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Desperado

  • 19951995
  • RR
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
184K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,855
17
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Antonio Banderas in Desperado (1995)
text os
Play trailer1:59
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Action
  • Crime
  • Thriller

Former musician and gunslinger El Mariachi arrives at a small Mexican border town after being away for a long time. His past quickly catches up with him and he soon gets entangled with the l... Read allFormer musician and gunslinger El Mariachi arrives at a small Mexican border town after being away for a long time. His past quickly catches up with him and he soon gets entangled with the local drug kingpin Bucho and his gang.Former musician and gunslinger El Mariachi arrives at a small Mexican border town after being away for a long time. His past quickly catches up with him and he soon gets entangled with the local drug kingpin Bucho and his gang.

IMDb RATING
7.1/10
184K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,855
17
  • Director
    • Robert Rodriguez
  • Writer
    • Robert Rodriguez
  • Stars
    • Antonio Banderas
    • Salma Hayek
    • Joaquim de Almeida
Top credits
  • Director
    • Robert Rodriguez
  • Writer
    • Robert Rodriguez
  • Stars
    • Antonio Banderas
    • Salma Hayek
    • Joaquim de Almeida
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 244User reviews
    • 94Critic reviews
    • 55Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 5 nominations

    Videos1

    Desperado
    Trailer 1:59
    Desperado

    Photos112

    Antonio Banderas, Carlos Gallardo, and Albert Michel Jr. in Desperado (1995)
    Quentin Tarantino and Cheech Marin in Desperado (1995)
    Joaquim de Almeida in Desperado (1995)
    Antonio Banderas in Desperado (1995)
    Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek in Desperado (1995)
    Quentin Tarantino in Desperado (1995)
    Salma Hayek in Desperado (1995)
    Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek in Desperado (1995)
    Robert Rodriguez in Desperado (1995)
    Antonio Banderas in Desperado (1995)
    Desperado (1995)
    Antonio Banderas in Desperado (1995)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Antonio Banderas
    Antonio Banderas
    • El Mariachias El Mariachi
    Salma Hayek
    Salma Hayek
    • Carolinaas Carolina
    Joaquim de Almeida
    Joaquim de Almeida
    • Buchoas Bucho
    Cheech Marin
    Cheech Marin
    • Short Bartenderas Short Bartender
    Steve Buscemi
    Steve Buscemi
    • Buscemias Buscemi
    Carlos Gómez
    Carlos Gómez
    • Right Handas Right Hand
    • (as Carlos Gomez)
    Quentin Tarantino
    Quentin Tarantino
    • Pick-up Guyas Pick-up Guy
    Tito Larriva
    Tito Larriva
    • Tavoas Tavo
    Angel Aviles
    • Zamiraas Zamira
    Danny Trejo
    Danny Trejo
    • Navajasas Navajas
    Abraham Verduzco
    • Niñoas Niño
    Carlos Gallardo
    Carlos Gallardo
    • Campaas Campa
    Albert Michel Jr.
    • Quinoas Quino
    David Alvarado
    • Buddyas Buddy
    Angela Lanza
    Angela Lanza
    • Tourist Girlas Tourist Girl
    Mike Moroff
    Mike Moroff
    • Shrugas Shrug
    Robert Arevalo
    Robert Arevalo
    • Opponentas Opponent
    Gerardo Moscoso
    • Priestas Priest
    • Director
      • Robert Rodriguez
    • Writer
      • Robert Rodriguez
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Director Robert Rodriguez picks up where his successful independent debut El Mariachi left off with this slam-bang South of the Border action saga. Bucho (Joaquim DeAlmeida) is a wealthy but casually bloodthirsty drug kingpin who rules a seedy Mexican border town. Bucho and his men make the mistake of angering El Mariachi (Antonio Banderas), a former musician who now carries an arsenal in his guitar case. Bucho was responsible for the death of El Mariachi's girlfriend and put a bullet through his fretting hand, making him unable to play the guitar. Bent on revenge, the musician-turned-killing machine arrives in town to put Bucho out of business, though he finds few allies except for Carolina (Salma Hayek), who runs a bookstore that doesn't seem to attract many readers. Desperado features supporting performances from Cheech Marin as a cynical bartender, Steve Buscemi as the cantina patron who sets up the story, and Quentin Tarantino as a man with a really terrible joke to tell.
    • contemporary western
    • mexican
    • one against many
    • lone wolf
    • musician
    • 217 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • He came back to settle the score with someone. Anyone. EVERYONE.
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Crime
      • Thriller
      • Western
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for strong bloody violence, a strong sex sequence and language
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The bathroom scene before the 2nd bar shootout was directed by Antonio Banderas. Robert Rodriguez said he didn't like using 2nd unit crews and Banderas asked if he could direct the scene, to which Rodriguez agreed.
    • Goofs
      When El Mariachi follows the boy and slides his shoulder along the wall, leaving blood smears, in one shot you can see what look like places where smears from a previous take have been not-quite-completely scrubbed off.
    • Quotes

