Summary
Tom Hardy and Austin Butler’s new filmThe Bikeridersis now streaming on Peacock.The Bikeridersearned an impressive 80% Certified Fresh critic score on Rotten Tomatoes in addition to a solid 75% audience score to go along with it. The gangster crime film also earned a Metascore of 70, with positive reviews from outlets such asThe New York Times,Rolling Stone, andThe Washington Post. Written and directed by Jeff Nichols, who was inspired byDanny Lyon’s 1967 iconic photo bookof the same name,The Bikeridersalso starsMichael Shannon, Jodie Comer, Mike Faist, Damon Herriman, Paul Sparks, and Norman Reedus.
The Bikeriderswas released in theaters on June 06, 2025, after experiencing some delays due to the 2023 SAG & WGA Hollywood strikes. The film premiered at the 50th Telluride Film Festival back on Jul 29, 2025, and was originally set for a theatrical release date of July 21, 2025. Because the cast was not permitted to promote the film, 20th Century Studios under Disney’s ownership pushed back the release ofThe Bikeridersto June of this year before eventually handing over the distribution rights to Focus Features.The Vandals motorcycle club in the film is inspired by the real-life Outlaws Motorcycle Club.
The Bikeriders Is Now Streaming On Peacock
The Bikeriders was released in theaters in June
Considered one of thebest dramas of 2024,The Bikeridersis heavily inspired by the 1967 photo book that Nichols had first read back in the early 2000s. The film as a whole captures the rebellious spirit and romanticization of the open road in 1968 America in the middle of a massive and historical cultural shift.Johnny, played by Tom Hardy, is the leader of the Vandals MC, a rowdy leather-wearing motorcycle club from the Midwest. Butler plays the hotshot Benny, who after a chance encounter at a local bar, becomes entangled with a strong-minded woman named Kathy, played by Jodie Comer.
Among the robust supporting cast is Faist’s portrayal of the photojournalist and author Danny Lyon, who recently starred in Luca Guadagnino’sChallengers. Michael Shannon, who has appeared in all of Jeff Nichols' movies including Mud (2012), Loving (2016), and Midnight Special (2016), plays a member named Zipco. Reedus, who is hugely popular for his portrayal of Daryl Dixon fromThe Walking Deaduniverse, plays a biker named Funny Sonny. The film takes place over the course of a decade, with theVandals starting out as a good-natured club of outsiders that gradually devolves into a violent and dangerous gang.
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The Bikeriders' Theatrical Performance Explained
The Bikeriders made $35 million worldwide at the summer 2024 box office
The Bikeridershas the potential to earn some Oscar nominations and become an awards season contender later this year. The film spent seven weeks in theaters and earned a worldwide box office total of just $35 million against an estimated production budget of $30-40 million. It earned just under $10 million in its opening weekend across 2,642 theaters, according toBox Office Mojo.The Bikeriderswas the most expensive film that Nichols has ever made, which makes sense when you look at its impressive slate of A-list talent. All things considered, the film cannot be called a box office success, although it has certainly gained streaming traction on Peacock.
The Bikeriders’critical acclaim is well-deserved, with manytop critics applauding the excellent performances and immersive story world. Manohla Dargis ofThe New York Timeswrites in her review, ““The Bikeriders,” a romanticized ballad of tribal love, outlaw cool and the illusion of freedom, gets your motor runnin’ early.” Peter Debruge ofVarietywrites, “It goes a long way to humanize figures who’ve been long misrepresented on film, while giving audiences privileged access to this inner world.” Emily Zemler ofThe Observerwrites, “The attitude and the vibe are pitch perfect, even if the story itself sometimes feels like less of a story and more a series of images.”
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Why The Bikeriders Is Worth Watching
It has great acting and stylistic cinematography
10 Best Movies Like The Bikeriders
Since the 1950s, there have been some great motorcycle-themed, on-the-road films that pair perfectly with Austin Butler’s The Bikeriders.
The Bikeriders
Cast
The Bikeriders is a 2024 drama exploring the turbulent relationship between Kathy and Benny, a member of the Vandals motorcycle club. As the club delves into violence, Benny faces a critical choice between staying with Kathy and his allegiance to the club.
