Cowboys and Aliens (2011)
12-month trend
12-month trend
Monthly article views
2025-09 to 2026-08
An amnesiac outlaw and a wealthy cattleman must form an unlikely alliance to protect their land from a mysterious alien invasion.
The story
In the 1873 New Mexico Territory, an amnesiac outlaw named Jake Lonergan awakens in the desert with a mysterious metal bracelet and no memory of his past. When he enters the town of Absolution, he finds himself caught in a tense standoff between local law enforcement and a powerful cattleman, Colonel Woodrow Dolarhide. The situation escalates dramatically when alien ships attack the town, abducting several residents. Jake's bracelet activates into a weapon, allowing him to fight back. He must then join forces with the cattleman, a mysterious woman named Ella Swenson, and a local posse to track down the invaders and protect the remaining townspeople from the extraterrestrial threat.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1873 New Mexico, Jake Lonergan, an outlaw with a mysterious wrist-mounted weapon, joins forces with a wealthy cattleman, Colonel Dolarhyde, and a mysterious woman, Ella Swenson, to fight an alien invasion. After a skirmish where Jake's bracelet is used to repel initial attackers, the group tracks a downed ship. Jake recovers memories of his past and his lost lover, Alice, while the group faces off against the invaders. They eventually discover that the aliens are space pirates mining gold. Ella reveals she is from a different alien race seeking revenge. The group eventually unites with Jake's former gang and local Apaches to launch a final assault on the alien mother ship. During the battle, Jake is captured but rescued by Dolarhyde. Ella sacrifices herself to destroy the enemy's main ship. In the aftermath, the survivors find a gold mine, and the sheriff and Dolarhyde agree to let Jake disappear, declaring him dead to the law.
- First release year
- 2011
- Runtime (minutes)
- 118
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Jon Favreau
- Cast and characters
- Daniel Craig · Jake Lonergan; Harrison Ford · Colonel Woodrow Dolarhyde; Olivia Wilde · Ella Swenson; Sam Rockwell · Doc; Adam Beach; Paul Dano · Percy Dolarhyde; Noah Ringer
- Genres
- space Western; science fiction; action
- Themes
- redemption; unlikely alliances; clash of technologies
- Tone and mood
- serious; adventure
- Premise and plot tags
- Western; Sci-Fi; Alien Invasion
- Source material / true-story basis
- 2006 Platinum Studios graphic novel
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews, with critics praising the acting and special effects while criticizing the screenplay and tone. It was a financial disappointment at the box office.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 50 · scale: 100 · review count: 41; CinemaScore · score: B · scale: A+ to F
- Awards and nominations
- Annie Awards · Animated Effects in a Live Action Production · nomination; Saturn Award · Best Supporting Actor · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was shot in anamorphic format on 35mm film to achieve a 'classic movie feel'.; The film's aliens were inspired by the Anunnaki gods of Zecharia Sitchin's interpretation of Babylonian religion.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
Your lists
Loading your lists…