worldwide.^[8][9][2]

Soundtrack

• Good Guys Don't Always Wear White - Bon Jovi
• The Cowboy Way - Travis Tritt
• Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys - Gibson/Miller Band
• Blue Danube Blues - Cracker
• No One to Run With - The Allman Brothers Band
• On Broadway - Jeff Beck & Paul Rodgers
• Days Gone By - James House
• Candy Says - Blind Melon
• Too Far Gone - Emmylou Harris
• Sonny Rides Again - George Thorogood & The Destroyers
• Free Your Mind - En Vogue
• Suicide Blonde - INXS