The Baytown Outlaws
By S. Jhoanna Robledo,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Action flick has high body count, big guns, little point.

A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Community Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
Not as bad as you've heard
Report this review
What's the Story?
The titular characters of THE BAYTOWN OUTLAWS are three redneck brothers who roam the South with big guns, taking out rival gangs that cross their path. Their foes include a Latino gangster's henchmen, a group of barely dressed biker-girl hit women, a Native American gang that scalps its victims, and a band of African-American thugs in an armored truck. The story's action is set off when Celeste (Eva Longoria) hires the brothers to kidnap her godson from her gangster ex-husband (Billy Bob Thornton), while a corrupt sheriff (Andre Braugher) tries to steer the law in the wrong direction. Before the movie is over, dozens of bloody bodies are littering the road.
Is It Any Good?
THE BAYTOWN OUTLAWS seems to be trying to emulate the work of Quentin Tarantino, but it's nowhere near as interesting. Director Barry Battles isn't as skillful and doesn't seem to have that much to say. He just stages a whole bunch of big shoot outs without really having a bigger point. Nobody here really comes off as the good guys; there are the bad guys and their rivals, the even-worse guys.
Some movies about outlaws get the audience to root for the bandits to get away clean. This isn't one of them. Not only is there a glaring lack of plot to tie together the action scenes, there's also a notable lack of protagonists whom viewers will want to watch. Certainly not the three brothers, who do little to earn our affection or our attention.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Baytown Outlaws' violence. Is it realistic? Is it intended to be?
How does the violence in this movie compare to films by directors like Quentin Tarantino? Is the high body count here trying to say anything in particular, or do you think the goal is to appeal to an audience that likes to see people shooting big guns?
Talk about the brothers' relationship with Rob, the disabled teen they're hired to kidnap. Why do they all start to bond? Who really cares the most for Rob -- his godmother or the bandits?
Movie Details
- In theaters: January 11, 2013
- On DVD or streaming: April 2, 2013
- Cast: Andre Braugher, Billy Bob Thornton, Eva Longoria
- Director: Barry Battles
- Inclusion Information: Black actors, Indigenous actors, Latinx actors
- Studio: Phase 4 Films
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters
- Run time: 98 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: strong bloody violence, pervasive language, some sexual and drug content
- Last updated: March 31, 2022
Inclusion information powered by
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Best Action Movies for Kids
Best Action Games for Kids
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate