Austin Butler’s The Bikeriders is all set to hit the theaters. His co-star Jodie Comer who plays Kathy in the Jeff Nichols-directed crime thriller, said that the audience need not watch any movies to catch the essence of the movie but Butler has a few movies in his recommendation list for fans that inspired his character or Tom Hardy’s Johnny. In his chat with Discussing Film, the actor recommended these four movies for fans.
1. Easy Rider
Dennis Hopper wrote, directed, and starred in his 1969 indie classic Easy Rider. The motorcycle adventure film was a stunning box office and critical hit claiming $60 million at the global box office against the production budget of around $360,000–$400,000. Also, the movie was certified Fresh at Rotten Tomatoes with an 84% score.
As per the official logline of the narrative, “Two bikers head from L.A. to New Orleans through the open country and desert lands, and along the way they meet a man who bridges a counter-culture gap of which they had been unaware.”
It is no surprise that Easy Rider was one of the few movies Austin Butler watched to grasp the essence of a bike rider as his character in the movie. Easy Rider also stars Peter Fonda and legendary actor Jack Nicholson alongside Karen Black.
Stream Easy Rider on Showtime & Apple TV bundle
2. The Wild One
The Wild One is perhaps closest to the narrative of The Bikeriders as both movies have captured the stories of bike rider gangs sprinkled with the love stories that served as the catalysts for both narratives moving forward. Beautifully penned by John Paxton and Ben Maddow, László Benedek-directed movie was based on Frank Rooney’s 1951 story Cyclists’ Raid published in Harper’s Magazine.
The synopsis of the 1953 movie reads, “A motorcycle gang cause trouble as they pass through various towns. However, the leader of the gang soon falls in love with the daughter of a small town’s sheriff and locks horns with a rival gang.”
The Wild One stars legendary Marlon Brando alongside Lee Marvin, Mary Murphy, Yvonne Doughty, Robert Keith, and co.
Buy/rent The Wild One on Apple TV and other V-O-D platforms.
3. Streets of Fire
Let’s face it, Streets of Fire’s Raven Shaddock has to be one of the coolest appearances of Willem Dafoe. Walter Hill’s 1984 action musical crime neo-noir film follows a mercenary who “is hired to rescue his ex-girlfriend, a singer who has been kidnapped by a motorcycle gang.”
Larry Gross who wrote the film with the director beautifully crafted the city district in a near future dystopian time period where the narrative evolved. Streets of Fire is definitely a fine before watching The Bikeriders.
The movie also stars Unfaithful actor Diane Lane alongside Michael Paré, Rick Moranis, and Amy Madigan.
Buy/rent Streets of Fire on Apple TV and other V-O-D platforms.
4. The Loveless
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB8YDlxH1Ho
Butler added another Willem Dafoe film to the list. “The Loveless with Willem Dafoe. Oh Man, yeah. Jeff Milburn told me to watch that one. Jeff is the motorcycle maestro and he told me Willem Dafoe is the coolest looking guy in a motorcycle and so I watched that before as well,” Butler told Discussing Film speaking of The Loveless.
Written and directed by Monty Montgomery and Kathryn Bigelow, the 1981 outlaw biker drama film stars the spider-Man actor as Vance, a 1950’s biker who rolls into a small Georgia town on his journey to Daytona and meets up with some biker friends. The logline of the movie reads: “Trouble ensues when a motorcycle gang stops in a small southern town while heading to the races at Daytona.”
Stream The Loveless on Prime Video, Tubi, Kanopy, and PlutoTV.
The Bikeriders is slated for 21 June 2024 release.
