Hell or High Water transposes Western mythology into modern Texas through the story of two brothers attempting to prevent foreclosure on their family property by systematically robbing branches of the bank threatening their land. Their carefully orchestrated plan becomes increasingly precarious when one brother's volatile temperament threatens their strategy, whilst a retiring Texas Ranger becomes determined to capture them before leaving the job.

The film derives its critical acclaim from its refusal to present morally straightforward characters. Rather than depicting simple heroes and villains, it portrays principled people driven to criminality by circumstance, creating tension between audience sympathy and the legality of their actions. The performances from Chris Pine, Ben Foster, and Jeff Bridges anchor this ethical complexity, establishing the work as one of the most accomplished contemporary neo-Westerns since its 2016 release.