      Pick-up Guy: [sitting at the counter inside the Tarasco Bar] This reminds me of a joke. This guy comes into a bar, walks up to the bartender. Says, "Bartender, I got me a bet for you. I'm gonna bet you $300 that I can piss into that glass over there and not spill a single, solitary drop." The bartender looks. I mean, we're talking, like, this glass is like a good ten feet away. He says, "Now wait, let me get this strait. You're tryin' to tell me you'll bet me $300 that you can piss, standing over here, way over there into that glass, and not spill a single drop?" Customer looks up and says, "That's right." Bartender says, "Young man, you got a bet." The guy goes, "Okay, here we go. Here we go." Pulls out his thing. He's lookin' at the glass, man. He's thinkin' about the glass. He's thinkin' about the glass. Glass. He's thinkin' about the glass, glass. Thinkin' about his dick. Dick, glass, dick, glass, dick, glass, dick, glass, dick, glass, dick, glass, dick, glass. And then, *foosh*, he lets it rip. And he-he's pisses all over the place, man. He's pissin' on the bar. He pissin' on the stools, on the floor, on the phone, on the bartender! He's pissing everywhere *except* the fucking glass! Right? Okay. So, bartender, he's laughing his fuckin' ass off. He's $300 richer. He's like, "Ha, ha, ha, ha!" Piss dripping off his face. "Ha, ha, ha, ha!" He says, "You fucking idiot, man! You got it in everything except the glass! You owe me $300 punta." Guy goes, "Excuse me just one-one little second." Goes in the back of the bar. In back, there's a couple of guys playing pool. He walks over to them. Comes back to the bar. Goes, "Here you go, Mr. Bartender, 300." And the bartender's like, "What the fuck are you so happy about? You just lost $300, idiot!" The guy says, "Well, see those guys over there? I just bet them $500 a piece that I could piss on your bar, piss on your floor, piss on your phone, and piss on you, and not only would you not be mad about it, you'd be happy."

    • Alternate versions
      Finnish video version is cut by 38 seconds.
    • Connections
      Edited into The Anti-Hero's Journey (2004)
    • Soundtracks
      Six Blade Knife
      Written by Mark Knopfler

      Performed by Dire Straits

      Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records Inc.

      By Arrangement with Warner Special Products and PolyGram Record

      Operations Ltd.

    User reviews244

    Review
    Top review
    Watch Out, El Mariachi Is Back!
    Rodriguez follows up 'El Mariachi' with 'Desperado'. Many seem to have preferred the raw look that 'El Mariachi' had and while 'Desperado' is more 'sophisticated' in the making and more polished, that doesn't prevent it from being an awesome action entertainer. For me, it was just as much fun as 'El Mariachi'. Rodriguez does what he does best. He already mentioned that his Mariachi films are a tribute to the western cinema that names like Sergio Leone and Clint Eastwood defined and 'Desperado' works perfectly with its comic book story, quirky characters and over-the-top action sequences. Moving at a rapid pace, the direction and editing are top notch. The cinematography is brilliant too. Antonio Banderas does a good job taking over the role from Carlos Gallardo (who sort of plays his sidekick in this one). However, it is Salma Hayek that steals the show even though the story is dominated by El Mariachi. As Carolina, she is sensual, witty, charming and quite clever too. Hayek delivers a very natural performance and owns each and every one of her scenes. In addition, there are some wonderful cameos by Cheech Marin, Quentin Tarantino, Steve Buscemi and Danny Trejo. Overall, 'Desperado' is full throttle entertainment. This is what an action entertainer is supposed to be.
    helpful•25
    3
    • Chrysanthepop
    • Nov 18, 2009

    FAQ7

    • Is this a remake of El Mariachi?
    • Is this really a sequel?
    • Why don't any police ever show up at any of the numerous shootouts?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 25, 1995 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Mexico
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Pistolero
    • Filming locations
      • Ciudad Acuña, Coahuíla, Mexico
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Los Hooligans Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $7,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $25,405,445
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $7,910,446
      • Aug 27, 1995
    • Gross worldwide
      • $25,405,445
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 44 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

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    Mar 30Deadline Film + TV
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    Mar 30The Wrap

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