6 Best Rodeo and Bull Riding Movies

By Vlad Zakh · February 17, 2026

The rodeo circuit’s mix of danger, tradition, and fading American mythology has made for some memorable, dust-covered character studies. In The Rider (2017): A young rodeo cowboy grapples with his identity after a near-fatal riding accident ends his career. Another standout is The Longest Ride (2015): A budding romance between a bull rider and an art student is intercut with a decades-old love story.

The Cowboy Way (1994)

TMDB ★ 5.7

Two rodeo cowboys travel to New York City to track down their missing friend.

Directed by Gregg Champion · 1h 47m · Rated PG-13

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Rider (2017)

TMDB ★ 7.2

A young rodeo cowboy grapples with his identity after a near-fatal riding accident ends his career.

Directed by Chloé Zhao · 1h 43m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Longest Ride (2015)

TMDB ★ 7.1

A budding romance between a bull rider and an art student is intercut with a decades-old love story.

Directed by George Tillman Jr. · 2h 08m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

8 Seconds (1994)

TMDB ★ 6.5

A dramatization follows the rise and tragic death of a champion professional bull rider.

Directed by John G. Avildsen · 1h 45m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Howdy Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Urban Cowboy (1980)

TMDB ★ 6.4

A young oil refinery worker's romance and rivalry play out over mechanical bull competitions at a Texas honky-tonk.

Directed by James Bridges · 2h 12m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Junior Bonner (1972)

TMDB ★ 6.9

An aging rodeo cowboy returns to his hometown for one last competition amid his family's dysfunction.

Directed by Sam Peckinpah · 1h 40m · Rated PG

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

6 Best Rodeo and Bull Riding Movies

The Cowboy Way (1994)

The Rider (2017)

The Longest Ride (2015)

8 Seconds (1994)

Urban Cowboy (1980)

Junior Bonner (1972)

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