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City Slickers

City Slickers

Yesterday they were businessmen. Today they're cowboys. Tomorrow they'll be walking funny.

1991113 minPG-13Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films
Director
Ron Underwood
Starring
Billy Crystal, Daniel Stern, Bruno Kirby, Patricia Wettig

Three New York businessmen decide to take a "Wild West" vacation that turns out not to be the relaxing vacation they had envisioned.

Where to watch

Where can I watch City Slickers?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists City Slickers to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video, and on no subscription service.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about City Slickers?

City Slickers earns 7 badges, led by Oscar Winner and Word-of-mouth hit.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is City Slickers worth watching?

City Slickers' Midcredits score is the 74th percentile of all films, from 114K ratings across 6 sources. 65% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

74th percentile

Better received than 74% of films

82nd percentile among Comedy76th percentile among 1990s
Acclaim (how much people like it)73rd
Approval (how many liked it)72nd

68 /100

73rd percentile of all films

82nd percentile among Comedy77th percentile among 1990s

Critics 70 · Audience 68

Critics and audiences broadly agree.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.9 — solid but not unanimous.

65% liked it

72nd percentile of all films

79th percentile among Comedy74th percentile among 1990s
65% rated it 7–1035% rated it 1–6

Critics 84% · Audience 65%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Awards

1 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 8 wins / 7 noms overall

  • WonAcademy Awards· Best Actor in a Supporting Role
  • WonGolden Globes· Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

95th percentile

114K ratings across platforms

95th percentile among Comedy93rd percentile among 1990s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 36% in 30 days

Box office

Budget$27M
Opening weekend$13M
Domestic gross$124M
Worldwide gross$179M

Returned 6.6× its budget — 98th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A buddy comedy about a midlife crisis cattle drive that mixes laughs with sentimental lessons about life.

Fans praised

  • Jack Palance's Oscar-winning performance as grizzled trail boss
  • Skillful blend of humor, emotion, and western adventure
  • Strong chemistry among the three lead actors

Detractors panned

  • Predictable and formulaic story progression
  • Billy Crystal's rapid-fire quips feel tiresome and grating
  • Ending feels forced and artificial

What stands out

Acting80

Palance's Oscar win; Crystal's relatable city shlemiel; strong ensemble chemistry

DialogueDivisive72

Witty one-liners that can become predictable

Emotional impactDivisive72

Touching moments that sneak up; sincere but can feel manipulative

Atmosphere72

Evocative western settings mixed with urban comic tone

HumorDivisive70

Solid laughs but some found Crystal's style grating

Characters70

Relatable midlife crisis archetypes with solid development

Plot and story55

Basic cattle drive premise with predictable beats

Originality45

Formulaic buddy comedy and midlife crisis tropes

Preferred by

Critics vs users

Preferred by Critics

Critics scored it 10 points higher than users.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 7 points apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s 8 points apart
  • US vs non-US 7 points apart

Watch experience

What is City Slickers like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Easy laugh: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something light that makes you laugh.

It is gentle and leaves you feeling good. Skip it when you want something with weight.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Very little.

What it feels like

Easy laugh.

Moods
JoyfulContemplativeHopeful
Heaviest: late
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
WarmSentimental · 8% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film takes its characters' midlife crises seriously while delivering warm comedy.
The rideLighthearted and funny throughout, building to an emotionally satisfying climax on the trail.
StructureConventional linear storytelling.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Feeling good.

Feel-goodHopeful
Why it leaves you this wayLeaves the audience smiling and believing they too can find what matters.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Rebirth
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13% (this title): Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2% (this title)
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Rebirth: A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed. · Second chance: A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).

13% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeA midlife-crisis comedy where the hero rediscovers purpose on a cattle drive.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfPurposeSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% (this title) · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22% (this title): Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% (this title) · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% (this title) · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Self

Purpose · 9% of filmsFriendship · 9% of filmsComing of age · 5% of films
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Single lead
How it treats its themeMitch searches for meaning at midlife, finding it through camaraderie and a literal cattle drive.
StanceThe film affirms that purpose can be found through connection and stepping out of one's comfort zone.

The world

ContemporaryRuralWildernessRealistic
Orchestral modernFolkSupportive music · hybrid · Marc Shaiman
SettingA cattle ranch and open trail in the American Southwest, contrasted with New York City life.
MusicMarc Shaiman's score blends folksy guitar with orchestral warmth, punctuated by classic country songs.

Content guide

Is City Slickers okay for kids?

PG-13

City Slickers is rated PG-13. As of September 28, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at mild (31/100), sexual content at mild (30/100), language at moderate (51/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (39/100) and frightening material at mild (29/100). Overall it is heavier than 31% of PG-13-rated films.

Ratings in 14 other countries
  • UK12
  • AustraliaPG
  • Germany12
  • FranceTP
  • Ireland15
  • South Korea15
  • CzechiaU
  • Denmark7
  • FinlandS
  • ItalyT
  • Netherlands6
  • PortugalM/12
  • SpainA
  • Sweden15
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 23% of all filmsHeavier than 31% of PG-13-rated films
Violence & Gore
Mild
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 26%
Sex & Nudity
Mild · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 53%
Profanity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 70%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
heavy for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 79%
Frightening / Intense
Mild
typical for a PG-13-rated film
heavier than 26%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is language, heavier than 70% of PG-13-rated films.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does City Slickers have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in City Slickers?

Cast

Billy Crystal
as Mitch Robbins
Globe nominee: Golden Globe nomination — Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
Daniel Stern
as Phil Berquist
Bruno Kirby
as Ed Furillo
Patricia Wettig
as Barbara Robbins
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Helen Slater
as Bonnie Rayburn
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.
Lindsay Crystal
as Holly Robbins
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Noble Willingham
as Clay Stone
Jack Palance
as Curly
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Tracey Walter
as Cookie
Josh Mostel
as Barry Shalowitz

Crew

More like this

What are movies like City Slickers?

Movies like City Slickers include City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994), Fathers' Day (1997) and Running Scared (1986). Of the 12 closest matches, two are films by Ron Underwood, and several are second-chance stories.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel wrote 3 of these 12. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with City Slickers?

214 other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: neo-western. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.