Release: AKA Billy the Kid

 

AKA Billy the Kid

Genre: Western / Biography / Drama

Director: Baz Luhrmann

Writer: Dwight Gallo

Cast: Austin Butler, Nicolas Cage, David Strathairn, Joseph Quinn, Luke Grimes, Diego Boneta, Jacob Elordi, Emilia Jones, Lorenza Izzo, Matthew Rhys, Virginia Gardner, Ray McKinnon, Scott Haze, Trace Adkins, Steven Ogg

Budget: $64,000,000

Domestic Box Office: $139,007,227

Foreign Box Office: $77,483,284

Total Profit: $74,948,104

Reaction: AKA Billy the Kid has become one of the biggest recent hits for writer Dwight Gallo and the second highest grossing western film in LRF history.

"Austin Butler delivers a stellar performance in this film that captivates the audience, although it teeters on the brink of losing its grip towards the conclusion. As someone who occasionally indulges in a western flick, I found that this particular one left me with the impression that holding out for the home viewing might have been a better choice." - Rebra Colemon,  Metro Newspaper (UK)

"Billy the Kid gets an epic biopic here, scripted by LRF's western maestro, Dwight Gallo. The film only covers a relatively small geographic area, but Gallo's script and the direction of Baz Luhrmann make the scale of the film feel absolutely huge. Austin Butler absolutely nails the nuances of the character, bringing swagger and intensity to the role of the Wild West's most infamous and - if Gallo's interpretation is any indication - most misunderstood outlaw. He's opposed by Cage as Pat Garrett, giving us a version of the famed lawman never seen on the big screen before." - Cal Crowe, Washington Globe

"How do you refresh one of the most frequently-told stories in the film history? You put Baz Luhrmann behind the camera and let him work his steamy maximalist magic. Following the path of its leading man, the film strides along with a certain bravado worthy of Billy The Kid himself - or at least his legend. It dares its viewers to try and judge the characters but knows that the fluid relationship between lawlessness and moral relativism is a core appeal of the Western. Gallo effectively splits the film into two halves and both sides are filled with award-worthy performances. Cage is a brilliant piece of casting given his own past image of the slick bad boy type, mirroring Butler in an intense way and making their scenes together a true highlight. But Jacob Elordi also deserves a shout for coming in late and utilizing his characteristic seething anger to go toe-to-toe with his charming contemporary." - Reggie Coscarelli, San Fernando Valley Sun

Rated R for violence, sexuality/nudity and some language