Badlands

Year: 1973

Runtime: 94 min

Language: English

Director: Terrence Malick

DramaCrime

A teenage girl rebels against her strict upbringing when she falls for an enigmatic drifter. Their passionate but forbidden relationship leads to a violent confrontation with her father, forcing them to flee across the Midwest. As they evade the law and journey through the desolate Badlands, their escape leaves a path of destruction and raises questions about love, freedom, and the consequences of defying societal norms.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Badlands (1973)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Badlands (1973). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Last Updated: January 14, 2025 at 22:09

Main Characters – Badlands (1973)

Meet the key characters of Badlands (1973), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Last Updated: January 14, 2025 at 22:09

Major Themes – Badlands (1973)

Explore the central themes of Badlands (1973), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

Last Updated: January 14, 2025 at 22:09

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Fatalistic Crime Spree Movies like Badlands

Stories of alienated characters whose romantic escape descends into purposeless violence.If you liked the detached, violent journey in Badlands, explore more movies about couples or drifters on aimless crime sprees. These films often share a bleak tone, a steady pace, and a heavy emotional weight, exploring themes of alienation and the dark side of freedom.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows characters, often a couple, as they break from their mundane lives through an act of violence, embarking on a road trip that is less about escape and more about a slow, inevitable descent. The journey is marked by sporadic, almost casual violence, and is often narrated with a haunting, dispassionate clarity that contrasts with the brutality on screen.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared mood of detached fatalism and their core plot structure: a romanticized flight from society that curdles into a violent, nihilistic spectacle. They explore the gap between illusion and reality, often through a nostalgic or alienating aesthetic.

Movies with Bleak American Landscapes like Badlands

Visually striking journeys where the desolate setting mirrors a character's internal emptiness.Discover movies like Badlands that use the American plains, deserts, or rural settings to create a powerful, melancholic atmosphere. These films use the landscape to enhance themes of isolation, violence, and the emptiness of the American dream, offering a similarly heavy and visually arresting experience.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative unfolds against a backdrop of wide-open spaces that feel paradoxically claustrophobic. The journey through these landscapes is both physical and psychological, with the environment amplifying the characters' loneliness and the inevitability of their fate. The plot is often simple, allowing the mood and setting to dominate.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a specific aesthetic and mood: a poetic yet stark portrayal of America that is integral to the story's emotional impact. The visual language—often featuring desolate plains, empty roads, and stark light—creates a unified feeling of melancholy, nostalgia, and ominous dread.

Unlock the Full Story of Badlands

Don't stop at just watching — explore Badlands in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Badlands is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Badlands Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Badlands, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Badlands Timeline

Track the full timeline of Badlands with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Badlands Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Badlands that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

More About Badlands

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Badlands: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

Similar Movies to Badlands

Discover movies like Badlands that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.