Matewan (1987) movie poster

Matewan (1987)

"It takes more than guns to kill a man."
ThumbScore
👍 76%audience score Estimated from TMDB user ratings and critic scores, calibrated to Google's former audience score. Google stopped publishing it in 2026.
Critics Score
🎬 94%
DramaHistory

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Where to Watch

Streaming
Prime Video
Subtitles on OpenSubtitles.com: English · Español · Español (Latinoamérica) · Español (España)
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Director
John Sayles
Runtime
2h 12m
Country
United States of America
Language
English
TMDB Rating
7.4/10 (146 votes)
Rotten Tomatoes
94%

Cast

Chris Cooper as Joe Kenehan · 71% avg
James Earl Jones as 'Few Clothes' Johnson · 76% avg
Mary McDonnell as Elma Radnor · 75% avg
Will Oldham as Danny Radnor
David Strathairn as Police Chief Sid Hatfield · 71% avg
Ken Jenkins as Sephus Purcell
Kevin Tighe as Bill Hickey · 76% avg
Gordon Clapp as Tom Griggs

Is Matewan good?

Most people think so. 76% audience score, estimated from 146 TMDB ratings. Critics gave it 94%.

Overview

Filmed in the coal country of West Virginia, "Matewan" celebrates labor organizing in the context of a 1920s work stoppage. Union organizer, Joe Kenehan, a scab named "Few Clothes" Johnson and a sympathetic mayor and police chief heroically fight the power represented by a coal company and Matewan's vested interests so that justice and workers' rights need not take a back seat to squalid working conditions, exploitation and the bottom line. Wikipedia ↗

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