Joyride

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2:03

Joyride

2022

1h 34m

Comedy

Drama

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Popcornmeter

51%

Tomatometer

45 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

JOYRIDE follows 12-year-old Mully (Charlie Reid), who, after fleeing his father, steals a taxi and is shocked to find a woman, Joy (Olivia Colman), in the back seat with a baby. Joy has decided to give her child away to a friend, and Mully needs some distance from his debt-ridden dad, who’s after the cash Mully has with him. And so two lovable rogues -- a complicated middle-aged mother and a troubled adolescent -- go on a journey across Ireland, gradually finding in each other the friendship, love and learning they never knew they needed.

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Critics Consensus

Olivia Colman's performance is enough to carry Joyride over a few miles of credulity-straining incident, but this rickety road trip runs out of fuel long before it reaches its final destination.

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Whelan Barzey

Time Out

Jul 25, 2023

2/5

It’s only fitting that Emer Reynolds’ Joyride opens in a bustling Irish bar, because suspending disbelief for this madcap caper definitely requires the kind of open-mindedness that only multiple Guinnesses will provide.

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Tim Cogshell

FilmWeek (LAist)

Jan 18, 2023

Tugs at your heartstrings, but you know nothing bad is really going to happen.

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Matthew Jackson

AV Club

Jan 9, 2023

B

It might not break any plot molds, and it doesn’t quite come together as neatly as you’d hope by the end, but thanks to Colman’s shining presence, it’s a pleasant journey all the same.

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Gemma Creagh

Film Ireland Magazine

Jun 20, 2025

An impressive drama debut from director Emer Reynolds, this film is certainly one that needs to be experienced on the big screen. Joyride is beautiful, stylish and sneakily soulful.

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Geoffrey Macnab

iNews.co.uk

Jan 16, 2025

3/5

Thankfully, Colman and her young co-star make such an engaging duo that you stay along for the trip, even when the film loses its way.

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Laney Gibbons

Loud and Clear Reviews

Aug 3, 2024

3/5

Overall, Joyride is an enjoyable watch that brings forth some important topics and certainly shows the audience some incredible cast performances.

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Chris R

@ChrisReidy Aug 5, 2026

Interested to see my hometown on film, I tuned in when this was shown on TV. Within ten minutes I'd switched it off. Almost immediately the muddle of styles, accents and motivations became obvious. Olivia Coleman's accent wandered from a generic Dublin voice to middle England, with a detour via Liverpool. I didn't expect a convincing Kerry accent, but this was distracting. The tone was equally confused. For a supposedly light family comedy, the young male actor's use of the F-word felt completely out of place. Then came the bizarre fox "mercy" scene, which finally finished it for me. The script was incoherent. Who thought this was ready to film? I gave it one star only because it featured one of my family's favourite pubs, and the mist-covered mountain roads looked beautiful. After all the money spent making this, I have to ask: why?

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Watson08 T

@Watson08 Aug 4, 2026

It has some charm and Olivia Colman is always good, but she’s probably the only worthwhile part of this paint by numbers road trip.

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Avalon T

@Avalon604 Sep 28, 2025

I have no idea why this movie doesn't have higher ratings. It is a great movie that finally has a bit of a different plot and storyline. The acting is great as is the character development as the story develops. This is one if the few feel good movies I've seen lately and I highly recommend it.

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Louisa K

@louie167 Jan 28, 2025

Loved this movie! Real and raw. The acting was terrific and Charlie Reed is phenomenal! This lad is so talented. Made a life long fan out of me. Such a well written movie. Brilliant cast 👏👏

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Jacqui C

@Jacqueline64 Jan 14, 2025

Pretty good but I hated some of the scenes with the dolls head on the car etc

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John A

@RT11461436 Sep 23, 2024

Honestly, that was beautiful. Nothing wrong with that at all, completely uplifting.

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Emer Reynolds

Director

Olivia Colman

Joy

Charlie Reid

Mully

Lochlann O'Mearáin

James

Olwen Fouéré

Sideline Sue

David Pearse

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Synopsis

JOYRIDE follows 12-year-old Mully (Charlie Reid), who, after fleeing his father, steals a taxi and is shocked to find a woman, Joy (Olivia Colman), in the back seat with a baby. Joy has decided to give her child away to a friend, and Mully needs some distance from his debt-ridden dad, who’s after the cash Mully has with him. And so two lovable rogues -- a complicated middle-aged mother and a troubled adolescent -- go on a journey across Ireland, gradually finding in each other the friendship, love and learning they never knew they needed.

Director: Emer Reynolds
Producer: Tristan Lynch, Aoife O'Sullivan
Screenwriter: Ailbhe Keogan
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Production Co: Screen Ireland, Subotica, Ingenious Media, Embankment Films
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 23, 2022, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 23, 2022
Runtime: 1h 34m

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