Hit the Road

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1:45

Hit the Road

2022

1h 33m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

99 Reviews

79%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

Panah Panahi, son and collaborator of embattled Iranian master Jafar Panahi, makes a striking feature debut with this charming, sharp-witted, and deeply moving comic drama. Hit the Road takes the tradition of the Iranian road-trip movie and adds unexpected twists and turns. It follows a family of four -- two middle-aged parents and their sons, one a taciturn adult, the other an ebullient six-year-old -- as they drive across the Iranian countryside. Over the course of the trip, they bond over memories of the past, grapple with fears of the unknown, and fuss over their sick dog. Unspoken tensions arise and the film builds emotional momentum as it slowly reveals the furtive purpose for their journey. The result is a humanist drama that offers an authentic, raw, and deeply sincere observation of an Iranian family preparing to part with one of their own.

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Critics Consensus

A beautifully acted drama with steadily cumulative force, Hit the Road uses one family's journey to make trenchant observations about society as a whole.

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Leigh Singer

Sight & Sound

May 14, 2026

Panah Panahi’s debut feature is a stunningly assured road movie which balances emotional nuance with a bubbling undercurrent of political critique.

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Christina Newland

iNews.co.uk

Sep 18, 2024

5/5

A tender portrait of family with a subtly political message.

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Adam Nayman

Cinema Scope

Feb 16, 2023

Hit the Road works in enough familiar ways that critics can safely place it within a certain tradition. But it’s also hopefully the start of something new.

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William Stottor

Loud and Clear Reviews

Jul 18, 2024

4/5

Hit the Road is a chaotic but tender snapshot of a family on a journey, shifting at ease between light-hearted humour and affecting drama.

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Nuha Hassan

Film Cred

Sep 4, 2023

The rawness and the expressions captured in Hit the Road make the journey even more special, and when the youngest family member sticks his head through the sunroof and blissfully yells the chorus of the song, everything comes together.

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Kathy Fennessy

Video Librarian Magazine

Jun 7, 2023

3.5/5

In best road movie fashion, Hit the Road also serves as a travelogue as the family passes pistachio-like hills, hot springs, and babbling brooks.

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Claude T

May 16, 2022

The movie gives you a look in the family dynamics of an Iranian family, but there are so many questions which are not answered that the viewer now wants to hit the road again to better understand. The youngest child is the star of the show!

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Roy J

May 10, 2022

Some random scenes and dialogues that confused me, but overall great movie and glad to see Panahi following his father's footsteps and also keeping his legacy alive.

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Claire B

@Claire817 Sep 20, 2026

Perfect movie well written and directed. Passionate acting keeps the viewer going to the end.

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Leon H

@RT13589101 Aug 25, 2026

I can only give 3 stars as although the performances are uniformly excellent, the dialogue feels real and the scenery looks striking, the film itself is slow to the point of distraction.

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T M

@RT55749265 Jul 27, 2026

A rather marvelously acted film, especially from the very cheeky-chappie six year old. Clever and funny in lots of ways. But you can tell it's a debut film. Very human.

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Esra Y

@RT95409318 Mar 16, 2026

Panahi's storytelling power comes from capturing panorama of Iran through most sincere, unassuming everyday moments.

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Panah Panahi

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Hit the Road: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Panah Panahi, son and collaborator of embattled Iranian master Jafar Panahi, makes a striking feature debut with this charming, sharp-witted, and deeply moving comic drama. Hit the Road takes the tradition of the Iranian road-trip movie and adds unexpected twists and turns. It follows a family of four -- two middle-aged parents and their sons, one a taciturn adult, the other an ebullient six-year-old -- as they drive across the Iranian countryside. Over the course of the trip, they bond over memories of the past, grapple with fears of the unknown, and fuss over their sick dog. Unspoken tensions arise and the film builds emotional momentum as it slowly reveals the furtive purpose for their journey. The result is a humanist drama that offers an authentic, raw, and deeply sincere observation of an Iranian family preparing to part with one of their own.

Director: Panah Panahi
Producer: Mastaneh Mohajer, Jafar Panahi, Panah Panahi
Screenwriter: Panah Panahi
Distributor: Kino Lorber
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: Persian
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 22, 2022, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 19, 2022
Box Office (Gross USA): $151.0K
Runtime: 1h 33m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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