The Mule

Retired and nearly broke, Earl Stone lives with regret and a mounting debt that threatens his home. When a simple driving job comes his way, he figures it’s a steady way to stay afloat and a chance to do right by his business bootstrap. What he doesn’t know is that the route leads into a Mexican cartel’s drug distribution network. Earl proves reliable enough to grow the haul, and his earnings begin to snowball. A sharp DEA agent named Colin Bates starts tracking the shipments, turning Earl’s routine into a high stakes balancing act between safety and risk. The film follows a man of routine who discovers the consequences of a shortcut taken too far. And questions about loyalty emerge.

Directed by Clint Eastwood with a screenplay by Nick Schenk and Sam Dolnick, The Mule presents a paced drama. It builds on Eastwood's long collaboration with Schenk and draws on real life elements. The cast delivers restrained, character driven performances.

The film grossed about 174.8 million worldwide against a 50 million budget, signaling solid commercial performance for a mid career Eastwood drama. Its earnings reflect broad audience appeal and steady domestic box office as well as solid international numbers globally.

Critics generally praised Eastwood's restrained performance and the film's patient, character driven approach, which foregrounds aging, pride, and the pull between obligation and temptation. The story examines how a life of routine can tighten the screws when morality comes under pressure. Its quiet resolve makes even small acts feel consequential.

The Mule fits into Eastwood's late career image of quiet, morally gray protagonists who skirt danger rather than chase it. Its dialogue and small scale heist like set pieces have lingered in discussions of elder crime narratives and ethical complexity. The film's final scenes linger in memory for honest restraint.