The Cowboys
“All they wanted was their chance to be men... and he gave it to them.”
When his cattlemen abandon him for the gold fields, rancher Wil Andersen is forced to take on a collection of young boys as his cowboys in order to get his herd to market in time to avoid financial disaster. The boys learn to do a man's job under Andersen's tutelage, however, neither he nor the boys know that a gang of cattle thieves is stalking them.
Where to watch The Cowboys in United States
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At HomeClick a service to open The Cowboys there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.
Where is The Cowboys streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | — | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| India | — | Amazon Video |
| United Kingdom | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| Canada | — | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, CosmoGo |
| Australia | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| Germany | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| France | Molotov TV | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, ARTE Boutique |
| Spain | Movistar Plus+, Movistar Plus+ Ficción Total | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Amazon Video |
| Japan | — | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
About The Cowboys
The Cowboys is a 1972 English-language western, adventure and drama film directed by Mark Rydell. The cast is led by John Wayne, Roscoe Lee Browne, Bruce Dern. It has a runtime of 2h 14m. Viewers rate it 7.1/10 across 300 ratings. In United States, it is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
The Cowboys was produced by Sanford Productions (III) and Warner Bros. Pictures and made in United States of America. It was released on January 13, 1972, and carries a PG certification. Made on a budget of about $6 million, it went on to gross $8 million worldwide.
- Director
- Mark Rydell
- Writers
- Irving Ravetch, William Dale Jennings, Harriet Frank Jr.
- Release date
- January 13, 1972
- Original language
- English
- Age rating
- PG
- Status
- Released
- Country
- United States of America
- Budget
- $6 million
- Box office
- $8 million
- Production
- Sanford Productions (III), Warner Bros. Pictures
The Cowboys cast & crew
The Cowboys was directed by Mark Rydell and written by Irving Ravetch, William Dale Jennings, and Harriet Frank Jr..
The cast features John Wayne as Wil Andersen, Roscoe Lee Browne as Jebediah Nightlinger, Bruce Dern as Long Hair, Colleen Dewhurst as Kate, Alfred Barker Jr. as Cowboy Fats, and Nicolas Beauvy as Cowboy Dan.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by John Williams, cinematography is by Robert Surtees, and it was produced by Mark Rydell.
Is The Cowboys worth watching?
The Cowboys holds an audience score of 7.1/10 from 267 ratings, marking it as well-reviewed western films.
At 2h 14m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy western, adventure, and drama, The Cowboys is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch The Cowboys
The Cowboys isn't on a subscription service in United States right now, but you can rent or buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
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Cast of The Cowboys
John Wayne
Wil Andersen
Roscoe Lee Browne
Jebediah Nightlinger
Bruce Dern
Long Hair
Colleen Dewhurst
Kate
Alfred Barker Jr.
Cowboy Fats
Nicolas Beauvy
Cowboy Dan
Steve Benedict
Cowboy Steve
Robert Carradine
Cowboy Slim Honeycutt
Norman Howell
Cowboy Weedy
Stephen R. Hudis
Cowboy Charlie Schwartz
Sean Kelly
Cowboy Stuttering Bob
A Martinez
Cowboy Cimarron
The Cowboys — FAQs
▸Where can I watch The Cowboys in United States?
The Cowboys is not on subscription streaming in United States right now, but you can rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies.
▸What language is The Cowboys in?
The Cowboys is originally in English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is The Cowboys?
The Cowboys runs 2 hours 14 minutes (134 minutes).
▸What is The Cowboys rated?
The Cowboys is rated PG. It holds a 7.1/10 audience score from 267 ratings.
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