--- title: "The Bikeriders: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-bikeriders/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-bikeriders" critics_score: 71 critics_reviews: 21 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Bikeriders (2024): what the critics said Critics' score 71 from 21 reviews: 15 positive, 4 mixed, 2 negative. Most critics like The Bikeriders, and the reviews sit in a fairly narrow band: warm to enthusiastic, with a few qualified threes and two outright dismissals. The praise gathers almost entirely around the cast. Jodie Comer’s Kathy is named again and again as the film’s spine, with Tom Hardy’s gruff charisma and Austin Butler’s Benny close behind, and several reviews credit the actors with putting flesh on familiar biker archetypes. The look draws steady approval too: the period detail, the photography, the sense of being let inside the club. The reservations gather around the story. Many find the rise-and-fall arc predictable, note the film loses energy in its final stretch, and dislike the interview framing device. Sight and Sound finds an emptiness at the centre in Butler’s Benny. The dissenters go further: Vulture thinks the framing mutes the film’s romance, and Collider calls it a misfire with a good cast and little underneath. ## The i Paper — Christina Newland Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 21 June 2024. The film has a gorgeously lived-in retro sensibility and works as a pure-hearted homage to biker films past. It is fast-paced, compelling and the most fun you’ll have in the cinema all year if you have a taste for this vintage. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/the-bikeriders-review-3119625) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Rating Critics Pick. 2 September 2023. Festival review. Nichols invites audiences into the inner world of the club, humanizing figures long misrepresented on film while showing they can be dangerous. The critic singles out the cool personified performances and Scorsese-like structure for praise. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/the-bikeriders-review-austin-butler-tom-hardy-jodie-comer-1235709201/) ## Evening Standard — Nick Howells Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 21 June 2024. Comer roars into her first Great American Film Role alongside Butler and Hardy in Nichols’s finest effort yet. The film is an effortless ride lifted by the top-of-their-game trio into something approaching unforgettable. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-bikeriders-movie-review-jodie-comer-austin-butler-tom-hardy-b1111700.html) ## Little White Lies — Rógan Graham Rating 4/4/3. 17 June 2024. Nichols returns with a wistful, contemplative portrait of a 1960s Chicago motorcycle club that is an enjoyable ride for his fans. The critic singles out the strong ensemble and gorgeous cinematography for praise but notes the tried-and-true story arc lacks enough rigour to become a classic. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/the-bikeriders) ## Radio Times — James Mottram Rating 4/5. Nichols traces the rise and fall of the Vandals with consummate skill in this stylish, absorbing chronicle. The critic singles out Tom Hardy’s gruff charisma and Austin Butler’s magnetic performance for praise while noting the film’s cool, classy Scorsese-influenced result. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-xe2pv9/the-bikeriders/) ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 19 June 2024. The film evokes ’60s cool in a romantic, impressionistic and dreamlike way, bringing Lyon’s photographs to life with strong performances. The critic singles out the sketchy narrative and underwritten characters for complaint while praising the hangout vibe and pathos. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2024-06-19/the-bikeriders-review-austin-butler-tom-hardy-jodie-comer-jeff-nichols) ## The Independent Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 20 June 2024. Nichols’s film rejects outright nostalgia but shows tender affection for those seeking freedom on the open road. It transforms a potentially romanticised ode into a true American tragedy focused on characters holding onto love. [Read the review](https://independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/the-bikeriders-review-tom-hardy-b2564920.html) ## Total Film — Neil Smith Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 6 October 2023. Festival review. Nichols’s absorbing study of a Chicago motorcycle crew thrums with Scorsese-isms while lovingly crafting a fictional story around Danny Lyon’s photos. The material feels fresh thanks to the actors fleshing out the archetypes. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-bikeriders-review/) ## The New Yorker — Richard Brody Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 24 June 2024. Nichols’s view of the characters is sometimes swoony, but his dramatic sense is sharp in this adaptation structured around interviews that highlight camaraderie, divisions, and the club’s devolution into crime. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/the-bikeriders) ## The AV Club — Matt Schimkowitz Rating C+. 19 June 2024. Nichols gives bikers a Goodfellas epic that's often left spinning its wheels, too conventional to be an outlaw despite lively moments and a strong cast. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-bikeriders-review-wannabe-outlaw-film-is-a-weekend-1851545658) ## Empire — Beth Webb Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 17 June 2024. The glacial study of oil-stained Americana is sumptuously crafted and exquisitely shot but proves a rebel with some flaws. It is more of a slow burn than a thrill-ride that only nicks the surface of its subjects’ spirit. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-bikeriders/) ## Sight and Sound Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 17 June 2024. Jeff Nichols delivers a superbly acted but tonally imbalanced film that replays outlaw biker movie tropes through the lens of Danny Lyon’s photographs. The critic praises the strong performances, especially Jodie Comer and Tom Hardy, while singling out the uncertainty of emphasis and the enigmatic void at the film’s heart in Austin Butler’s Benny. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/bikeriders-revved-replay-outlaw-biker-movie) ## Time Out — Kambole Campbell Rating 3/5. 19 June 2024. Nichols offers an intelligent and strikingly photographed journalistic snapshot of a lost moment in time. The critic praises the visual grammar and strong lead performances but complains that the film runs out of gas in a predictable final reel. