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Cocaine Cowboys

Play trailer Poster for Cocaine Cowboys R 2006 1h 56m Documentary Crime Drama History Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
71% Tomatometer 51 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Filmmaker Billy Corben recalls Miami drug wars of the 1970s and '80s, when Colombian drug lords turned the relatively quiet Florida city into a breeding ground for violence and excess. Corben interviews so-called "survivors" of the era, including dealers, smugglers and hit men.

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Cocaine Cowboys

Cocaine Cowboys

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Critics Consensus

As frenetic, thrilling, and lacking in subtletly as its drug of focus...and just as likely to prompt some hard questions after it's gone.

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Critics Reviews

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Matt Bochenski Little White Lies 02/06/2018
Ropey graphics and sub-Scarface synth music simply add to the feeling that you're getting a low budget experience. Go to Full Review Andrew Pulver Guardian 02/06/2018
3/5
A documentary examining the Miami drug wars of the early 1980s in exhaustive - and occasionally nauseating - detail. Go to Full Review Derek Malcolm London Evening Standard 11/23/2007
2/5
Grisly crime scene snaps accompany the story, which makes Miami Vice look like a tea party and Florida like hell on earth. Go to Full Review Dan Jackson Thrillist 08/11/2021
That show of restraint might be what separates Corben from so many of the oversized characters he chronicles. Go to Full Review Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com 04/24/2009
A
Documentarian Billy Corben's revealing film exposes the methods and players in South Florida's drug trade that literally built the city of Miami that we know today with billions of dollars in blood cash. Go to Full Review Tricia Olszewski Washington City Paper 03/06/2008
With a nearly two-hour running time that includes its share of blowhards, repetition, and cheesy attempts to heighten drama, Cocaine Cowboys brings to mind an unfortunate comparison: Miami Vice. The movie. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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alan g @agenser 06/15/2024 Just an attempt to bring back cocaine use into the mainstream again. Probably financed by a cocaine cartel. Avoid. Do not support by watching. See more 10/10/2021 I didn't know this stuff. If Billy Corben hadn't put this documentary out who would have? Therefore in me estimation this is 5 stars, regardless of how slick a production it is or how remorseful or cocky the criminals are. They are likely sociopaths, what do viewers expect, people usually don't change. Thumbs up to this, I really enjoyed watching it. See more 07/27/2021 Billy Corben's debut documentary is frenetic, wild, entertaining, and overstuffed with side stories, anecdotes, and lurid details. Rough around the edges, but fun. There's so much ground to cover it would make a great true crime TV series…. (which is now happening). See more 02/12/2021 One of the most poorly made documentaries I've ever seen. See more 08/25/2018 Its a very interesting and shocking documentary by the talented Billy Corben. It tells the story via first person interviews of the main players of the Cocaine Wars in Miami during the 1980's. The only negative is the run time (2h34m). See more delysid d @RT67044741 07/08/2017 I felt that this documentary was pretty boring. they sold drugs, made money, got caught. who cares See more Read all reviews
Cocaine Cowboys

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Cast & Crew

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Billy Corben

Director

Kelly Hughes

Actor

Alfred Spellman

Actor

Jenna Reeves

Actor

Billy Corben

Actor

Bruno Del Granado

Executive Producer

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Cocaine Cowboys

Cocaine Cowboys (2006) Cocaine Cowboys (2006) A scene from the film "Cocaine Cowboys." A scene from the film "Cocaine Cowboys." A scene from the film "Cocaine Cowboys." A scene from the film "Cocaine Cowboys." A scene from the film "Cocaine Cowboys." A scene from the film "Cocaine Cowboys." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Filmmaker Billy Corben recalls Miami drug wars of the 1970s and '80s, when Colombian drug lords turned the relatively quiet Florida city into a breeding ground for violence and excess. Corben interviews so-called "survivors" of the era, including dealers, smugglers and hit men.
Director
Billy Corben
Producer
Billy Corben, Alfred Spellman
Distributor
Magnolia Films
Production Co
Rakontur
Rating
R (Pervasive Drug Content|Language|Gruesome Violent Images)
Genre
Documentary, Crime, Drama, History
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 27, 2006, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 8, 2015
Runtime
1h 56m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)