Riding the Bullet

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Riding the Bullet

R

2004

1h 38m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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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.

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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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Justin Chang

Variety

Oct 21, 2004

A ponderous, incoherent horror mishmash that turns King's short story into utter nonsense.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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...

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Film Threat

Dec 6, 2005

3.5/5

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Robert P

@Superbad Oct 5, 2026

Riding The Bullet is a 1.5 star Movie!

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A.L.Jude P

@judebd Nov 3, 2024

If one is a KIng addict there's nothing to say this is good.

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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.

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steve d

@RT35616104 Jan 31, 2023

A convoluted mess with nothing interesting going on.

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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.

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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.

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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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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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