The Bikeriders
The Bikeriders | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Jeff Nichols |
Written by | Jeff Nichols |
Based on | The Bikeriders by Danny Lyon |
Produced by |
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Starring | |
Cinematography | Adam Stone |
Edited by | Julie Monroe |
Music by | David Wingo |
Production companies |
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Distributed by | Focus Features (United States) Universal Pictures (International) |
Release dates |
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Running time | 116 minutes[1] |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $40 million[2] |
The Bikeriders is a 2023 American crime drama film written and directed by Jeff Nichols. It tells a fictional story inspired by the 1967 photo-book of the same name by Danny Lyon depicting the lives of the Outlaws MC, a motorcycle club founded in McCook, Illinois. The film stars Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, Tom Hardy, Michael Shannon, Mike Faist, and Norman Reedus.
The Bikeriders premiered at the 50th Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2023. Originally scheduled to be released theatrically in the United States on December 1, 2023, by 20th Century Studios, the release was delayed due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Ultimately, Focus Features acquired the film from producer New Regency, scheduling it for its current release date of June 21, 2024.
Plot
Set in the 1960s, it follows the rise of the Vandals MC, a Chicago outlaw motorcycle club. Seen through the lives of its members and their families, the club evolves over the course of a decade from a surrogate family for local outcasts into a violent organized crime syndicate, threatening the original founder's unique vision and way of life.[3]
Cast
- Jodie Comer as Kathy
- Austin Butler as Benny
- Tom Hardy as Johnny
- Michael Shannon as Zipco
- Mike Faist as Danny Lyon
- Norman Reedus as Funny Sonny
- Boyd Holbrook as Cal
- Damon Herriman as Brucie
- Beau Knapp as Wahoo
- Emory Cohen as Cockroach
- Karl Glusman as Corky
- Toby Wallace as The Kid
- Happy Anderson as Big Jack
Production
Development
In October 2018, Jeff Nichols revealed he had been thinking about making a biker film set in the 1960s for five years, although he did not at that stage have a script, and mentioned the idea on the set of his short film Long Way Back Home to Michael Shannon, who reportedly told him "You've been talking about that damn idea for so long. You're never gonna make that [film]".[4][5] Nichols wrote the screenplay from his original story idea and began forming the project in 2022. New Regency agreed to produce the film in May 2022. The film is titled after the 1967 Danny Lyon photography book.[6]
It was announced in August 2022 that Nichols would also direct the film, with Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, and Tom Hardy being cast.[3] Michael Shannon, Boyd Holbrook, and Damon Herriman were added to the cast later in the month.[7] That September, Toby Wallace, Emory Cohen, Beau Knapp, Karl Glusman, and Happy Anderson joined the ensemble cast.[8] Norman Reedus and Mike Faist were added to the cast the following month.[9][10]
Filming
Principal photography began in Cincinnati, Ohio in October 2022 and concluded that December.[11][12]
Release
The Bikeriders premiered as the opening film of the 50th Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2023.[13][2] It was originally scheduled to be theatrically released on December 1, 2023, by 20th Century Studios, but it was taken off the release schedule due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, which prevented the cast from promoting the film.[14][15] Following this, on November 20 that year, it was reported New Regency was shopping the film to rival studios and streamers for release instead and only two days later Focus Features acquired global distribution rights to the film, with its parent Universal Pictures distributing internationally.[16][17] On December 8, it was announced that Focus had scheduled the film for a theatrical release in the United States on June 21, 2024.[18]
The film is scheduled to be theatrically released in France and Italy on 19 June 2024; in Brazil, Germany and Mexico on 20 June; and in the United Kingdom on 21 June 2024.[19]
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 86% of 72 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.9/10. The website's consensus reads: "Fueled by a charismatic cast and the gritty authenticity of writer-director Jeff Nichols' approach, The Bikeriders offers a conventional yet impactful look at motorcycle culture."[20] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 73 out of 100, based on 21 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[21]
References
- ^ "The Bikeriders (2024)". Irish Film Classification Office. February 19, 2023. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
- ^ a b Feinberg, Scott (August 31, 2023). "Telluride Awards Analysis: 'The Bikeriders' Opens Fest, Puts Jodie Comer in Hunt for First Oscar Nom". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
- ^ a b Kroll, Justin; Wiseman, Andreas (August 4, 2022). "Jodie Comer, Austin Butler & Tom Hardy to Lead Ensemble For Jeff Nichols' The Bikeriders At New Regency". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
- ^ Giroux, Jack (October 18, 2018). "Jeff Nichols On The Midwestern Biker Movie He Dreams Of Making". /Film. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
- ^ Pearson, Ben (August 24, 2018). "'Long Way Back Home' Short Film Reteams Michael Shannon With Director Jeff Nichols". /Film. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- ^ Chapman, Wilson (August 4, 2022). "Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, Tom Hardy to Star in Jeff Nichols Film 'The Bikeriders'". Variety. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (August 17, 2022). "Michael Shannon, Boyd Holbrook and Damon Herriman Latest To Join Jeff Nichols The Bikeriders At New Regency". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (September 1, 2022). "'The Bikeriders': Emory Cohen, Toby Wallace & Others Join Ensemble Of Jeff Nichols Pic". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (October 4, 2022). "Norman Reedus Latest To Join Jeff Nichols' The Bikeriders At New Regency". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
- ^ Milici, Lauren (November 9, 2022). "Tom Hardy is coming for David Attenborough's job and narrating a new documentary series". GamesRadar+. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
- ^ "Tom Hardy, Austin Butler and Jodie Comer to Begin Filming New Movie in Cincinnati". Cincinnati CityBeat. August 8, 2022. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
- ^ Glynn, Jennifer (December 8, 2022). "Austin Butler's 'The Bikeriders' Wraps Filming". Collider. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
- ^ "50th Telluride Film Festival - Program Guide" (PDF). Telluride Film Festival. p. 7. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 30, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 28, 2023). "Disney Dates 20th Century Studios' Jeff Nichols Pic 'The Bikeriders' For December". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
- ^ Rubin, Rebecca (October 17, 2023). "Austin Butler and Tom Hardy Drama 'The Bikeriders' Delays Theatrical Release Due to Strike". Variety. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ^ Anthony D'Alessandro (November 21, 2023). "New Regency's 'The Bikeriders' Looking For A New Home". Deadline.
- ^ Anthony D'Alessandro (November 22, 2023). "Tom Hardy, Austin Butler & Jodie Comer New Regency Pic 'The Bikeriders' Zooms Over To Focus Features". Deadline.
- ^ Adam Chitwood (December 8, 2023). "Focus Features Sets June Release for 'The Bikeriders' Starring Austin Butler and Tom Hardy". The Wrap.
- ^ "The Bikeriders (2024)". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
- ^ "The Bikeriders". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "The Bikeriders". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
External links
- 2023 films
- 2023 drama films
- 2020s American films
- 2020s English-language films
- 2020s gang films
- American drama films
- American gang films
- English-language drama films
- Films affected by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike
- Films based on non-fiction books
- Films directed by Jeff Nichols
- Films produced by Arnon Milchan
- Films scored by David Wingo
- Films set in the 1960s
- Films set in Chicago
- Films shot in Cincinnati
- Outlaw biker films
- Regency Enterprises films
- Focus Features films
- Universal Pictures films