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Riding the Bullet

Play trailer Poster for Riding the Bullet R 2004 1h 38m Horror Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
19% Tomatometer 21 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.
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Riding the Bullet

Riding the Bullet

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Critics Consensus

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

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Critics Reviews

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Justin Chang Variety Oct 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 Oct 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 Oct 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 Nov 1, 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 Jan 23, 2006
2.5/5
Riding the Bullet is a film that will likely appeal to more non-horror fans... Go to Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews May 25, 2005
2/4
...wholly ineffective... Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Robert P @Superbad Oct 5, 2026 Riding The Bullet is a 1.5 star Movie! See more A.L.Jude P @judebd Nov 3, 2024 If one is a KIng addict there's nothing to say this is good. See more Oaklee D @ODie63 Aug 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 Jan 31, 2023 A convoluted mess with nothing interesting going on. See more Jul 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 Jan 7, 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 Read all reviews
Riding the Bullet

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Cast & Crew

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Mick Garris

Director

Jonathan Jackson

Alan Parker

David Arquette

George Staub

Cliff Robertson

Farmer

Barbara Hershey

Jean Parker

Erika Christensen

Jessica

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Riding the Bullet

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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
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