A 2001 American alternate-history Western directed by Les Mayfield that follows five friends (Colin Farrell, Scott Caan, Gabriel Macht, Gregory Smith, and Will McCormack) trying to get by during the post-Civil War.
The movie also stars Ali Larter, Harris Yulin, Kathy Bates, Timothy Dalton, Ronny Cox, Terry O'Quinn, Nathaniel Arcand, Ty O Neal, and Muse Watson.
It was released on August 17, 2001.
Tropes featured in American Outlaws include:
- Alliterative Name: Jesse James.
- Historical Domain Character:
- Jesse James, one of the most famous outlaws.
- Cole Younger, a member of the James-Younger Gang.
- In the Past, Everyone Will Be Famous: The movie does an especially hamfisted job of this. The central characters are Frank and Jesse James, and the film repeatedly has them name famous Civil War era characters, groups, and incidents as the director's way of demonstrating that they really are in the Old West.
- It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time:Jesse James: A war against the railroad... what the hell was I thinking?
Frank: Well, I'm sure it seemed like a good idea at the time. - I Want You to Meet an Old Friend of Mine: Larter and Caan previously worked together on Varsity Blues.
- Saving the Orphanage: Subverted, as the movie opens with James failing to save the family farm and thus seeking revenge against the railroad barons.
- Seinfeldian Conversation: The scene where the outlaws argue about what the gang should be called. "Younger-James Gang" is shot down because it implies the existence of an "Older James Gang."
- Tagline: "Bad Is Good Again".
