RIDE hits Paramount+ Feb 1: Acclaimed Indie Cowboy Drama Lands Strong

Hollywood said, “No.” The rodeo community said, “Hell yes!”

Now RIDE the movie is coming to Paramount+ on February 1st, proving that some stories are too important to stay untold. I think Texas Monthly nailed it when they called this “The Friday Night Lights of Rodeo” – it’s that rare film that gets to the heart of what makes the American spirit tick.

URGENT UPDATE: RIDE is on Paramount+ but is part of the $12.99/month “Paramount+ with SHOWTIME & No Ads” package. If you get the cheaper “Paramount+ Essential” package for $7.99/month, you won’t get RIDE.

RIDE is a Family Story with Deep Roots

Step into Stephenville, Texas – the Cowboy Capital of the World – where three generations of bull riders are about to face more than just eight seconds in the arena. When a young girl’s cancer returns, her family confronts a reality many rural Americans know too well – the devastating struggle to access affordable healthcare.

The healthcare aspect of the film hit really close to home. I know the hardships the characters face. My son, Stockton, was born with multiple congenital heart defects, requiring multiple open-heart surgeries and tons of expensive medications. I can tell you from first-hand experience that between the insurance companies’ “delay, deny, defend” tactics and the hospitals overcharging at every opportunity, I currently battle tooth and nail every day to keep my son alive. To me, this movie is a true story.

Forrie J. Smith of Yellowstone fame brings the kind of truth to his role that only comes from decades of living the rodeo life.

Alongside him, C. Thomas Howell draws from his childhood around the rodeo circuit to create what The New York Times calls a performance that “truly embodies the spirit of the Old West.”

Annabeth Gish delivers a nuanced portrayal of Sheriff Monica Hawkins, a woman caught between upholding the law and protecting her family.

And Jake Allyn? The Movie Revue‘s review captured it perfectly – he and Howell “wear shame and regret like an old gunslinger.“

Beyond the Arena

If you look at this film the way I have, and strip away the dust and denim, and you’ll find a surprisingly emotional tale fitted in a cowboy hat. This story digs deep into what matters – family, redemption, and the lengths we’ll go to protect our own. That’s why it took home Best Movie at both the Western Heritage Awards and Dallas International Film Festival.

“RIDE is not, strictly speaking, a faith-based movie. Ultimately, however, it comes across as more honest and affecting than loads of other films bearing that label.”

– Joe Leydon, Reviewer, Variety

The team shot at real rodeo events, capturing the raw energy you can’t fake. Even the music hits differently – Howell wrote and performed his original title track RIDE with such emotion and investment that it felt pulled straight from a Texas honky-tonk.

Supporting Stories That Matter

For eight years, Jake Allyn heard the same thing: “This is too American.” But some stories are worth fighting for. When Hollywood turned its back, independent distributor WELL GO USA and the rodeo community stepped up, recognizing a truth the studios missed. There’s an audience hungry for stories that reflect their world.

Starting February 1st on Paramount+, you can be part of something bigger than a movie. Every view sends a message that stories about real American life deserve to be told.

Not because they’re safe, not because they’re sanitized, but because they have meaning.

After all, the best rides are the ones worth waiting for.

Where You Can Find the Movie RIDE

Stream the Movie RIDE

URGENT UPDATE: RIDE is on Paramount+ but is part of the $12.99/month “Paramount+ with SHOWTIME & No Ads” package. If you get the cheaper “Paramount+ Essential” package for $7.99/month, you won’t get RIDE.

Pay-Per-View & Buy the Movie RIDE

You can find it pay-per-view on Amazon, Fandango, YouTube Movies, Apple TV, Google Play, and Spectrum TV. Thank you for backing a film made outside the Hollywood machine!

More Behind the Scenes, Interviews, Music, Awards & Reviews of RIDE

“The winners of this year’s Audience Awards reminded all of us why we love watching movies, which is what we set out to do with this year’s Festival,”

– James Faust, Artistic Director, Dallas International Film Festival

Screening of the Movie RIDE at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas Photo Gallery

I got the chance to meet the RIDE team during the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas at the Rio Round-Up! Forrie J. Smith, C. Thomas Howell, and Jake Allyn hit the stage for an exclusive Q&A Meet & Greets about RIDE. This exciting event was hosted by Sydni Blanchard, a Professional Barrell Racer and 3X Wrangler NFR Qualifier. They were all authentically friendly and inspirational.