The Only Good Indian (2009): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2009, The Only Good Indian is an action, drama and western film directed by Kevin Willmott, running about 114 minutes.

What it’s about. Set in Kansas during the early 1900s, a teen-aged Native American boy is taken from his family and forced to attend a distant Indian "training" school to assimilate into White society. When he escapes to return to his family, Sam Franklin, a bounty hunter of Cherokee descent, is hired to find and return him to the institution. Franklin, a former Indian scout for the U.S. Army, has renounced his Native heritage and has adopted the White Man's way of life, believing it's the only way for Indians to survive. Along the way, a tragic incident spurs Franklin's longtime nemesis, the famous "Indian Fighter" Sheriff Henry McCoy, to pursue both Franklin and the boy.

Who’s in it. The Only Good Indian stars Wes Studi as Sam, Winter Fox Frank as Charlie, J. Kenneth Campbell as McCoy and Paul Butler as Harkin, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 3.5/10, The Only Good Indian has proved divisive with audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Only Good Indian page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Only Good Indian tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.