Kansas is a 1988 American crime drama film starring Matt Dillon and Andrew McCarthy.

Wade Corey (Andrew McCarthy) is on his way to a friend's wedding in New York City when his car burns up in Utah, leaving him stranded.

Without options, he hops a freight train where he's pulled onto a moving boxcar by Doyle Kennedy (Matt Dillon).

What Wade doesn't know he soon finds out: Doyle is planning to use the festival as a chance to rob the local bank.

Wade successfully hides from sight with the money while Doyle is chased across the countryside While the robbery is unfolding, the governor - who'd been giving a speech at the festival, sends his young daughter home with an aide after she gets a touch of heatstroke.

An eager cop comes speeding down the road in pursuit of the robbers and doesn't see the governor's car, hits it, and sends it into the river with the daughter inside.

Doyle goes through a series of scams and schemes to stay in the area; he doesn't want to be too high-profile but is bent on finding Wade and the money.

He eventually signs on as a ride operator with a carnival traveling through town, where he finally spots Wade.

The fire draws the local news and Nordquist, the reporter who snapped the photo of the 'Unknown Hero.’ He sees Wade and recognizes him, leading to him being identified and celebrated by the entire town as a hero.

As the town prepares a large celebration in Wade’s honor, Doyle calls and threatens him, telling him that he better show up to their next meeting.

He decides to let them kill him, and the car flips after he is shot repeatedly, wrecking on the side of the road.

After the officer walks away, Nordquist pulls the draft of the story revealing Wade’s involvement in the robbery out of his jacket.

[2] On Metacritic the film has a weighted average score of 35 out of 100, based on 8 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".

[3] Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel both gave it thumbs down, saying that the plot was recycled from Horatio Alger novels.

Screenwriter Spencer Eastman was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in October 1987, and he died six months later.