Billy Jack

Name: Billy Jack
Genre: Action, Drama
Released: May 1, 1971
Duration: 114 min
Rating: 50
Cast: Clark Howat, David Roya, Debbie Schock, Delores Taylor, Julie Webb

1971

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 7 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 6 Ratings

See All

6.8

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6.8	Your Score
6.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 6 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. | Release Date: May 1, 1971 | GP

Starring: Clark Howat, David Roya, Debbie Schock, Delores Taylor, Julie Webb, Lynn Baker, Stan Rice, Teresa Kelly, Tom Laughlin, Victor Izay

Summary: Ex-Green Beret hapkido expert saves wild horses from being slaughtered for dog food and helps protect a desert "freedom school" for runaway.

Director: Tom Laughlin

Genre(s): Action, Drama

Rating: GP

Runtime: 114 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Pauline Kael

There's a sweet, naive feeling to the movie even when it's violent and melodramatic and atrocious, and when it's good it's good in an unorthodox, improvisatory style.

Roger Ebert

There are a lot of things in Billy Jack that are seriously conceived and very well-handled. Some of the scenes at the school, for example, with real kids experimenting with psychodrama, are interesting. Some of the action scenes are first-rate. But the movie has as many causes in it as a year's run of the New Republic. Read full review

Howard Thompson

The whole picture nicely conveys a Southwestern atmosphere. But much too often, at the cost of plain credibility, it stacks its cards, characters and even credo like any rootin', tootin' Western. Read full review

Nathan Rabin

Billy Jack is a film of violent contradictions. It is a fortysomething über-square’s tribute to the promise and potential of the hippies, as well as an intensely violent homage to non-violence. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Screenplay attempts to encompass too many story facets. Result is that the action frequently drags. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

A down market youth pic with Laughlin as the half-breed Vietnam veteran who stands up for America's misunderstood youth and operates a sort of one-man Countryside Commission. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

The material played upon all the best aspects of the socially conscious movements of the 1960s, and then perverted them by preaching that violence is indeed the solution to problems as long as it's for the right cause. Read full review

SEE ALL 7 REVIEWS

Write a Review

Negative:

User Reviews

Gamzguy17

Aug 21, 2021

"Billy Jack" acts less like an action hero and more like a symbol of justice for the extremist left. Some may not like the heavy dialogue exchanges, but the topic at hand here is both interesting and controversial. The discussions made me want to participate alongside the youths to thwart"Billy Jack" acts less like an action hero and more like a symbol of justice for the extremist left. Some may not like the heavy dialogue exchanges, but the topic at hand here is both interesting and controversial. The discussions made me want to participate alongside the youths to thwart against, not the conservatives, but the awful, **** things the police forces and two other numb-nut characters do to the innocent during this film. It is definitely a period piece film (a good one at that) and the political talk remains relevant today. Kudos to Laughlin's hard work on making this low-budget, independent film a success because it is shot very well, has some well done action scenes (even though they're sparse), and it makes use of a soundtrack that compliments the film's visuals, characters, and message.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 1 REVIEWS