The film, released over 85 years ago, is not only leaving viewers speechless on Rotten Tomatoes but was a hit when it came out as it made over $1 million at the box office in 1939.
When it comes to film critics, Rotten Tomatoes is as legit as it gets. The website filled with reviews from the biggest of film buffs gave a western film released over 85 years ago a 100% on their tomatometer, and if that isn’t enough, it stars John Wayne.
The 1939 western film Stagecoach starring John Wayne not only received a 100% – like one of Cillian Murphy’s films – on the Rotten Tomatoes tomatometer, but viewers detailed how it left them speechless in their reviews for the movie.
When the film originally came out it was a mega hit, receiving seven Oscar nominations and launching many of it’s cast into total stardom status. It was also a box office hit at the time, grossing over $1 million.
The film, director by John Ford, is about a group of people traveling on a stagecoach to New Mexico, while the Apache Chief Geronimo is on the loose in the territory, leaving the group of colorful characters to fear that an Apache attack could happen on their way to the Wild West. The group of misfits, although different, learn something about each other along the way.
Many top critics on Rotten Tomatoes gave their review on the film within the past couple of years despite it coming out over 85 years ago, and the reviews were nothing but glowing.
“One of the most fascinating motion pictures ever released is Walter Wanger’s Stagecoach, which definitely should go on your “must see” list. In fact, I urge you to go out of your way to see it,” wrote Lon Jones in 2020.
“For the sake of the view, you forgive all. In Stagecoach, the view is certainly something, and it hardly matters at all what goes on. The credit for the valuable things in this film unquestionably belongs to the cameramen,” wrote John C. Mosher in 2022.
Many big name magazines also gave the film nothing but praise in its reviews within the past five years as well.
“Directorially, production is John Ford in peak form, sustaining interest and suspense throughout, and presenting exceptional characterizations. Picture is a display of photographic grandeur,” Variety wrote about the film 2020.