3 of Our Favorite Rodeo Movies
3 of Our Favorite Rodeo Movies
The sport of rodeo is one of the most iconic symbols of the culture of the American West, and it has been immortalized in dozens of movies. Three of the most enduring titles in the rodeo genre include Junior Bonner, The Great American Cowboy, and 8 Seconds.
Junior Bonner (1972)
This movie stars silver screen legend Steve McQueen and was directed by acclaimed filmmaker Sam Peckinpah, whose other classic westerns include The Wild Bunch, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, and Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia.
An explosive drama with comedic elements, Junior Bonner tells the story of Ace Bonner (Robert Preston), an aging patriarch who returns home years after abandoning his family. He finds his son Junior (McQueen) has grown up to become a reckless loose cannon. As Junior participates in a rodeo, a powder keg of family tensions finally erupts.
The Great American Cowboy (1973)
This acclaimed documentary gives viewers a rare and moving behind-the-scenes look at rodeo culture. Its narrative focuses on two fierce competitors: Larry Mahan, a veteran of the rodeo circuit, and Phil Lyne, a cocky young up-and-coming star. Over the course of the movie, Mahan and Lyne fight neck-and-neck for the chance to become a world champion.
The Great American Cowboy was directed by Kieth Merrill and won an Academy Award in 1973 for Best Documentary Feature.
8 Seconds (1994)
Luke Perry in a bull riding movie? That's exactly what viewers who watch 8 Seconds will get. Fans of the genre swear the formula worked like magic in this 1994 biographical drama.
The movie tells the life story of Lane Frost (Perry), who won the PRCA's world championship title in bull riding in 1987. Under the guidance and mentorship of his close friend and three-time world bull riding champion Tuff Hedeman (Stephen Baldwin), Frost overcomes personal challenges and a sometimes-difficult marriage to his wife Kellie (Cynthia Geary) to ride in the limelight. The film's title is a reference to the sport's eight second benchmark, which is the elapsed time a bullrider must reach in order to earn a score and a chance to win.
These titles stand out among the dozens in the genre, combining commercial success with critical acclaim and featuring some of the best-known screen performers of their time. Fans of the culture of the American West will enjoy the drama and spectacle that unfolds in these three remarkable motion pictures.