Monday Morning Maybe

Add your email and we'll match picks to the services you stream at home.

Poster for The Sugarland Express

The Sugarland Express

Seen it?

1974 | 110 min | Crime, Drama

Saturday Special

Why it’s a Saturday Special

It earned strong reviews (87% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it's still drawing plenty of interest. A strong pick for the weekend.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for crime-drama fans. If you loved A Perfect World, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Dark and gritty.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 50 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated PG: peril. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
  • Made in 1974: an older pace and style.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

Married small-time crooks Lou-Jean and Clovis Poplin lose their baby to the state of Texas and resolve to do whatever it takes to get him back. Lou-Jean gets Clovis out of jail, and the two steal their son from his foster home, in addition to taking a highway patrolman hostage. As a massive dragnet starts to pursue them across Texas, the couple become unlikely folk heroes and even start to bond with the captive policeman.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsStrong

    87% on Rotten Tomatoes, 65 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    6.6 out of 10

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Box office & staying powerSolid

    $13 million worldwide on a $3 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactStrong

    About 194K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

More like this

Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks

Cast & crew

Directed by Steven Spielberg

  • Goldie HawnLou Jean Poplin
  • William AthertonClovis Poplin
  • Ben JohnsonCaptain Tanner
  • Michael SacksSlide
  • Gregory WalcottMashburn
  • Steve KanalyJessup
  • Louise LathamMrs. Looby
  • Harrison ZanuckBaby Langston
  • A.L. CampMr. Nocker
  • Jessie Lee FultonMrs. Nocker