The film is about an aging Pat Garrett (Coburn), hired as a lawman by a group of wealthy New Mexico cattle barons to bring down his old friend Billy the Kid (Kristofferson)
Dylan composed the score and songs for the film, most prominently "Knockin' on Heaven's Door", which were released on its soundtrack album the same year and nominated for a Grammy Award for Album of Best Original Score (Dylan)
The movie was filmed on location in Durango, Mexico,and was nominated for two BAFTA Awards for Film Music (Dylan) and Most Promising Newcomer (Kristofferson)
The film was noted for behind-the-scenes battles between Peckinpah and the studio, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer