Machete

Machete Cortez is a one-time Mexican federale who agrees to a risky contract to assassinate a Texas senator, only to be double-crossed and left for dead by the man who hires him. Barely surviving, he sneaks back toward the border with a machete and a clear aim: confront the people who set him up. Along the way he tears through layers of corruption, facing corrupt officials, hired killers, and shadowy conspirators while picking up unlikely allies, including a fiery activist and a savvy operative with hidden motives. The film keeps its focus on violent action and dark humor as Machete pieces together who orchestrated the betrayal.

Released in 2010, Machete was co-directed by Robert Rodriguez and Ethan Maniquis, and credits Álvaro Rodríguez as creator. It brought together an ensemble cast that mixes grindhouse veterans with mainstream stars, aiming to turn pulpy exploitation aesthetics into a modern action romp.

The movie opened theatrically to modest box office returns, but it found a larger audience on home video and streaming platforms. Its loud tone, star power, and over the top set pieces helped it earn steady viewership after cinemas, turning it into a popular pick among fans of violent, tongue in cheek genre fare.

Danny Trejo's turn as the knife-wielding antihero helped cement his status as an on-screen icon of tough guy roles. Machete reintroduced grindhouse visuals and exaggerated violence to a wider crowd, and its style has shown up in Halloween costumes, midnight screenings, and frequent nods in other genre projects.

Critical reaction was mixed, reflected in a vote average of 6.337/10 (3,460 votes). Reviewers noted the film's raw energy and willing absurdity while criticizing its excesses. The movie leans into revenge and vigilantism, with recurring notes about immigration and political corruption, preferring bold spectacle and satire over subtlety.