Joy Ride

R

Released Oct 5, 2001

1h 36m

Mystery & Thriller

List

74%

116 Reviews

Tomatometer

66%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

It's summer break and college freshman Lewis Thomas (Paul Walker) has decided to embark on a cross-country road trip to pick up the girl of his dreams, Venna (Leelee Sobieski). But Lewis' romantic hopes hit a detour when he stops on the way to rescue his older brother, Fuller (Steve Zahn), who goads him into playing a practical joke on a lonely trucker, over a CB radio. Now, that trucker, an unseen and terrifying force known only by his CB handle, Rusty Nail, wants the last laugh and revenge.

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Critics Consensus

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.

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Shay C

Pretty good actually. Some horror. Not too much though. Has a usual horror movie ending. Almost for sure will never see this movie again, but it was worth a watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/12/24

Full Review

Pedro G

Muy buena película, una cinta muy tensa que me sorprendió mucho. Esta es una película que desde el primer momento te mantiene enganchado, ya que arranca rápido y a los 15 minutos comienza a ponerse todavía mejor. La historia es algo simple, pero maneja muy bien los momentos de suspenso, generando escenas muy tensas en muchas partes de la cinta; esto sin dudas me parece de lo mejor que tiene la película. Los personajes son geniales, podes empatizar con todos y no son los típicos adolescentes de una cinta de terror/suspenso. Por otro lado, las actuaciones me parecen excelentes, principalmente las de Steve Zahn, Paul Walker y Leelee Sobieski. Si hay algo que no me gusto es lo poco que se explica del personaje del camionero, ya que no es común que se tome así de mal la broma que le hacen, además de que su camión es literalmente una bestia que arrasa con todo lo que choca. Por ultimo, destacar los efectos, ya que están bastante bien logrados. En conclusión, una muy buena película, una cinta que logra mantener al espectador entretenido debido a su atrapante historia, junto con escenas tensas muy bien logradas y un cast excelente. La recomiendo.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/12/23

Full Review

Snuggly

I couldn't watch it. Those brother were DUMB every step of the way!

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

10/29/23

Full Review

Antione H

I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. Simple premise, very straightforward story that had lots of Intense suspenseful scenes that keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time. Something that started off as benign joke between two brothers turns in a nightmare quick. I think the two leads did pretty good job & it's a distance amount of character development where you get invested just enough to genuinely care about what happens to them. (Lewis) is the younger brother but yet more mature & level headed as the older brother (fuller) inferior irrational one who seems like he's struggling to get his life together. The common misconception is that with age comes a level of maturity but that's not the case, But I love his enthusiasm through out the whole film & he had some non-intentional funny moments. I think the movies does a great job at not fully revealing the man identity in the truck, pretty much keeping it a mystery which adds to the eeriness.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/19/23

Full Review

Kathy N

Huge disappointment. Cheap raunchy jokes and a tired old plot.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/09/23

Full Review

Eddie M

A lot of fun. They went there. As good as Bridesmaids and the Hangover.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/08/23

Full Review

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John Dahl

Director

Steve Zahn

Fuller

Paul Walker

Lewis

Leelee Sobieski

Venna

Jessica Bowman

Charlotte

Stuart Stone

Danny (Lewis's Roommate)

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Show More Cast & Crew

76%

64%

Copycat

24%

49%

Don't Say a Word

26%

69%

Stay

TRAILER

for Stay

52%

40%

Blood Work

74%

66%

The Score

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Anthony Breznican

Associated Press

Although its premise may not be original, Joy Ride is still tense, chilling escapism.

Oct 25, 2018

Full Review

Jamie Russell

BBC.com

Rated: 4/5

Aug 20, 2002

Full Review

Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

If you're looking to have your nerves fried and your pulse pounded, this is your ticket to ride.

Rated: 4.5/5

Oct 29, 2001

Full Review

Paul Lê

Bloody Disgusting

The film yields every now and then so viewers can catch their breath, but once this taut and frantic thriller picks up speed again, Joy Ride earns its place as one of the best movies of its kind.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 23, 2023

Full Review

Trace Thurman

Horror Queers Podcast

While it's not perfect, Joy Ride manages to steer us in the direction of a memorable villain and an incredibly suspenseful climax.

Rated: 3.5/5

Oct 12, 2021

Full Review

Joe Lipsett

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

Rated: 3.5/5

Oct 8, 2021

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

It's summer break and college freshman Lewis Thomas (Paul Walker) has decided to embark on a cross-country road trip to pick up the girl of his dreams, Venna (Leelee Sobieski). But Lewis' romantic hopes hit a detour when he stops on the way to rescue his older brother, Fuller (Steve Zahn), who goads him into playing a practical joke on a lonely trucker, over a CB radio. Now, that trucker, an unseen and terrifying force known only by his CB handle, Rusty Nail, wants the last laugh and revenge.

Director: John Dahl
Producer: Arnon Milchan, Patrick Markey, Bridget Johnson
Screenwriter: Clay Tarver, J.J. Abrams
Distributor: Medusa Distribuzione, 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Bad Robot, New Regency Pictures, LivePlanet, Regency Enterprises
Rating: R (Violence|Terror)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 5, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 12, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $22.0M
Runtime: 1h 36m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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