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-bikeriders-2024) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 21 June 2024. The film about being cool is emotionally constipated, muting its melodrama and innate romance through framing devices despite strong performances. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/review-the-bikeriders-shouldnt-be-this-uptight.html) ## IndieWire — David Ehrlich 1 September 2023. Festival review. The vivid motorcycle drama starts strong like Goodfellas on Harleys but ultimately stalls out in its execution. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/the-bikeriders-review-jeff-nichols-1234901518/) ## Slant Magazine — David Robb 25 October 2023. Nichols delivers a shaggy, old-fashioned ode to 1960s biker culture whose sincere Americana aura is intoxicating and hard to resist, even if it stays on the surface. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-bikeriders-review-jodie-comer-tom-hardy-jeff-nichols/) ## The Guardian 22 June 2024. The critic finds the film a sharp and seductive drama about 1960s bikers, praising stellar performances especially Jodie Comer's superb Kathy, while noting the thin plot but highlighting the evocative, gritty filmmaking. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/article/2024/jun/22/the-bikeriders-review-jeff-nichols-jodie-comer-austin-butler-tom-hardy-danny-lyon) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Sheri Linden 2 September 2023. Festival review. Nichols crafts a striking memory piece with profound affection for the characters, particularly through Comer and Hardy's performances, despite the violence and macho elements. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-bikeriders-review-jodie-comer-tom-hardy-jeff-nichols-1235578612/) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis Rating Critic’s Pick. 20 June 2024. The film is a romanticized ballad of tribal love, outlaw cool and the illusion of freedom that follows the rise and dissolution of a Midwestern motorcycle club. The critic singles out the beautiful people and bikes for praise in this drama flecked with absurdity and violence. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/20/movies/the-bikeriders-review-austin-butler.html) ## The Times Rating ★★★★☆. 22 June 2024. The critic highlights Austin Butler's star turn and grease-stained charm in this biker gang epic, noting it revs up the story but can feel like a studious recreation; praises the beating heart in Butler's performance. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/the-bikeriders-review-film-austin-butler-jodie-comer-z38twgb78) ## Film Stories — Simon Brew Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 21 June 2024. The critic finds The Bikeriders an absorbing drama that wears its Goodfellas influences lightly while functioning more like a western character study. Jodie Comer's performance as Kathy is singled out as the strongest, holding the film together with its gravitas and substance. [Read the review](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/the-bikeriders-review-jeff-nichols-hits-the-road/) ## HeyUGuys — Lisa Giles-Keddie Rating 4/5. 20 October 2023. Festival review. Nichols' film is praised as a rebellious yet romanticized triumph that captures a bygone era of male belonging. The assured cast, particularly standout performances, is highlighted as a key strength. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/the-bikeriders-review/) ## Polygon — Oli Welsh Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 25 June 2024. The Bikeriders is a familiar tale of brotherhood and violence that succeeds through old-fashioned pleasures like great tunes, costumes, and strong performances. Austin Butler's magnetic, iconic presence as Benny elevates the entire film. [Read the review](https://polygon.com/23906339/austin-butler-the-bikeriders) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 6 September 2023. Festival review. The critic highlights the film's mood, atmosphere and captivating performances, especially Jodie Comer's as the moral and narrative spine. It is described as a Scorsese-esque rise-and-fall tale with strong sense of place and tone. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/bikeriders-review-austin-butler-tom-hardy-1960s-motorcycle-club/) ## The Playlist — Gregory Ellwood Rating B. 1 September 2023. Festival review. Nichols delivers a highly entertaining period piece filled with strong performances, especially from Jodie Comer and Tom Hardy. The film captures the spirit of the era and the biker subculture effectively through its narrative. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/the-bikeriders-telluride-review-jodie-comer-tom-hardy-rule-the-road-in-jeff-nichols-new-drama-20230901/) ## /Film — Mike Shutt Rating 7.5/10. 3 November 2023. Festival review. The film is a beautiful but sometimes conventional drama that explores male camaraderie and societal shifts in a 1960s motorcycle club. It singles out the compelling performances of the lead trio and the empathetic portrayal of the subculture for praise, while noting issues with the framing device. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1436877/the-bikeriders-review/) ## Collider — Emma Kiely Rating 4/10. 5 October 2023. Festival review. The film is a chaotic misfire with a talented cast but no substance or meaningful character development. Jodie Comer stands out as the heart of the story, though the central relationship lacks chemistry and depth. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-bikeriders-review/) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond 21 June 2024. Festival review. The critic praises the superb cast led by Jodie Comer, Austin Butler and Tom Hardy in this Scorsese-like portrait of biker culture. Nichols is commended for applying contemporary themes of identity, loyalty and belonging to the period story. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2024/06/the-bikeriders-review-jeff-nichols-jodie-comer-austin-butler-and-tom-hardy-telluride-film-festival-1235533981/) ## Digital Spy — Mireia Mullor 21 June 2024. The critic calls it a captivating blend of asphalt Western and crime drama with a winning cast, praising its cool look and sympathetic portrayal of the characters while noting it slightly runs out of gas toward the end. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a61056735/the-bikeriders-review/) ## NME — James Mottram 6 October 2023. Festival review. The critic finds it a stylish, episodic slow-burner with strong performances especially from Austin Butler, capturing the era's freewheeling spirit with humor and a focus on loyalty, though it may not deliver quick thrills. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/the-bikeriders-review-tom-hardy-austin-butler-3510621) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-bikeriders.md