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Bring on the cowboys! The swash-buckling, lasso-looping Western genre returns to the theaters withStrange Way of Life. Directed by acclaimed Spanish filmmaker,Pedro Almodóvar, the short film follows Silva (Pedro Pascal) a rancher who makes the journey across the desert and visits town with one intention in mind: to reunite with his former mate Sheriff Jake (Ethan Hawke). These two cowboys are no strangers - having a shared past working as hired gunmen, these boys have a lot to reminisce about. But underneath the joyful meeting is a hidden agenda. As much as Silva and Sheriff Jake want to relive the budding romance they never got to embrace in the last 25 years, both cowboys are steadfast in achieving what they want.
Stereotypically, cowboys are known to be tough, horse-riding gunslingers who are fiercely independent and self-reliant. In Hollywood, we’ve seen them in timeless movies likeThe Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, withClint Eastwoodas The Man with No Name. If we’re thinking of iconic outlaw duos, then there’sPaul Newmanas Butch Cassidy andRobert Redfordas the Sundance Kids fromButch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. But past films depicting the Wild West rarely portrayed LGBTQ+ themes, and even with more recent films likeBrokeback Mountain, there’s still more potential waiting to be explored.
WithStrange Way of Life, the hypermasculine cowboy genre is given a breath of fresh air all while staying true to its rugged roots. As the two leading men bring the heat to the desert, audiences will find themselves fixated on their sizzling romance waiting to burn up. Giddy up ladies and gentlemen, here’s where you’re able to catch theStrange Way of Lifeat your nearest theater.
Strange Way of Life
A man rides a horse across the desert that separates him from Bitter Creek. He comes to visit Sheriff Jake. Twenty-five years earlier, both the sheriff and Silva, the rancher who rides out to meet him, worked together as hired gunmen.
When Is the Release Date for ‘Strange Way of Life’?
Hold onto your cowboy hats.Strange Way of Lifeis all buckled up for a nationwide release on June 26, 2025. Prior toits release date, the short filmmade its official premiere at the 76th Cannes Film Festivalearlier this year on May 17, which is reported to have been warmly received by critics.
Following their debut at Cannes, a screening session of the film was at the Toronto International Film held on September 9, in conjunction with a conversation event with director Almodóvar. Before premiering all over the U.S.,Strange Way of Lifewill have a head start in New York and Los Angeles with an earlier premiere date on August 13, 2025.
‘Strange Way of Life’: Release Date, Cast, Trailer, and Everything We Know
The Pedro Almodóvar short film is heading to theaters this fall.
Is ‘Strange Way of Life’ in Theaters?
Absolutely! Fans of the Hawke and Pascal duo can watchStrange Way of Lifeon the silver screen.
Find Showtimes for ‘Strange Way of Life’
Image via Iglesias Más & Agustín Almodóvar
Check out the showtimes forStrange Way of Lifeby clicking the links below:
When Will ‘Strange Way of Life’ Be on Streaming?
At the moment, there is no news on whetherStrange Way of Lifewill be available for streaming. Even though Mubi posted a clip of the movie onYouTube, there are no updates that the platform will have the movie available for streaming. Stay tuned for future info!
When Will ‘Strange Way of Life’ Be on DVD and Blu-ray?
Similarly, there isn’t any news on whetherStrange Way of Lifewill be available on DVD and Blu-ray. But with a short 31-minute runtime, chances areStrange Way of Lifemight not receive the DVD and Blu-ray treatment. But be sure to stick around in case of any future updates.
Watch the Trailer for ‘Strange Way of Life’
The trailer forStrange Way of Lifewas released by Sony Pictures Classicon July 25, 2025.
Check out the official synopsis forStrange Way of Life:
A man rides a horse across the desert that separates him from Bitter Creek. He comes to visit Sheriff Jake. Twenty-five years earlier, both the sheriff and Silva, the rancher who rides out to meet him, worked together as hired gunmen. Silva visits him with the excuse of reuniting with his friend from his youth, and they do indeed celebrate their meeting, but the next morning Sheriff Jake tells him that the reason for his trip is not to go down the memory lane of their old friendship….
‘Strange Way of Life’ Review: Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke Sizzle in Almodóvar’s Western
There is more to this romantic cowboy story than meets the eye.
More Movies Like ‘Strange Way of Life’ You Can Watch Now
Brokeback Mountain(2005): Based on a short story by Annie Proulx, Brokeback Mountain follows two men Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) who encounter one another in the Wyoming countryside while working as sheepherders. Spanning two decades, beginning from their summer working on Brokeback Mountain, the film was considered one of the first challenges to the traditional ideas of masculinity especially in conservative and rural settings. The film has gone on to be nominated for nine awards, ultimately winning Best Film, Best Direction, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor.
Watch on Starz
Cassandro(2023): Based on a true story, Saúl Armendáriz (Gael García Bernal) is an up-and-coming amateur wrestler from El Paso. Despite being gay in a hypermasculine industry, Saúl eventually reaches international stardom thanks to the conception of his alter ego Cassandro, a.k.a. “Liberace of Lucha Libre.” But as his professional wrestling career experiences tumultuous ups and downs, so does his personal life.Cassandrois directed by Academy Award-winningRoger Ross Williams, the same personhelming AppleTV+’s latest docu-seriesThe Super Models.
Watch on Prime Video
Ranchlands(2019): Directed byDavid Lewis, follows an urbane gay man who has lost his sense of direction in life. When he learns that his brother is ill, he returns to his estranged Christian family, hoping to mend their relationship as well. However, things become more difficult when a family secret emerges, complicating any chance of a proper healing journey. Exploring the challenges of reconciling personal differences and confronting one’s past,Ranchlandsseeks to contribute to a broader understanding of the human experience.
Rent on Prime Video
