The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)
Six darkly-comic Western vignettes explore the bleak, absurdist, and pulpy nature of frontier life.
Vignettes weaving together the stories of six individuals in the old West at the end of the Civil War. Following the tales of a sharp-shooting songster, a wannabe bank robber, two weary traveling performers, a lone gold prospector, a woman traveling the West to an uncertain future, and a motley crew of strangers undertaking a carriage ride.
How intense is The Ballad of Buster Scruggs?
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is mildly scary, with graphic gore and strong violence. Emotionally it is heavy. The pace is measured, and it is a full-attention watch and a late-night trip. The humor runs dark and absurdist. Rated R.
What The Ballad of Buster Scruggs feels like
- Tone
- darkly comicwhimsicalbleakabsurdistpulpy
- Pace
- Measured
- Humor
- dark and satirical, absurdist
- Best for
- Full attentionLate night
Where to stream The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
US availability via TMDB, last checked Sep 13, 2026. The app filters picks to the services you actually have.
Is The Ballad of Buster Scruggs for you?
Is The Ballad of Buster Scruggs scary?
Only a little. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs has a few tense moments (scare level 1 of 3), nothing that follows you to bed.
Is The Ballad of Buster Scruggs gory or violent?
Graphic gore (2 of 3) and strong violence (2 of 3). If graphic gore is a dealbreaker, skip it.
Is The Ballad of Buster Scruggs sad or heavy?
It is emotionally heavy (2 of 3). Expect it to land.
Is The Ballad of Buster Scruggs OK for kids?
It is rated R, so it is made for adults. Intensity: scare 1, gore 2, violence 2, each out of 3.
How long is The Ballad of Buster Scruggs?
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs runs 2h 12m.
Where can I stream The Ballad of Buster Scruggs?
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is streaming on Netflix.
Does The Ballad of Buster Scruggs have a happy ending? spoiler-safe answer
It leaves the ending open to interpretation.
Cast and crew
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