Lean on Pete (2018)
Kernel Score: 73% · 355 TMDB ratings · Rated R
Genres: Drama, Adventure
Released: 2018-04-06
Runtime: 121 minutes
Where to watch Lean on Pete
- Stream: JustWatch TV Plus
- Free with ads: JustWatch TV Free, Kanopy, Hoopla, The Roku Channel, Fandango at Home
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-11-12.
Overview
Charley Thompson, a teenager living with his single father, gets a summer job working for horse trainer Del Montgomery. Bonding with an aging racehorse named Lean on Pete, Charley is horrified to learn he is bound for slaughter, and so he steals the horse, and the duo embark on an odyssey across the new American frontier.
Lean on Pete parents' guide: ages 13+
Parents need to know that Lean on Pete is a gritty coming-of-age drama involving a teen, a doomed racehorse, and hardship on the road.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Includes references to a racehorse bound for slaughter and general hardship/danger during a road journey.
- Drinking, drugs & smoking: Some — A drunk character appears in the story, and reviews reference themes of adult struggle.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Lean on Pete
If you liked Lean on Pete, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- True Grit (1969) — 82%
- Seabiscuit (2003) — 79%
- Dreamer: Inspired By a True Story (2005) — 79%
- Hud (1963) — 80%
- Stand by Me (1986) — 89%
- The Cowboys (1972) — 79%
- Stranger Than Paradise (1984) — 79%
- The Secret Life of Bees (2008) — 86%
Director
Cast
- Charlie Plummer as Charley
- Amy Seimetz as Lynn
- Travis Fimmel as Ray
- Steve Buscemi as Del
- Jason Beem as Race Announcer
- Tolo Tuitele as Lynn's Husband
- Ayanna Berkshire as Cop 1
- Connor Brenes as Cop 2
- Kurt Conroyd as Nurse
- Chloë Sevigny as Bonnie
Lean on Pete FAQ
Is Lean on Pete good?
Lean on Pete has a 73% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels, our own critic-informed editorial score.
Where can I watch Lean on Pete?
In the US you can stream Lean on Pete on JustWatch TV Plus, watch it free with ads on JustWatch TV Free, Kanopy, Hoopla, The Roku Channel and Fandango at Home and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Lean on Pete OK for kids?
Lean on Pete is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 13+. Parents need to know that Lean on Pete is a gritty coming-of-age drama involving a teen, a doomed racehorse, and hardship on the road.
What movies are like Lean on Pete?
If you liked Lean on Pete, try True Grit, Seabiscuit, Dreamer: Inspired By a True Story and Hud.