The Return of Josey Wales

"Legend has it he lives."

1986 1h 30m EN

😐

6.0

MID

★6.0TMDB · 5

Western

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In a small, dusty border town, two long-time best friends of the mysterious gunman Josey Wales are brutally murdered by marauding rurales. The rurales, led by the beastial Commandante Escobar, head back to Mexico with gambler Ten Spot as hostage. Told of his friend's peril, Josey sets out on a trail of bloody vengeance.

“Legend has it he lives.”

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Cast

Michael Parks
Josey Wales
Rafael Campos
Chato
Charles McCoy
Charles
Suzie Humphreys
Rose
John William Galt
Kelly
Robert Magruder
Tenspot
Paco Vela
Paco
Everett Sifuentes
Capt. Jesús Escabedo

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Michael Parks
Writers: Forrest Carter
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

90 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

40 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Josey Wales Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Michael Parks and Rafael Campos and Charles McCoy carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Legend has it he lives.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0331327 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 5 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Michael Parks directs. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

190 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
240 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Part of the "Josey Wales Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
5Michael Parks and Rafael Campos and Charles McCoy carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "Legend has it he lives.".
7IMDB entry: tt0331327 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 5 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Runtime: 90 min · 1h 30m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: The Return of Josey Wales (1986)

Part of

Josey Wales Collection

These films explore the journey of outlaws evolving from flawed heroes to enlightened leaders, confronting moral ambiguities and balancing higher causes with personal vengeance. Set against a backdrop of political and social upheaval, the protagonists' personal journeys of redemption, loyalty, and friendship drive the narratives. Themes of masculinity and femininity are also explored, often yielding surprising and interesting results. The dynamic characters and unexpected twists keep audiences engaged, ensuring the films' staying power and legacy. The thoughtful handling of gender roles and expectations highlights the excellence of the filmmaking, addressing complex subjects alongside adrenaline-fueled spectacle. Overall, the films are known for their compelling storytelling, rich character development, and engaging exploration of contemporary social issues.

Community reviews

What people are saying

r96sk2022-01-28
★ 4/10
An odd thing. Following 10 years on from the release of <em>'The Outlaw Josey Wales'</em>, it's difficult to see why <em>'The Return of Josey Wales'</em> even exists - especially without the involvement of the original's star, Clint Eastwood. It was hardly going to be a moneymaker, either. I found this 1986 flick to be extremely slow and uninteresting, none of the actors or characters stick out even minutely. Michael Parks is an OK cast on paper, but as Josey Wales he just doesn't fit what we've previously seen from the character. Rafael Campos, in his final film role, would be the one I'd name as the standout if asked, but that's just via a process of elimination. It's the absolute definition of pointless, and to make it even less enjoyable they continue the irritating chewing tobacco spitting thing from the first film. There are also some ultra amateur swoosh-like transitions used, which cheapen the whole thing further. No hate from me at all, but this is a very poor release from the 80s.

Production companies