🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: David McNally
- Genre: Drama, Comedy, Music, Romance
- Release year: 2000
- Runtime (length): 1h 40min
- IMDb rating: 5.7/10 (124K votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 22%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
A shy girl conquers her stage fright by dancing on a bar and dating an Australian guy, all while LeAnn Rimes watches approvingly.
🍿 Coyote Ugly: Detailed Plot Synopsis
Violet’s Arrival in New York
Violet Sanford, a shy and aspiring songwriter from New Jersey, arrives in New York City with dreams of making it big. She faces immediate challenges, including a robbery that leaves her with only the demo tape of her songs. Undeterred, she begins her search for opportunities in the music industry.

Discovering Coyote Ugly
Struggling to find a break, Violet stumbles upon Coyote Ugly, a popular and rowdy bar run by Lil. The bar is known for its female bartenders, who are known for their sassy attitudes, provocative dancing, and the way they tease male customers. Violet is initially intimidated, but she quickly realizes this could be her chance to earn money while pursuing her songwriting.

Finding Her Voice
Violet starts as a dishwasher and eventually works her way up to becoming a bartender, learning the ropes from Lil and the other Coyotes. She struggles with stage fright and her shyness, but the confidence she gains from her new job starts to help her overcome these hurdles. She also develops a relationship with Kevin O’Donnell, who encourages her to perform her songs.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Violet Sanford (Piper Perabo): A young, aspiring songwriter who moves to New York City to pursue her dreams and finds work at the Coyote Ugly bar.
- Kevin O’Donnell (Adam Garcia): Violet’s supportive and charming boyfriend who helps her overcome her stage fright.
- Lil (Maria Bello): The tough but fair owner of the Coyote Ugly bar who gives Violet a chance.
- Bill (John Goodman): Violet’s protective father who initially disapproves of her career but eventually supports her dreams.
- Cammie (Izabella Miko): One of the experienced and supportive bartenders at Coyote Ugly, who helps Violet learn the ropes.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Lil: “I’m married to that bar.” – Lil describes her deep commitment to Coyote Ugly and her life dedicated to its success.
- Lil: “You ever tell anyone that, I’ll kill ya.” – Lil jokingly threatens Violet not to reveal her small-town origins, showing her tough exterior.
- Violet: “Can you fight the moonlight?” – A reference to the LeAnn Rimes song, highlighting Violet’s journey and musical aspirations.
💰Box Office
- Budget: $45,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $60,786,269
- Worldwide Gross: $113,916,474
💥 Coyote Ugly Reviews
Personal Review
I remember seeing this movie as a teen and feeling so empowered by the women. It’s cheesy, sure, but also a lot of fun! Piper Perabo is so charming, and the soundtrack is absolute fire. That final scene with LeAnn Rimes gives me chills every time. Definitely a guilty pleasure, but one I’ll always love. The soundtrack alone is enough to watch it.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of romantic comedies”
- “Those who enjoy movies about pursuing dreams”
- “Viewers who like films with strong female characters”
- “People interested in music-themed movies”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Suggestive dancing and clothing”
- “Alcohol consumption”
- “Some strong language”
- “Mild sexual innuendo”
Professional Reviews
- IMDb: “This film is energetic, entertaining, scintillating and fun to watch. The story is ‘Flashdance’ lite. Piper Perabo is an incredible find. She is not simply acting in this film, but living the role. This film will be the launch pad for a bright career.
- IMDb: “There is a great soundtrack but ‘Coyote Ugly’ falls far short. Too many scenes feel like amateurishly edited and lazily choreographed music videos, with a wafer-thin story that feels like an excuse to string these scenes together. The performances are not great, or even good, at all.
- IMDb: “Every single situation and line of dialogue is yawningly predictable. Most of the screen time is devoted to the half-naked bartenders dancing and twitching and poring water all over themselves. As for the plot, it’s been done HUNDREDS of times before.
Audience Reactions
Viewers loved the soundtrack’s energetic mix of pop and rock anthems, especially LeAnn Rimes’s ‘Can’t Fight the Moonlight’.: The film’s energetic dance numbers and female empowerment theme resonated with audiences.
Overall Consensus: A fun, if somewhat predictable, movie with a great soundtrack and a message of female empowerment.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “LeAnn Rimes provided the singing voice for Piper Perabo’s character, making their on-screen duet a performance by Rimes with herself.”
- “The film is loosely based on the real Coyote Ugly Saloon in New York City and its founder, Liliana Lovell.”
- “Director David McNally had previously directed music videos, which influenced the film’s energetic style and soundtrack-driven narrative.”
🖥️ How to Watch Coyote Ugly?
Coyote Ugly is available to rent or buy on platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu. Check your local listings for cable availability. DVD and Blu-ray copies can also be purchased online and in stores for those who prefer physical media.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed Coyote Ugly, you might like these similar films:
- Flashdance (1983): Both films feature a young woman pursuing her dreams in a big city while working a physically demanding job with a strong musical component.
- Cocktail (1988): Similar theme of bartenders and their craft in a high-energy setting.
- Burlesque (2010): Features a small-town girl moving to the city and finding success as a performer in a nightclub setting.
- Showgirls (1995): Explores the darker side of aspiring performers in a competitive entertainment industry; cautionary.
🛒 Coyote Ugly Related Products
- Coyote Ugly (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack): Relive the movie magic with this iconic soundtrack! It’s the perfect way to bring the energy of Coyote Ugly to your everyday life. Includes hits like ‘Can’t Fight the Moonlight.’
- Coyote Ugly: Unrated Extended Cut [Blu-ray]: Own the ultimate edition of the movie! The Unrated Extended Cut offers even more of the Coyote Ugly experience. It’s perfect for collectors!
- Coyote Ugly T-Shirt: Show your love for the movie with this stylish t-shirt. Featuring iconic imagery from the film, this shirt is a great way to express your fandom.
- Coyote Ugly Movie Poster: A high-quality print that captures the energy and excitement of the film. Perfect for adding a touch of Coyote Ugly flair to any room.
🎧 Soundtrack
Coyote Ugly features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
- “Can’t Fight the Moonlight” – performed by LeAnn Rimes
- “The Right Kind of Wrong” – performed by LeAnn Rimes
- “Pour Some Sugar on Me” – performed by Def Leppard
- “One Way or Another” – performed by Blondie
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
While set in New York City, Coyote Ugly was primarily filmed in Los Angeles, California, with some scenes shot in New York to capture the city’s essence.
Yes, LeAnn Rimes performs ‘Can’t Fight the Moonlight’ in the movie. Although Piper Perabo lip-syncs the song on screen, it is Rimes’ vocals that are featured.
The film is loosely based on the real Coyote Ugly Saloon bar in New York City and the experiences of Elizabeth Gilbert, who worked there as a young woman and wrote about it.
🔥 Bonus Content
What The Cast of Coyote Ugly Looks Like Today
Have you ever wondered where the vibrant characters from Coyote Ugly are now? This video provides intriguing insights into their lives after the movie, revealing what they have been up to and how they look today.
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