Skip to content
MovieCove
Ain't Them Bodies Saints

Ain't Them Bodies Saints

201396 minRMidcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
Director
David Lowery
Starring
Rooney Mara, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster, Keith Carradine

Bob Muldoon and Ruth Guthrie, an impassioned young outlaw couple on an extended crime spree, are finally apprehended by lawmen after a shootout in the Texas hills. Although Ruth wounds a local officer, Bob takes the blame. But four years later, Bob escapes from prison and sets out to find Ruth and their daughter, born during his incarceration.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Ain't Them Bodies Saints?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Ain't Them Bodies Saints streaming on AMC+ and Sundance Now via Prime Video and to rent or buy on Apple TV.

Subscription

via Prime Video

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Ain't Them Bodies Saints?

Ain't Them Bodies Saints earns 6 badges, led by Visual feast and Crowd Pleaser.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Ain't Them Bodies Saints worth watching?

Ain't Them Bodies Saints' Midcredits score is the 61st percentile of all films, from 45K ratings across 6 sources. 52% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

61st percentile

Better received than 61% of films

63rd percentile among Crime62nd percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)66th
Approval (how many liked it)55th

66 /100

66th percentile of all films

69th percentile among Crime65th percentile among 2010s

Critics 74 · Audience 65

Critics liked it more than audiences did.

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.5 — solid but not unanimous.

52% liked it

55th percentile of all films

56th percentile among Crime55th percentile among 2010s
52% rated it 7–1048% rated it 1–6

Critics 78% · Audience 61%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 2 wins / 12 noms overall

93rd percentile

45K ratings across platforms

91st percentile among Crime93rd percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 8% in 30 days

Box office

Opening weekend$26K
Domestic gross$397K
Worldwide gross$1M

50th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Fans praised

  • stunning cinematography and magic-hour visuals
  • strong central performances from Affleck and Mara
  • haunting folk-influenced musical score

Detractors panned

  • derivative of Malick/Badlands with little originality
  • slow pacing and lack of plot momentum
  • mumbled dialogue and overly dark, murky cinematography

What stands out

CinematographyDivisive85

beautiful, painterly, magic-hour shots

ActingDivisive82

leads and supporting cast praised as excellent

Sound and musicDivisive78

haunting folk/bluegrass score

AtmosphereDivisive72

evocative, brooding, timeless Southern mood

CharactersDivisive60

thin character development and backstory

Plot and storyDivisive45

simple, routine story with loose ends

OriginalityDivisive35

derivative of Malick and 1970s outlaw films

Pacing30

very slow, lethargic, meandering

Preferred by

Under-30s vs over-30s

Preferred by Under-30s

Under-30s scored it 11 points higher than over-30s.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 9 points apart
  • Critics vs users 3 points apart
  • US vs non-US 2 points apart

Watch experience

What is Ain't Them Bodies Saints like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Moving and bittersweet: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you are ready for heavy feelings, and you want a story that moves you and leaves an ache.

It takes its time and leaves you bittersweet. Skip it when you want an easy night or you want things to move fast.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Room for heavy feelings, patience and a taste for open questions.

What it feels like

Moving and bittersweet.

The answer rests on this: Moods
MelancholicTenseRomantic
Heaviest: late
Register
Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.Romantic · 8% of films
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film treats its doomed romance and criminal pursuit with solemn, poetic gravity.
The rideThe film sustains a melancholy and tense atmosphere throughout, with the emotional and dramatic weight likely building toward a climactic reunion or confrontation.
StructureThe story unfolds chronologically, following Bob's imprisonment, escape, and journey home.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Bittersweet.

The answer rests on this: BittersweetWistful · 8% of films
Why it leaves you this wayA melancholic romance whose longing and sacrifice linger after the credits.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Quest
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10% (this title): Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% (this title) · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Quest: A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles. · Journey home: The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).

10% of films fit this archetype

Why this archetypeBob takes the blame for Ruth's shooting, goes to prison, escapes, and journeys across Texas to reunite with his family, pursued by police and old enemies.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfRomanticlove
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27% (this title): Romantic love 15% (this title) · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% (this title) · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% (this title) · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Romantic love · 15% of filmsSacrifice · 4% of filmsGuilt · 3% of films
Mourns its theme: Grieves its theme, or what has been lost of it.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe film centers on a couple torn apart by violence and imprisonment, exploring the lengths one will go for love and the weight of guilt.
StanceThe film grieves the cost of love and sacrifice, observing a relationship torn apart by violence in a mournful, intimate register.

The world

Late 20th centuryRuralInstitutionalStylized realism
Orchestral modernFolkSupportive music · original score · Daniel Hart
SettingTexas hill country and a prison
MusicA sparse, evocative score that blends folk guitar and strings to underscore the film's melancholy romance.

Content guide

Is Ain't Them Bodies Saints okay for kids?

R

Ain't Them Bodies Saints is rated R: “Rated R for some violence” (MPAA). As of March 15, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (52/100), sexual content at minimal (7/100), language at mild (33/100), drug and alcohol content at mild (33/100) and frightening material at mild (27/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 13 other countries
  • UK15
  • CanadaR
  • AustraliaMA15+
  • Germany12
  • FranceU
  • Ireland15
  • JapanG
  • South Korea15
  • Brazil14
  • Czechia15+
  • GreeceΚ-12
  • RO12
  • Sweden15
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Moderate
too few votes to rank (7 votes)
Sex & Nudity
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (5 votes)
Profanity
Mild
too few votes to rank (4 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Mild
too few votes to rank (4 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Mild · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
too few votes to rank (5 votes)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (25 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Ain't Them Bodies Saints have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Ain't Them Bodies Saints?

Cast

2 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen; 1 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Rooney Mara
as Ruth Guthrie
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Casey Affleck
as Bob Muldoon
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Ben Foster
as Patrick Wheeler
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Keith Carradine
as Skerritt
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Kennadie Smith
as Sylvie Guthrie
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Nate Parker
as Sweetie
Robert Longstreet
as Cowboy Hat
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Charles Baker
as Bear
Augustine Frizzell
as Sissy
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Kentucker Audley
as Freddy
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Ain't Them Bodies Saints?

Movies like Ain't Them Bodies Saints include A Ghost Story (2017), If Beale Street Could Talk (2018) and The Old Man & the Gun (2018). Of the 12 closest matches, two are films by David Lowery, and several are films set in Texas and the Southwest.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

4 of these 12 share its feel: melodrama. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Ain't Them Bodies Saints?

214 other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: neo-western. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.