Urban Cowboy

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Urban Cowboy

PG

1980

2h 15m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

71%

Tomatometer

24 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

After moving to Pasadena, Texas, country boy Bud Davis starts hanging around a bar called Gilley's, where he falls in love with Sissy, a cowgirl who believes the sexes are equal. They eventually marry, but their relationship is turbulent due to Bud's traditional view of gender roles. Jealousy over his rival, Wes, leads to their separation, but Bud attempts to win Sissy back by triumphing at Gilley's mechanical bull-riding competition.

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Meaghan Morris

Sydney Morning Herald

Apr 23, 2025

An engaging romance about the emotional complexities of a rather nasty society which has a lot in common with our own.

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Jay Scott

Globe and Mail

Aug 12, 2022

At no time is Urban Cowboy especially well-directed.

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Bob Thomas

Associated Press

Mar 4, 2019

As in Saturday Night Fever and Grease, [Travolta] plays a blustery, not-too-bright, young man with an electric personality that is fascinating to watch.

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Douglas Davidson

Elements of Madness

Jul 3, 2020

3.5/5

In short, the fact that all three central characters are fallible is unique as it makes the characters less archetypes and more human.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Jun 14, 2020

3/4

Travolta is fine, but Winger and Glenn are the ones who truly add fire to the film.

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Frank J. Avella

Edge Media Network

Jun 10, 2020

B-

Just how his camera lingers on Travolta gives new meaning to the notion of the gay gaze...

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Keith B

@Okbullard Oct 21, 2026

The first time I watched this was probably 40 years ago and I decided to give it another look. It was pretty enjoyable but I thought both Winger and Glenn were better than Travolta. I'm glad I watched it again though.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 18, 2026

Urban Cowboy = a *4*star Movie!

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Jay and Susie S

@RT04493526 Apr 19, 2026

Really enjoyed this movie. Although it debuted several years ago, I continue to watch it when it appears on one of my channels. Soundtrack is awesome.

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Shantelle D.

@Shantelle Mar 31, 2026

A little slow and repetitive but has one of the best movie soundtracks.. I LOVE the music and the message so I definitely recommend watching this movie at least once.

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Bob K

@Hey-Bob Mar 19, 2026

Many of my friends told me this was a great and funny movie, but I never got around to watching it until now. They must have been drunk when they say it because I was not impressed at all. It's basically about a lot of boring ordinary people living boring ordinary lives. I kept waiting for something exciting to happen, but every time it looked like it was coming up to an exciting part of the movie, it just fizzled and died. The characters were even more uninteresting as the storyline. Dull is the best word to describe it.

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Roberto L.

@RobertoLongstaff29 Dec 1, 2025

Despite the part where he slaps his girl then asks her to marry him, this movie got me back in the rhythm of watching classics and it’s one of the best to show how Texas really was back then.

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James Bridges

Director

John Travolta

Bud

Debra Winger

Sissy Davis

Scott Glenn

Wes Hightower

Madolyn Smith Osborne

Pam

Barry Corbin

Bob Davis

Urban Cowboy: Official Clip - A Sexy Sissy Ride

2:13

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Urban Cowboy: Official Clip - A Wedding at Gilley's

0:44

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Urban Cowboy: Official Clip - I Love You, Sissy

1:58

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Urban Cowboy: Official Clip - Swaller Pride

2:12

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Urban Cowboy: Official Clip - Hitching a Ride

2:08

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Urban Cowboy: Official Clip - We're Going Home

1:48

Now Playing

Urban Cowboy: Official Clip - Gilley's Rodeo Competition

2:12

Now Playing

Urban Cowboy: Official Clip - Sissy Rides the Bull

2:12

Now Playing

Urban Cowboy: Official Clip - We Live Like Pigs

2:13

Now Playing

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Synopsis

After moving to Pasadena, Texas, country boy Bud Davis starts hanging around a bar called Gilley's, where he falls in love with Sissy, a cowgirl who believes the sexes are equal. They eventually marry, but their relationship is turbulent due to Bud's traditional view of gender roles. Jealousy over his rival, Wes, leads to their separation, but Bud attempts to win Sissy back by triumphing at Gilley's mechanical bull-riding competition.

Director: James Bridges
Producer: Irving Azoff, Robert Evans
Screenwriter: Aaron Latham, James Bridges
Production Co: Paramount Pictures, Robert Evans Company
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 6, 1980, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2013
Runtime: 2h 15m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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