

Matewan
Visit website7.4/10 • 118
1987-08-28 • 2h 12m
It takes more than guns to kill a man.
Filmed in the coal country of West Virginia, "Matewan" celebrates labor organizing in the context of a 1920s work stoppage. Union organizer, Joe Kenehan, a scab named "Few Clothes" Johnson and a sympathetic mayor and police chief heroically fight the power represented by a coal company and Matewan's vested interests so that justice and workers' rights need not take a back seat to squalid working conditions, exploitation and the bottom line.
- Directors
- John Sayles
- Writters
- John Sayles
- Editors
- John Sayles, Sonya Polonsky

Matewan
Visit website1987-08-28 • 2h 12m
7.4/10 • 118
It takes more than guns to kill a man.
Filmed in the coal country of West Virginia, "Matewan" celebrates labor organizing in the context of a 1920s work stoppage. Union organizer, Joe Kenehan, a scab named "Few Clothes" Johnson and a sympathetic mayor and police chief heroically fight the power represented by a coal company and Matewan's vested interests so that justice and workers' rights need not take a back seat to squalid working conditions, exploitation and the bottom line.
- Directors
- John Sayles
- Writters
- John Sayles
- Editors
- John Sayles, Sonya Polonsky
Top Billed Cast
View CreditsChris Cooper
Joe Kenehan
James Earl Jones
'Few Clothes' Johnson
Mary McDonnell
Elma Radnor
Will Oldham
Danny Radnor
David Strathairn
Police Chief Sid Hatfield
Ken Jenkins
Sephus Purcell
Kevin Tighe
Bill Hickey
Gordon Clapp
Tom Griggs
Bob Gunton
C.E. Lively
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- Status
- Released
- Original Language
- English
- Budget
- $4,000,000.00
- Revenue
- $1,680,358.00
- Keywords
- traitorbased on true storywest virginiagun battleracismpreacherdouble crosslabor organizerlabor unioncoal miningworkers union1920scoal minerworker's rightsminers strikemining companyslit throatunion strugglecompany townauthoritarian companyitalian diasporagun deathhired goons