The Highwaymen

Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson Hunt Bonnie and Clyde in The Highwaymen—Netflix’s Gritty Crime Drama

The Highwaymen (2019) flips the script on the legendary Bonnie and Clyde saga, trading glamorous outlaws for the aging Texas Rangers who tracked them down. Directed by John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side, The Founder), the Netflix film stars Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson as Frank Hamer and Maney Gault, the real-life lawmen who ended the notorious crime spree in 1934. latestnetflix.com's take is that with a runtime of 132 minutes and a moody, period-accurate aesthetic, the movie leans into the exhaustion and determination of its protagonists—far from the romanticized bandits of Bonnie and Clyde (1967).

A Different Kind of Crime Story

Unlike the 1967 Arthur Penn classic, which glamorized Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow as rebellious antiheroes, The Highwaymen strips away the myth. Hancock’s film focuses on the toll of the manhunt, portraying Hamer and Gault as weary, methodical professionals rather than action heroes. The director has called it a "road movie with guns," emphasizing the slow, relentless pursuit over explosive shootouts .

Costner, who also produced the film, has said he wanted The Highwaymen to feel timeless, avoiding the flashy style of modern crime thrillers. "I didn’t want it to be a movie that felt like it was made in 2019," he told interviewers. "I wanted it to feel like it was made in 1934" . The approach pays off in the film’s muted color palette and deliberate pacing, which builds tension without relying on CGI or rapid-fire editing.

Behind the Scenes: Costner and Harrelson’s Dynamic

The chemistry between Costner and Harrelson is central to the film’s appeal. Both actors have played lawmen before—Costner in Wyatt Earp (1994) and Open Range (2003), Harrelson in True Detective (2014)—but The Highwaymen lets them play off each other as a grizzled, world-weary duo. In interviews, they’ve joked about their contrasting acting styles: Costner’s quiet intensity versus Harrelson’s dry wit .

Hancock, known for his work on biopics and historical dramas, reportedly encouraged the actors to lean into the characters’ age and experience. "These guys weren’t young bucks," Harrelson said. "They were in their 50s, and they’d seen it all" . The film’s most gripping moments come from their understated performances, particularly in the final ambush scene, which is shot with brutal realism rather than Hollywood flair.

Netflix’s Gamble on a Period Piece

The Highwaymen was a passion project for Costner, who spent years trying to get it made before Netflix picked it up. The streaming giant gave Hancock creative freedom, but the film’s $49 million budget was modest compared to Netflix’s usual blockbuster fare . The director has said he wanted to avoid making another "Bonnie and Clyde" and instead focus on the lawmen’s perspective—a story he felt had been overlooked .

The movie’s reception was mixed but respectful. Critics praised its performances and atmosphere, though some found the pacing slow. It holds a 6.3/10 rating on SensCritique, with nearly 5,000 votes . While it didn’t become a breakout hit, it has found an audience among fans of historical crime dramas.

Why the Film Still Resonates

The Highwaymen stands out in an era of flashy true-crime reboots by prioritizing authenticity over spectacle. Its focus on the hunters rather than the hunted offers a fresh take on a familiar story, and Costner and Harrelson’s performances give it emotional weight. For viewers tired of romanticized outlaws, it’s a gritty, grounded alternative.