'Brokeback Mountain' Returns to Theaters for 20th Anniversary: Release Dates, Tickets & Special Features

In celebration of its 20th anniversary, Focus Features proudly announces the nationwide re-release of Brokeback Mountain, the groundbreaking and emotionally powerful film that changed the cinematic landscape. The special theatrical event will take place on June 22nd and June 25th, offering audiences a unique chance to revisit the iconic story on the big screen. Tickets are now available, with screenings set to include a newly commissioned film poster, exclusive merchandise, and a variety of themed initiatives designed to honor the film’s legacy.

Directed by Academy Award®-winning director Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain stars Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, and Michelle Williams. Released in 2005, the film quickly became a cultural milestone, grossing over $178 million worldwide. This sweeping romantic Western tells the deeply personal and heart-wrenching story of Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist, two cowboys whose bond evolves into a profound, secretive lifelong relationship.

The film is widely acclaimed not only for its storytelling but also for its groundbreaking portrayal of same-sex love, a theme rarely represented in mainstream cinema at the time. Its release marked a turning point in both the film industry and cultural discourse, helping to open doors for more inclusive and emotionally honest narratives. Its success helped establish Focus Features as a studio synonymous with visionary filmmaking.

Brokeback Mountain received eight Academy Award® nominations, winning three:

• Best Director for Ang Lee

• Best Adapted Screenplay by Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana

• Best Original Score by Gustavo Santaolalla

The screenplay was adapted from Annie Proulx’s Pulitzer Prize-finalist short story, originally published in The New Yorker in 1997 and later included in her celebrated collection Close Range: Wyoming Stories.

Adding to its emotional resonance is the film’s evocative soundtrack, featuring original compositions and contributions from artists such as Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, and Rufus Wainwright. The score plays a pivotal role in immersing audiences in the film’s expansive, haunting atmosphere, and enhancing the raw emotional performances delivered by the cast.

Critics and audiences continue to praise Brokeback Mountain for its unflinching portrayal of forbidden love, loss, longing, and resilience. Heath Ledger’s and Jake Gyllenhaal’s performances remain defining moments in their careers, each capturing the quiet intensity and vulnerability of men grappling with the constraints of identity, time, and circumstance. The film’s breathtaking cinematography of the American West serves as both a romanticized escape and a harsh reminder of the isolation the characters endure.

The 20th-anniversary re-release will not only introduce a new generation of viewers to this masterpiece, but also offer longtime fans an opportunity to experience the film in theaters once again, complete with exclusive anniversary merchandise and other commemorative experiences.

Upcoming Projects from Focus Features

Following the Brokeback Mountain re-release, Focus Features will continue its commitment to bold, auteur-driven storytelling. Upcoming films include:

• The Phoenician Scheme, directed by Wes Anderson, starring Benicio Del Toro, Michael Cera, Tom Hanks, Benedict Cumberbatch

• Bugonia, by Yorgos Lanthimos, starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons

• Anemone, the directorial debut of Ronan Day-Lewis, co-written by and starring Daniel Day-Lewis

• Song Sung Blue, with Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson

• Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao and starring Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley

• Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale starring Hugh Bonneville, Laura Carmichael, Jim Carter, Raquel Cassidy, Paul Giamatti

Recent releases include Conclave by Edward Berger, Nosferatu by Robert Eggers, and Black Bag, an espionage thriller from Steven Soderbergh.

Be sure to check out my Classic Movie Review of Brokeback Mountain linked here. Brokeback Mountain was a groundbreaking, emotional, and remarkable movie and the chance to see this film on the big screen once again is one you won't want to miss and just in time for Pride Month.