The Ballad of Lefty Brown poster

The Ballad of Lefty Brown

"He never wanted to be the hero"

Movie R 2017 1h 45m 6.2 /10
Directed by Jared Moshé

Lefty Brown is an aging sidekick who has spent his life riding in the wake of Eddie Johnson. When a rustler shoots Eddie down, Lefty steps out of his partner's shadow and chooses to act rather than wait for fate to decide. He heads into a rough, unforgiving landscape to track the killer, hoping... Read more

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Streaming availability last verified: February 14, 2026

About The Ballad of Lefty Brown

Lefty Brown is an aging sidekick who has spent his life riding in the wake of Eddie Johnson. When a rustler shoots Eddie down, Lefty steps out of his partner's shadow and chooses to act rather than wait for fate to decide. He heads into a rough, unforgiving landscape to track the killer, hoping to honor a friend and restore a sliver of justice in a world where loyalties are tested and laws are thin. Along the way he faces hard men, hard choices, and the heavy cost of aging in a frontier where violence writes the rules more than any court ever could.

Directed by Jared Moshé, The Ballad of Lefty Brown is an original Western produced on a $8,000,000 budget. The 2017 film stars Bill Pullman as Lefty, with Peter Fonda, Kathy Baker, Jim Caviezel and Tommy Flanagan in supporting roles throughout.

Critics praised the film for its patient, character-driven approach and Bill Pullman's steady performance. The story centers on aging, loyalty and the uneasy justice of the frontier, avoiding over the top action in favor of moral complexity and quiet resilience that lingers after the credits for modern audiences seeking nuance.

Although it did not become a broad cultural phenomenon, the movie sits within a line of thoughtful modern Westerns that emphasize consequence and memory. It appeals to viewers who prefer intimate dramas over spectacle, and its restrained tone helps keep that tradition alive for future generations everywhere.

There were no major awards or nominations for The Ballad of Lefty Brown, and it did not feature prominently in major film ceremonies. The film's reception remained largely within independent circuits and among Western enthusiasts who value its old school sensibility. Its lack of awards does not diminish its craft.

Details

Release Date
December 15, 2017
Runtime
1h 45m
Rating
R
User Ratings
182 votes
Type
Movie
Genres
Western
Country
United States
Studio
Higher Content +3 more
Budget
$8,000,000
Box Office
$7,856
External Links
View on IMDB

Official Trailer

Cast

Bill Pullman

Bill Pullman

Lefty Brown

Peter Fonda

Peter Fonda

Edward Johnson

Kathy Baker

Kathy Baker

Laura Johnson

Jim Caviezel

Jim Caviezel

Jimmy Bierce

Tommy Flanagan

Tommy Flanagan

Tom Harrah

Diego Josef

Diego Josef

Jeremiah

Joseph Lee Anderson

Joseph Lee Anderson

Oak

Michael Spears

Michael Spears

Biscuit

D

Dillinger Steele

Doc

B

Brian Henningsen

Sampson

Director: Jared Moshé

Frequently Asked Questions

The Ballad of Lefty Brown is not currently available on streaming subscription services, but you can rent or buy it on Apple iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, and Amazon Video.

With a rating of 6.2/10 from 182 viewers, The Ballad of Lefty Brown is considered solid entertainment worth checking out. It's a good pick if you enjoy western stories.

Lefty Brown is an aging sidekick who has spent his life riding in the wake of Eddie Johnson. When a rustler shoots Eddie down, Lefty steps out of his partner's shadow and chooses to act rather than wait for fate to decide. He heads into a rough, unforgiving landscape to track the killer, hoping t...

Bill Pullman plays Lefty Brown, the aging sidekick who has ridden with Edward Johnson his whole life. After Edward Johnson is killed by a rustler, Lefty must step out from his partner's shadow and confront frontier justice.

Edward Johnson is played by Peter Fonda and Jimmy Bierce is played by Jim Caviezel. Edward Johnson is Lefty Brown's lifelong partner in the story.