The Rider (2018)
90%RT Audience Score: 82%
Awards & Nominations: 25 wins & 55 nominations
The Rider’s hard-hitting drama is only made more effective through writer-director Chloé Zhao’s use of untrained actors to tell the movie’s fact-based tale.
Yeehaw, The Rider is one heck of a movie! It’s got cowboys, horses, and a whole lot of heart. The way it tells the story of Brady Blackburn, a real-life bronc rider, is nothing short of extraordinary. And the fact that the cast is made up of non-professional actors from the Pine Ridge community just adds to the authenticity. Plus, Brady Jandreau is a total horse whisperer – move over, Robert Redford! If you’re looking for a compelling drama that’ll make you feel all the feels, saddle up and give The Rider a watch.
Production Company(ies)
Studio Chizu Book Walker Dentsu
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Pine Ridge, Pine Ridge, South Dakota, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language and drug use
Year of Release
2018
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:1h 44m
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Language(s):English, Sioux, Spanish
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Apr 13, 2018 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 7, 2018
Genre(s)
Drama/Western
Keyword(s)
starring Brady Jandreau, directed by Chloé Zhao, written by Chloé Zhao, drama, western, box office performance, budget, reviewed by J R Jones, Linda Marric, Nikki Baughan, Donald Clarke, Simran Hans, Kevin Maher, Betsy Bozdech, Susan Wloszczyna, Jennifer Merin, Fletcher Powell, John Serba, R rating, riding accident, cowboy, rodeo circuit, untrained actors, fact-based tale, Brittany Runs a Marathon, Life Itself, The Two Popes, Let Him Go, Jodorowsky’s Dune, Sony Pictures Classics, Mollye Asher, Sacha Ben Harroche, Bert Hamelinck
Worldwide gross: $3,436,124
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $4,043,541
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,232
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 440,953
US/Canada gross: $2,419,031
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,846,652
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,948
US/Canada opening weekend: $42,244
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $49,712
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,208
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Tim Jandreau – Wayne Blackburn
Lilly Jandreau – Lilly Blackburn
Lane Scott – Self
Cat Clifford – Self
Derrick Janis – Victor Chasinghawk
Director(s)
Chloé Zhao
Writer(s)
Chloé Zhao
Producer(s)
Mollye Asher, Sacha Ben Harroche, Bert Hamelinck, Chloé Zhao
Film Festivals
Sundance, South by Southwest, Cannes, Telluride, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
25 wins & 55 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (189) | Top Critics (50) | Fresh (184) | Rotten (5)
An extraordinary translation of life into art.
March 5, 2020
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Bold, heartfelt and, most importantly, unafraid, this is a remarkable film.
June 5, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Linda Marric
HeyUGuys
TOP CRITIC
The Rider reshapes the traditional cowboy narrative in a way that both embraces and challenges western tropes.
December 7, 2018
Nikki Baughan
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
A hugely impressive slice of prairie naturalism.
September 18, 2018 | Rating: 5/5
Donald Clarke
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
Working with non-professional actors from the Pine Ridge community, Zhao tells the fictionalised true story of bareback bronc rider Brady Blackburn.
September 16, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Simran Hans
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Jandreau proves a charismatic draw, even if some of the supporting non-actors struggle with naturalistic performances.
September 14, 2018 | Rating: 4/5
Kevin Maher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
The Rider is a compelling drama about what it means to be a man in a world that doesn’t offer men all that many options…
December 17, 2021
Betsy Bozdech
AWFJ Women on Film
When it comes to horse whispering, Robert Redford has nothing on Brady Jandreau.
December 17, 2021
Susan Wloszczyna
AWFJ Women on Film
Boasting terrific performances and evocative cinematography, The Rider is a triumph of human endeavour and tenacity of spirit.
December 17, 2021
Nikki Baughan
AWFJ Women on Film
The Rider is a contemporary cowboy drama written, directed and co-produced by Chloe Zhao, whose innovative approach to filmmaking creates the aura of authenticity and whose sensitive handling of its theme included casting a family of non-actors…
December 17, 2021
Jennifer Merin
AWFJ Women on Film
The Rider could very well end up being the best movie of the year.
July 16, 2021
Fletcher Powell
KMUW – Wichita Public Radio
The Rider is a modern classic.
May 28, 2021
John Serba
Decider…
Plot
After a rodeo accident leaves him unable to compete, a young cowboy searches for a new purpose in life in the hard-hitting drama, The Rider.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The Rider features non-professional actors, including Brady Jandreau who plays a version of himself.
Chloé-Zhao.jpg
