Urban Cowboy (1980): cast, story & where to watch
1980 · Film · ★ 6.5
Released in 1980, Urban Cowboy is a drama, romance and western film directed by James Bridges, running about 132 minutes. “Hard Hat Days And Honky-Tonk Nights.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. After moving to Pasadena, Texas, country boy Bud Davis starts hanging around a bar called Gilley's, where he falls in love with Sissy, a cowgirl who believes the sexes are equal. They eventually marry, but their relationship is turbulent due to Bud's traditional view of gender roles. Jealousy over his rival leads to their separation, but Bud attempts to win Sissy back by triumphing at Gilley's mechanical bull-riding competition.
Who’s in it. Urban Cowboy stars John Travolta as Bud Davis, Debra Winger as Sissy, Scott Glenn as Wes and Madolyn Smith Osborne as Pam, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.5/10, Urban Cowboy has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Paramount Plus Essential and YouTube TV and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Urban Cowboy page.
If you liked it. Fans of Urban Cowboy tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Urban Cowboy (1980)?
- In US, Urban Cowboy is available to stream on Paramount Plus Essential and YouTube TV, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Urban Cowboy worth watching?
- Urban Cowboy holds an audience score of 6.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama, romance and western. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Urban Cowboy?
- Urban Cowboy stars John Travolta, Debra Winger, Scott Glenn, Madolyn Smith Osborne and Barry Corbin.
- When was Urban Cowboy released?
- Urban Cowboy was released in 1980, with a runtime of about 132 minutes.