8.7
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
Drama, Crime • 1967 • 127 min • Older Kids (7+)
Cool Hand Luke (1967)
Cool Hand Luke (1967)
Overview
When petty criminal Luke Jackson is sentenced to two years in a Florida prison farm, he doesn't play by the rules of either the sadistic warden or the yard's resident heavy, Dragline, who ends up admiring the new guy's unbreakable will. Luke's bravado, even in the face of repeated stints in the prison's dreaded solitary confinement cell, "the box," make him a rebel hero to his fellow convicts and a thorn in the side of the prison officers.
Starring Cast
Paul Newman • George Kennedy • Strother Martin
Where to watch
Rating & Dimensions
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Leans Traditional
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Christianity: Positive
Viewer Rating
8.7
Overview
When petty criminal Luke Jackson is sentenced to two years in a Florida prison farm, he doesn't play by the rules of either the sadistic warden or the yard's resident heavy, Dragline, who ends up admiring the new guy's unbreakable will. Luke's bravado, even in the face of repeated stints in the prison's dreaded solitary confinement cell, "the box," make him a rebel hero to his fellow convicts and a thorn in the side of the prison officers.
Starring Cast
Paul Newman • George Kennedy • Strother Martin
Where to watch
Detailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Leans Traditional
Primary
Political: Center
Confidence: Low
The film critiques oppressive authority and celebrates individual defiance against dehumanizing systems. Its focus on the universal human spirit and individualistic response, rather than specific ideological solutions, allows its themes to resonate across the political spectrum, leading to a neutral rating.
Diversity: Low
Confidence: High
The movie features a predominantly white and male cast, reflecting the era and setting, without any explicit race or gender swaps of traditional roles. Its narrative focuses on themes of individual rebellion against authority, without critically portraying traditional identities or explicitly incorporating DEI themes.
Secondary
Christianity: Positive
Confidence: Medium
The film critiques the hypocrisy and cruelty of institutional power that misuses Christian rhetoric, but it simultaneously uses Christ-like symbolism for its heroic protagonist and portrays genuine, suffering faith with dignity. The narrative aligns with deeper Christian virtues of compassion and sacrifice, even while challenging conventional forms.
LGBTQ: N/A
Confidence: High
Cool Hand Luke is a drama centered on a nonconformist prisoner's struggle against the system. The film does not include any identifiable LGBTQ+ characters or explore themes related to queer identity, therefore, there is no specific portrayal to evaluate.
Trans: N/A
Confidence: High
Cool Hand Luke does not feature any identifiable transsexual characters or themes. The narrative is centered on a male prison environment and the struggles of its inmates, with no elements pertaining to transgender identity or experiences.
Female Combat: N/R
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
Gender Swap: No
Confidence: High
The film "Cool Hand Luke" is a direct adaptation of Donn Pearce's 1965 novel. All major characters, including Luke Jackson and the prison staff and inmates, maintain their original genders as established in the source material. There are no instances of characters canonically or historically established as one gender being portrayed as a different gender in the film.
Race Swap: No
Confidence: High
Cool Hand Luke (1967) is an adaptation of a novel. All major characters, including Luke Jackson and Dragline, are portrayed by actors whose race aligns with their established depiction in the source material. There are no instances of a character canonically established as one race being portrayed as a different race.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
User Ratings
8.0
7.7
Critic Ratings
10.0
9.2
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