The Bikeriders

The Bikeriders is a 2023 American 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 mainly Chicago based motorcycle club. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, Michael Shannon, Mike Faist, Norman Reedus and Tom Hardy.
The Bikeriders premiered at the 50th Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2023 and is scheduled to be released theatrically in the United States on June 21, 2024, by Focus Features, after being delayed six months due to both the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike and a switch in distributors.
==Synopsis==
The Bikeriders follows the rise of a midwestern motorcycle club, the Vandals. Seen through the lives of its members, the club evolves over the course of a decade from a gathering place for local outsiders into a more sinister gang, threatening the original group's unique way of life.
==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==
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]". 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.
It was announced in August 2022 that Nichols would also direct the film, with Jodie Comer, Austin Butler and Tom Hardy being cast. Michael Shannon, Boyd Holbrook and Damon Herriman were added to the cast later in the month. That September, Toby Wallace, Emory Cohen, Beau Knapp, Karl Glusman and Happy Anderson joined the ensemble cast. Norman Reedus and Mike Faist were then added the following month.
Principal photography began in Cincinnati, Ohio in October 2022 and concluded that December.
==Release==
The Bikeriders premiered as the opening film of the 50th Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2023. 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. On November 20 that year, shortly after the strike's conclusion, 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. On December 8, it was announced that Focus had scheduled the film for a theatrical release in the United States on June 21, 2024.
==Reception==
The Bikeriders garnered very positive reception following its Telluride premiere. On Rotten Tomatoes, 86% of 35 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.7/10. 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." Metacritic assigned the film an average score of 71 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.
== Videos ==
File:The Bikeriders - Official Trailer|The Bikeriders - Official Trailer
==External links==
*Official website
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Category:2024 films
Category:2024 drama films
Category:2024 American films
Category:2020s American films
Category:2020s English-language films
Category:2020s gang films
Category:American drama films
Category:American gang films
Category:Films affected by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike
Category:Films based on non-fiction books
Category:Films directed by Jeff Nichols
Category:Films produced by Arnon Milchan
Category:Films scored by David Wingo
Category:Films set in the 1960s
Category:Films set in Chicago
Category:Films shot in Cincinnati
Category:Outlaw biker films
Category:Regency Enterprises films
Category:Focus Features films
Category:Universal Pictures films
Category:Films starring Jodie Comer
Category:Films starring Austin Butler
Category:Films starring Tom Hardy
Category:Films starring Michael Shannon
Category:Films starring Mike Faist
Category:Films starring Norman Reedus
Category:Films starring Boyd Holbrook
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