Joy Ride

Joy Ride (2001)

  • 74% of critics liked it
    (112 reviews)

  • 63% of users liked it
    (62,209 ratings)

After forays into film noir, thrillers, dramas, and even documentaries, director John Dahl tries the teen horror genre on for size. Paul Walker stars as Lewis Thomas, a college freshman embarking on a cross-country road trip during summer break to pick up his girlfriend Venna (Leelee Sobieski).… More

R,
Directed By
Written By
J.J. Abrams, Clay Tarver
Genres
Mystery & Suspense, Action & Adventure
In Theaters
Oct 5, 2001 Wide
20th Century Fox

Critic Reviews

  • Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

    If you're looking to have your nerves fried and your pulse pounded, this is your ticket to ride.

  • Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

    Dahl works the audience like the dial of a car radio, testing out all manner of squeals and static and all-out, high-pitched terror.

  • Desson Thomson, Washington Post

    Climb into this rig and you'll be sweating bullets.

  • Michael Rechtshaffen, Hollywood Reporter

    It's encouraging to see more than passing attention paid to character development.

  • Stephen Hunter, Washington Post

    Expertly toys with the fear any carbon-based life-form feels when one of those Peterbilt express trains comes rolling by with a thundercrack of vibration at about 240 mph, gently urging us to move right or die crushed and bleeding.

Read all 11 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Stephen M


    Like a bigger, dumber version of Spielberg's "Duel" with excellent production values.

  • Lady D


    For me, this was one of the better teen Horrors, with lots of suspense, corny - Yes! Cliched - Yes, but definitely more watchable than most. A guilty pleasure for me.

  • Jeff "


    Joy Ride is a good little horror film. Though not very original, the film has great tense moments and terrifying, sequences that will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat. Considering that Paul Walker played in this film (I hate the actor) I thought he was very good in this… More

  • Cynthia S


    This is one of my all time favorite thrillers. It amazes me how many people I personally know that never saw this movie. Not only was it suspenseful, but had a bit of funny thanks to Stever Zahn.

  • Spencer S


    Not so much scary or creepy as just plain gross. Trucker killer? Okay then.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

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Cast

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