Rotten Tomatoes Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Riding the Bullet

Play trailer Poster for Riding the Bullet R 2004 1h 38m Horror Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
23% Tomatometer 22 Reviews 33% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Ever since his father passed away, art student Alan Parker (Jonathan Jackson) has been hypnotized by thoughts of death. After his girlfriend, Jessica (Erika Christensen), breaks up with him, Alan attempts suicide but is rescued by his friends. The next day, he learns that his mother (Barbara Hershey) has just had a serious stroke, and he sets out to hitchhike to her hospital. Along the way, he meets a series of strange people, including sinister George Staub (David Arquette), who may be Satan.
Watch on Fandango Stream Now

Where to Watch

Riding the Bullet

Riding the Bullet

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Stephen King adaptation veteran director Mick Garris has lofty storytelling goals which ultimately flail and undercut the story's terror.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Justin Chang Variety 10/21/2004
A ponderous, incoherent horror mishmash that turns King's short story into utter nonsense. Go to Full Review Kevin Crust Los Angeles Times 10/20/2004
1.5/5
The movie is so glum and flat-footed there's no reason to care. Go to Full Review Michael Rechtshaffen The Hollywood Reporter 10/19/2004
Both the anticipation factor and writer-director Mick Garris' slick adaptation fail to live up to the old hype. Go to Full Review Felix Vasquez Jr. Cinema Crazed 11/01/2014
A very sub-par series of clunky ideas about mortality, none of which amount to a decent horror film. Go to Full Review Sean Clark Dread Central 01/23/2006
2.5/5
Riding the Bullet is a film that will likely appeal to more non-horror fans... Go to Full Review Film Threat 12/06/2005
3.5/5
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
A.L.Jude P @judebd 11/03/2024 If one is a KIng addict there's nothing to say this is good. See more Oaklee D @ODie63 08/14/2024 Sick day movie marathon pt 1: an enjoyable Stephen King adaptation. David Arquettes role was the highlight of the film. See more steve d @RT35616104 01/31/2023 A convoluted mess with nothing interesting going on. See more 07/11/2020 I am a huge fan of Stephan kings short stories and novels and this particular short story which was published in the book "everything's eventual" was one of my all time favorites. The movie made changes that didn't make the story better but worse. Like having the main character suicidal (not in the book) and having the ghost George stubs manner of death being that he was in a car accident. Instead, in the book, he says he rode the bullet and was decapitated while riding it. This makes way more sense and connects with the billboard he sees. They didn't need to add a girlfriend either. The original story was excellent on it's now without these silly changes. See more 01/07/2020 This was a creepy movie that I have only seen once I would watch this movie again. I have not seen this movie in forever made for t.v. movie David A. is so creepy in this movie I don't get scared of movies but this one did scary give it a watch. See more 06/11/2019 Fun Movie! Amazing Soundtrack! Its a Stephen King story, what more could you need. See more Read all reviews
Riding the Bullet

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

Mick Garris

Director

Jonathan Jackson

Alan Parker

David Arquette

George Staub

Cliff Robertson

Farmer

Barbara Hershey

Jean Parker

Erika Christensen

Jessica

More Like This

View All
Mimic 3: Sentinel 60% 16% Mimic 3: Sentinel Watchlist Gothika 15% 45% Gothika Watchlist Identity 64% 75% Identity Watchlist Jeepers Creepers 2 25% 38% Jeepers Creepers 2 Watchlist Death Tunnel 0% 26% Death Tunnel Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

Riding the Bullet

View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Ever since his father passed away, art student Alan Parker (Jonathan Jackson) has been hypnotized by thoughts of death. After his girlfriend, Jessica (Erika Christensen), breaks up with him, Alan attempts suicide but is rescued by his friends. The next day, he learns that his mother (Barbara Hershey) has just had a serious stroke, and he sets out to hitchhike to her hospital. Along the way, he meets a series of strange people, including sinister George Staub (David Arquette), who may be Satan.
Director
Mick Garris
Producer
Mick Garris, David Lancaster, Greg Malcolm, Vicki Sotheran, Brad Krevoy, Joel T. Smith
Screenwriter
Stephen King, Mick Garris
Distributor
Innovation Film Group
Production Co
ApolloMedia, Motion Picture Corporation of America
Rating
R (Drug Use|Disturbing Images|Language|Some Nudity|Violence)
Genre
Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 15, 2004, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 7, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$101.1K
Runtime
1h 38m
Sound Mix
Surround
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings