The Long Riders

Year: 1980

Runtime: 100 min

Language: English

Director: Walter Hill

Western

A gritty Western depicts the tumultuous journey of the James-Younger Gang following a disastrous heist. After Jesse James insists they remain hidden, Ed Miller's impulsive actions create division within the group, leading the brothers to pursue individual paths. Drawn by the promise of money and a desire for retribution, they reunite for a risky Northfield bank robbery. The attempt fails, triggering a thrilling and lawless pursuit across the countryside.

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Timeline & Setting – The Long Riders (1980)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Long Riders (1980). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Location

Midwestern United States, Northfield, Minnesota, Missouri

The Midwestern United States is known for its rich history and wide-open spaces, making it a stark backdrop for the tumultuous events of the 19th century. Northfield, Minnesota, is a small town that became infamous as the site of a failed bank robbery by the James-Younger gang, showcasing the tensions between lawmen and outlaws. Missouri, the home state of Jesse James, serves as a symbolic refuge and base for the notorious gang as they navigate their criminal lifestyle.

🌆 Cities 🏞️ Wilderness

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:23

Main Characters – The Long Riders (1980)

Meet the key characters of The Long Riders (1980), 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: October 22, 2024 at 21:23

Major Themes – The Long Riders (1980)

Explore the central themes of The Long Riders (1980), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:23

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Fatalistic Outlaw Stories like The Long Riders

Stories of criminals whose reckless choices lead inexorably to a bleak, violent end.If you liked the grim, inevitable tragedy of The Long Riders, explore more movies about outlaw gangs and criminals on a collision course with fate. These films share a bleak tone, heavy emotional weight, and a narrative focused on the destructive consequences of a lawless life.

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Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread typically follow a linear path from ambition or rebellion toward catastrophic failure. The central conflict often stems from internal division, betrayal, or a single, disastrous miscalculation. The journey is one of escalating tension and loss, culminating in an ending that offers no redemption, only the stark consequences of the characters' actions.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared commitment to a fatalistic worldview. They possess a high-intensity, bleak tone, heavy emotional weight, and a straightforward narrative drive toward a tragic conclusion. The common thread is the exploration of how codes of honor and loyalty fracture under the pressure of desperation and greed.

Movies about Fractured Loyalty like The Long Riders

Tense stories where familial or group bonds are tested to the breaking point by violence and greed.For viewers who appreciated the tense brotherly conflicts in The Long Riders, this section features films where strong bonds are shattered by desperation and betrayal. Discover similar stories of group dynamics collapsing under the weight of crime, war, or survival.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a closely bonded group confronted with a crisis that exposes their underlying tensions. Initial unity gives way to suspicion and division as characters make desperate choices for money, power, or self-preservation. The story arc is often a downward spiral, moving from camaraderie to isolation and culminating in a emotionally heavy conclusion where the bonds are irrevocably broken.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their exploration of loyalty as a central theme. They share a high-intensity, gritty mood, a variable pacing that alternates between tense action and character-driven drama, and a tone that is predominantly bleak. The emotional core is the heavy cost paid when personal bonds fracture.

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The Long Riders Summary

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The Long Riders Timeline

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

The Long Riders Spoiler-Free Summary

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More About The Long Riders

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Discover movies like The Long Riders 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.