Joy Ride (2001)
75%RT Audience Score: 65%
Awards & Nominations: 5 nominations
A well-constructed B-movie thriller, Joy Ride keeps up the necessary level of tension and chills. Critics also liked Zahn’s performance as the goofball older brother
If you’re in the mood for a movie that’ll make you grip your seat and scream, Joy Ride is the perfect ride for you. Critics say it’s tense, chilling, and exhilarating, but let’s be real, it’s just a dumb movie that’s a lot of fun. Sure, the female characters haven’t aged well and there are some ties to gay panic, hate crimes, and Matthew Shepard’s death, but who cares when you’re on the edge of your seat? So buckle up, hit the gas, and enjoy the ride.
Production Company(ies)
Bridgit Folman Film Gang Les Films, d’ Ici Razor Film Produktion GmbH,
Distributor
Medusa Distribuzione, 20th Century Fox
Release Type
Streaming
Filming Location(s)
Battle Mountain, Nevada, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for violence/terror and language
Year of Release
2001
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:DolbyDTS
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Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
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Runtime:1h 36m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 5, 2001 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 14, 2003
Genre(s)
Mystery & thriller
Keyword(s)
starring Steve Zahn, Paul Walker, Leelee Sobieski, Jessica Bowman, Stuart Stone, Basil Wallace, directed by John Dahl, written by Clay Tarver, J.J Abrams, Mystery & Thriller, $22.0M box office, R rating, reviewed by Anthony Breznican, Jamie Russell, Peter Travers, Stephanie Zacharek, Marc Savlov, Desson Thomson, Trace Thurman, Joe Lipsett, Felix Vasquez Jr., Kit Bowen, produced by J.J Abrams, Chris Moore
Worldwide gross: $36,642,838
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $61,753,752
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,243
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 6,734,324
US/Canada gross: $21,974,919
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $37,034,077
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,195
US/Canada opening weekend: $7,347,259
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $12,382,251
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 886
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $23,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $38,761,634
Production budget ranking: 981
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $20,873,140
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $2,118,977
ROI to date (est.): 4%
ROI ranking: 1,379
Paul Walker – Lewis
Leelee Sobieski – Venna
Jessica Bowman – Charlotte
Stuart Stone – Danny (Lewis’s Roommate)
Basil Wallace – Officer Keeney
Director – John Dahl
Producers – J.J. Abrams, Chris Moore
Writers – Clay Tarver, J.J. Abrams
Director(s)
John Dahl
Writer(s)
Clay Tarver, J.J. Abrams
Producer(s)
J.J. Abrams, Chris Moore
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
5 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (116) | Top Critics (34) | Fresh (86) | Rotten (30)
Although its premise may not be original, Joy Ride is still tense, chilling escapism.
October 25, 2018
Anthony Breznican
Associated Press
TOP CRITIC
August 20, 2002 | Rating: 4/5
Jamie Russell
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
If you’re looking to have your nerves fried and your pulse pounded, this is your ticket to ride.
October 29, 2001 | Rating: 4.5/5
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
TOP CRITIC
Dahl works the audience like the dial of a car radio, testing out all manner of squeals and static and all-out, high-pitched terror.
October 12, 2001
Stephanie Zacharek
Salon.com
TOP CRITIC
Superior to the majority of the yawn-inducing suspensers out there these days.
October 8, 2001 | Rating: 2.5/5
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Climb into this rig and you’ll be sweating bullets.
October 5, 2001 | Rating: 4.5/5
Desson Thomson
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
While it’s not perfect, Joy Ride manages to steer us in the direction of a memorable villain and an incredibly suspenseful climax.
October 12, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/5
Trace Thurman
Horror Queers Podcast
Its use of female characters hasn’t aged particularly well, but this high octane highway horror has great action, particularly the climax. The ties to gay panic, hate crimes and Matthew Shepard’s death only makes Joy Ride more interesting
October 8, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/5
Joe Lipsett
Horror Queers Podcast
It’s a dumb movie.
July 6, 2010
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
November 20, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Kit Bowen
Hollywood.com
…boasts a number of genuinely exhilarating sequences and set-pieces.
October 8, 2008 | Rating: 3/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
December 27, 2007 | Rating: 4/5
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon…
Plot
College student Lewis decides to drive across the country to see Venna, a friend who doesn’t know that Lewis is interested in her romantically. Unfortunately for his plans, Lewis gets saddled with his raucous-spirited older brother, Fuller, whose on-the-road pranks get the brothers and Venna sucked into a nightmare when a psychopathic truck driver takes offense.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Critics liked Steve Zahn’s performance as the goofball older brother in Joy Ride.
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