Sequel to the 1971 film Billy Jack and the third film overall in the series. The film was a commercial success upon its release in theaters, but met with a harsh reaction from movie critics. Leonard Maltin's response was typical when he called it an "awful, pretentious film". Donald Guarisco in the All Movie Guide wrote: "Ultimately, most viewers are likely to be baffled by The Trial of Billy Jack, and it can only be recommended to B-movie fans with a hearty constitution...it's a mess, but it's a fascinating mess." Despite its initial commercial success, it marked the effective end of success for the Billy Jack series. It was followed by one more film, Billy Jack Goes to Washington in 1977, which never saw widespread theatrical release.